Mexted, Ashworth in strong pack

Press, 7 June 1980, Page 56

Mexted, Ashworth in strong pack

NZPA Melbourne The All Black forward pad: for the match against Victoria at Olympic Park today has the appearance of a test eight surrounding it. The coach, Mr Eric Watson, is determined to establish in his own mind the forwards who will take the field against New South Wales at Sydney for the shadow test next Saturday as soon as possible. The one exception could be hooker Hika Reid, who had a blinder of a debut against South Australia on Wednesday evening. However, it would be unfair to Canterbury’s John Black to dismiss his test match prospects ‘ prematurely, when one considers the overwhelming superiority of the New Zealand forwards at Adelaide. The injured No. 8, Murray Mexted (bruised left knee) and loosehead prop John Ashworth (bruising above

right hip) both trained with the team during a light 90minute workout yesterday, and Mr Watson decided that the pair were fit enough to take the field. Mexted, who trained with the knee heavily bandaged, did not move as freely as he might have wanted to, but afterwards said that he felt confident about his ability to last 80 minutes of rugby. j Victoria should provide the All Blacks with stiffer opposition than South Australia. The side made a five-1 match tour of New Zealand earlier this year, and recorded three wins and two, losses against relatively; minor provincial sides. The one man well-known to New Zealand enthusiasts in the Victorian team is the prop forward, John Meadows, who toured New Zealand with flanker Tony Shaw’s 1978 Wallabies. There is a strong New

i Zealand influence in thd - side, with Meadows, his fei- , low prop, Dick Hautu, lock t John Hepworth, No. 8 Steve j Blackbourn, flanker Joe Sellick, half-back and captain i Ken Todd, and full-back Paul , Gascoigne all boasting New j Zealand heritage. t The match should give the t New Zealand backs plenty > of opportunity to run the {ball once again, and another > comprehensive victory : appears inevitable. A crowd of about 5000 is expected by local officials. •i The teams arc: 11 New Zealand: Brett Codlin; Stu Wilson, Gary Cunningham, ’ Bernie Fraser: Lachlan Cameron, ), Wayne Smith: Dave Loveridge ■* (captain): Murray Mexted; . Leicester Rutledge, Andy Haden. John Fleming, Mark Shaw; * Gary Knight, Hika Reid, John ; Ashworth. Victoria:. Paul Gascoigne; Andy Reid, Brett Gosper,'Graham Coddington; Colin McPherson, Norm i Ridgway: Ken Todd (captain); Steve Blackbourn; ; Joe Sellick, Charlie Grieve, John Hepworth. Dean Gosper; Dick Hautu, Alistair Norcroff, John Meadows.