South and Central the favourites

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 20

South and Central the favourites

By

JOHN COFFEY

It is a testimony of the changed face of rugby league in this country that, the once all-powerful Auckland provincial team will enter the national inter-districts championship as the third-ranked of the four sides.

That was the position, behind Central Districts and South Island, which Auckland filled in the inaugural competition last winter. Auckland's dismal displays in the Tooth Cup tournament in Australia did nothing to lift its rating.

This afternoon Auckland will run on to Carlaw Park as a distinct underdog against Central, while South will be a dominating favourite to repeat its 1979 win over Northern Districts at Huntly. However, it would be foolish for Central or South to underestimate Auckland. It still has the fastest back-line in New Zealand, has home ground advantage against Central and will be a very effective unit if it meets South on a firm field at the Show Grounds on July 26.

The defensive errors made by Auckland in Aus-

tralia might not be so costly against the district teams, for James Leuluai, Shane Varley, Fred Ah Kuoi and Dane O’Hara have the pace to cover most indiscretions. Auckland’s officials and players have for some years jealously guarded their Tooth (formerly Amco) Cup status, and they will have been stung by the actions taken to deprive Auckland of a place in the-final trial before the Kiwi team is named to tour Britain and France in September.

But. the Auckland selec-tor-coach, Don Hammond, has a major task in seeking to lift the morale of his squad. The defection of Dennis Williams and injuries to several other prominent performers have compounded his problems.

The collapse of Auckland as a force in Australasian rugby league has been blamed largely on the ineffectiveness of its forward pack. Potentially, both Central and South are considerably stronger, and the inter-districts draw appears to have been devised for their meeting

in Wellington on August 9 to be a true final. South must be regarded as the pre-contest favourite on the evidence of Its memorable defeat of Australia. That could be something of a dubious honour, for it was upset by Central at Christchurch last

season and can afford no lapses in attitudes or standards, The manner in which the South forwards, Mark Broadhurst, Paul Truscott, Alan Rushton, Kevin Franklin, Tony Coll and Barry Edkins, wrested ascendancy over the Kangaroos will .need to be' repeated if Central is to be subdued around the play-the-balls. It was the astute ball distribution of Graeme West which was the most decisive factor in Central’s success last year. Methods must be devised to prevent West from releasing possession to his supports. But there is also the risk that if too much attention is paid to West, his teammates will have greater

freedom to utilise their own skills. West will have three other internationals. Kevin Tamati, Whetu Henry and Howie Tamati, alongside him, while the other Central forwards, Bruce Gall and Victor Bracken, made a marked impression on the Australians. Bracken, a loose forward from Wellington, has had restricted representative experience because, as a Mormon elder, he does not play football on Sundays. Central has something of an advantage in size, but might not have the mobility of the South pack. It will be imperative, then, that South keeps the ball in motion to severely test the fitness of the opposing players.

The return of John Whittaker to the Central centres should boost the try-scoring potential of the accomplished wings, Lou Kupa and Mark Peterson. South has the depth to assume control among the inside backs and Bruce Dickison is well qualified to restrain Whittaker’s natural attacking instincts. ■ Now that Mr Hammond has recalled Chris Jordan

and John Smith, and Varley and Ah Knot have recovered from injuries, Auckland is capable of fielding a back-line, with the exception of Gary Kemble, of test standing. But the front row, comprising Brian Jolley. John Gordon or Les Beehre, and Pat Poasa, is nowhere near as ominous. There will be more respect, though, for the loose men, Gary Prohm, lan Bell and Alan McCarthy.

Northern is inevitably the rank outsider. Rick Muru. Paul Ravlich and Danny Campbell comprise a sturdy tight trio, but of the backs only Kevin Fisher and Bill Kells have made any impression at national level.