Aust, referee for Fiji rugby test?

Press, 18 July 1980, Page 22

Aust, referee for Fiji rugby test?

NZPA Suva An Australian referee may control next Wednesday’s international between New Zealand and Fiji at Buckhurst Park, Suva. ' , It is believes that the All Black manager, Mr Ray Harper,, suggested to the Fiji Rugby Union’s chairman, Barry Sweetman, that a neutral referee for the fixture be considered after the riotous match between New Zealand and Nadroga at Lautoka on Wednesday. Wednesday’s match was refereed by a Suva-based New Zealander, Rod Jepsen, who was attacked by members of the crowd when the match had to be abandoned two minutes before the scheduled conclusion of play. ' Sefania Karoi has been appointed by the Fiji union to control tomorrow’s match between the All Blacks and Suva. Before Mr Harper made his recommendation the Fiji union, had intended that the New Zealanders choose the referee they considered the better of the two. Mr Harper is believed to have recommended to the Fiji union the Australian referee, Dick Byers, for the international. Mr Byers controlled the third test, won 26-10 by Australia, at the Sydney Cricket Ground last Saturday.

As yet Mr Harper has not had a reply to his submission from the Fiji union.

Mr Harper said yesterday that the Auckland mid-field back, Gary Cunningham, would return to New Zealand on Sunday. Cunningham has not played a match since he suffered a badly bruised thigh during the second test at. Brisbane on June 28. '

The manager said that the Auckland player would not be sufficiently recovered to play in next Wednenday*s match so it was mutually decided that he .. would return home early. During training at Naridi yesterday morning;

before the team flew to Suva, several: All Blacks were obviously suffering from bruising and abrasions as a result of the hard Churchill Park surface on Wednesday. The injury list included Graeme Higginson (bruised left foot), Murray Mexted (bruised. hip), Lachlan Cameron (bruised thigh), Murray Taylor (bruised thigh), Nicky Allen (bruised ribs) and Gary Knight , (bruised ribs). - • , - However, Mr Harper said he did not expect that, any of the injuries would be serious enough to keep any of the injured players selected out of tomorrow’s matrh. The new All Blacks hooker, Ken Bloxham, and the second five eighth, Andy Jefferd, will make their debuts for New Zealand against Suva, tomorrow! Both are the sole All Black representatives from their respective provinces in the side. Bloxham came under the spotlight during training yesterday when he was required to liaise with Saturday’s line-out forwards in throwing the ball into the line-out.

After some initial complications, . the lock forwards, Andy Haden and John Fleming, appeared to be reasonably happy with the Otago man’s delivery. It has not been easy for Bloxham to settle directly into All Black training patterns, as like his fellow replacement hooker, Grant Perry, he has come directly from a South Island winter and asked to play in temperatures averaging about 30 degrees Celsius. The team to play Suva is: Brett Codlin;, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Murray Watts, Andy Jefferd, Murray Taylor; Steve Scott; Murray Mexted; Mark Shaw, Andy Haden (captain), John Fleming, Leicester Rutledge; John Ashworth, Ken Bloxham, John Spiers. . Reserves — Backs: Dave Loveridge, . Nicky Allen, Bernie Fraker. Forwards: Grant Perry, Graeme Higginson, Brad Johnstone.