Injury problems show no sign of abating

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 30

Injury problems show no sign of abating

NZPA Suva The injury problems which have plagued the first 1980 All Black touring side during its tour of Australia and Fiji showed no signs of abating yesterday just two days before the final match against Fiji at the National Stadium at Suva tomorrow.

The unfortunate injury | suffered by the Manawatui tighthead prop, Gary Knight (bruised ribs), when he was struck by a stick-wielding 1 spectator last Wednesday forced the All Black coach, Eric Watson, to bracket him for the match with the : Counties player, John Spiers, j after training yesterday. Knight trained with the'l team at Ratu Sir Lala Su-!] kuna Memorial School I yesterday morning but; i Spiers took his place when■; the pack worked out on the i school’s scrum machine. j]

“We have named Gary as first choice for the tighthead prop position for the match and he will let us know if he will be fit enough to play,” said Mr Watson. Knight wore a guard over his left ear during the run to cover the swelling which occurred after he had been

bitten on the ear by an opposition forward in the match against Nadroga. The other players causing Mr Watson some concern in

the build-up to the inter-, national are the Wellington wing, Stu Wilson, the Waikato lock, John Fleming,' and the Mid-Canterbury hooker.

Grant Perry. Perry was not considered ■ for selection on account of a shoulder injury he suffered in his first game for New Zealand at ' Lautoka. last Wednesday. Stu Wilson will celebrate his twenty-fifth birthday today under an injury cloud. He sprained his ankle during Saturday’s match. Wilson did not take an ac-

|tive part in the training run I and his place in the match side for practice purposes was occupied by Taranaki’s Murray Watts. However, the day brought happier tidings for Wilson’s fellow Wellington wing, Bernie Fraser, who celebrated his twenty-seventh birthday not far from his Lautoka birthplace and was named to plav in tomorrow’s match. Fleming injured a wrist during Saturday’s game against Suva and although named to play tomorrow his place was taken by Canter-

bury’s Graeme Higginson when the time came for the physical forward aspects in the training run. Mr Watson has made four changes to the All Black side from the team he fielded for the. third test against the Wallabies at the Sydney Cricket Ground last Satur-

dav week. Dropped from the team are Lachlan Cameron, Geoff Hines and John Ashworth. They have been replaced

by Andy Jefferd, Mark Shaw, and Brad Johnstone respectively. The Otago hooker, Ken Bloxham, comes into the

team in the place of Canterbury's John Black, who was i invalided out of the tour after the third test in Australia. Meanwhile, the Fijian squad, under its coach, Vili- : kesa Mocelutu, had two training runs at the match venue yesterday. Mr Mocelutu said that the Fijian selectors would wait • until before training this

imorning before naming their side for the match.

The 22-strong Fijian squad comprises seven Suva union players, seven from Nadroga, three from Nandi, two from Lautoka, two from Rewa and one minor union player.

Mr Mocelutu said that his team’s preparation had also been hampered by injury problems.

Squad members nursing injuries were the mid-field back, Warne Gavidi, and the fly-half, Rupeni Nakiyoyo, who both played against the All Blacks for Nadroga last Wednesday. Gavidi was the Nadroga side’s best attacker against the All Blacks and suffered a knee injury during the game.

The Suva lock, Kata Ratamuri, also suffered a leg injury and Mr Mocelutu said there was some doubt about his being available for selection. The All Blacks were the official guests at a reception hosted by the Fijian Government in Suva last evening.

The New Zealand team to play Fiji tomorrow is: Brett Codlin, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Bernie Fraser, Andy Jefferd, Nicky Allen, Dave Loveridge (captain), Murray Shaw, Andy Haden, John Fleming, Leicester Rutledge, Brad Johnstone, Ken Bloxham, Gary Knight.

Reserves. — Backs: Steve Scott, Murray Watts, Murray Taylor. Forwards: Graeme Higginson, John Ashworth, Geoff Hines.