Canterbury hopes to exert more control

Press, 23 July 1980, Page 46

Canterbury hopes to exert more control

Although one-third of the team’s personnel has been changed, Canterbury cannot be confident of a win against South Canterbury in the annual rugby match between the rivals at Fraser Park, Timaru, this afternoon. Both sides have succumbed to Mid-Canterbury this winter, and Canterbury’s was by far the mosti drastic loss. The revamped team will have to exercise « great deal more purpose and control than it did in Ashburton if it is to succeed. There are signs that the Canterbury selectors, Messrs Gerald Wilson and Neil Cornelius, have made subtle changes of strategy for the

Fraser Park fixture. They have tightened up the pack by bringing in Neil Porter, Dave White and Jock Hobbs, and bolstered the back-line by choosing the big-kicking Rod Latham at first fiveeighths. A ; I

The inference is that Canterbury will attempt to exercise greater authority over its dispensing of possession, and the subsequent use of it by the backs. Latham, therefore,, can be. expected to kick for position before a fleet-footed: threequarter line is given .its head.

South Canterbury’s . attempts to disrupt this pattern will be hindered by the.

absence of the lively flanker and captain, Noel Glass. But although the side has had some rough handling at the hands of northern first division teams, it should be match fit and have a reasonable level of understanding among the players.

By

JOHN BROOKS

Peter Grant, a national trialist, and Silia Fagalima are highly competitive loose forwards, and Duncan Bell (lock) and Terry Murphy (hooker) are well regarded forwards. Robin Heron’s strength in midfield and Ray Teahen’s speed on the wing

• are back attributes, although . South Canterbury has not I made much impact as a tryi scoring team this season. Canterbury’s changes are i Porter for Richard Loe at loose-head, White for Bruce ; Farmer at lock, Hobbs for Barney Henderson'.(cut head)

at flanker, and Randal Scott for Darryl Park (damaged leg muscle) on the right wing. ' Latham, in effect, displaces Paul Molloy, for Kieran Keane has been moved to second five-eighths after

two games for Canterbury in the inside position. Two new players have been added to the reserves — Bill Anderson, the Hornby fight wing, and Dale Atkins, the Univeresity No. 8, who played for New Zealand Colts in ; Australia recently. The match will give the rivals a chance to assess each other’s form in preparation for their national championship game at Lancaster Park on August 30. Individually, there will be a last chance for players to stake their claims for places in the South Island team. The sides are:— South Canterbury.— Tony

Kelly; Teahen, Barry Gallagher, Clive Callow; Heron, Lloyd Proctor; Paul Morris; Fagalima; Grant, Bell, Milton Bailey, Bruce Thompson; Tony Hand, Murphy, Dick Gerard. Reserves.— Gerard Scott, Peter Tutton, Warwick Norton, Dick Sharpe, John Spillane. Canterbury.— Robbie Deans; Scott, Vic Simpson, lan Mather; Keane, Latham; Gary Barkle; Peter McLaren; Hobbs, White, Jock Ross, Don Hayes; Porter, Murray Hall, Pat O’Byrne. Reserves.— Graeme Ellis, Molloy, Anderson, Atkins, Mick Powley, Farmer