Canty coach criticises Kiwi trial selections

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 32

Canty coach criticises Kiwi trial selections

By

JOHN COFFEY

Canterbury’s claims that it has the most effective provincial rugby league combination in New Zealand have not been substantiated by the deliberations of the five-man national selection panel.

It seems most unlikely that Canterbury officials will be satisfied with the inclusion of only five of their representatives among the 35 players invited to Auckland, for the trial to choose the New Zealand team to tour Britain and France. Michael O’Donnell, Mark Broadhurst, and Barry Edkins have retained the places in the New Zealand XIII that they held for the home tests against Australia in June; Bruce Dickison is in the opposing Rest side, and Alan Rushton is one of nine reserves. Canterbury fashioned an unbeaten record in its short inter - provincial programme this winter, and supplied most of the members of the South Island team which beat Australia. Yet it has been treated worse than West Coast and on a par with Wellington, in spite of having beaten both at home and away. “Oh, no, no,” was the reaction of the Canterbury coach (Mr Gary Clarke), when he learned of the composition of the trial teams. “Once again Canterbury has been given a raw deal, something that has been happening for years,” Mr Clarke said. “What do we have to do? Canterbury beat West Coast by more than 20 points in one game, and 16-0 at Greymouth, yet Coast will have five players on the field and we get only four.” Mr Clarke was surprised that Paul Truscott, in particular, and Kevin Franklin had been ignored, and Rushton placed on the reserves’ bench. In comparison, • three Auckland forwards, Brian Jolley, lan Bell, and Gary Prohm, have been included in the Rest Pack. I

“I am very disappointed that Truscott missed out,” Mr Clarke said.

“He would be an ideal tour prospect with his ability to alternate between hooker, prop, and the second row. Even more important, he has played very good football in all his first-class appearances this year.” There is a strong case for criticisim of the Rest forward formation, although it is pleasing that Ray Baxendale (West Coast) made full use of his one match for South Island — against Central Districts at Wellington on Sunday — to bid for a return to Kiwi status. Baxendale was one of the New Zealand forwards to impress in Australia in 1978, but three of his trial teammates, Whetu Henry (Wellington), Bell, and Prohm did not measure up to international standards. Jolley has had Kiwi trials since 1975 without success, and Paul Ravlich (Waikato), somewhat curiously continues to be rated ahead of Truscott. Forwards from other provinces also have cause to question the favourable treatment given to one of the most undistinguished of all Auckland packs. . Kevin Tamati (Wellington), who played in both tests against Australia, Danny Campbell (Northland), and Bruce Gall (Taranaki) have, with Rushton, been left to languish in the reserves, and Steve Dunstan (Waitako) has been overlooked altogether.

The most notable omissions from the backs are the elusive Wellington stand-off half, Nolan Tupea, and John Smith (Auckland), who has had 12 tests as an inside back since 1975.

The New Zealand XIII, as expected, has been modelled on the side which narrowly lost to the Kangaroos in the second test. John Whittaker (Wellington) and Graeme West (Taranaki) have been promoted from the reserves to cover for the absence of Olsen Filipaina and Mark Graham, and Paul Teariki (Wellington) is at prop, instead of the injured Tamati. Dennis Williams (Auckland) has once more been paired with Gordon Smith (West Coast) in the halves, which suggests that Williams has agreed to make himself available. Williams and Whittaker were roommates in 1971, and are the sole survivors from that very successful expedition. The 26 players to tour will be announced after the trial on September 6. No solution has yet been reached — or, at least, made public — on

whether New Zealanders playing in Australia will be considered. The trial teams are: —

New Zealand XHI: M. W. J. O’Donnell (Canterbury); K. L. Fisher (Waikato), J. Leuluai (Auckland), J. A. Whittaker (Wellington), D. B. O’Hara (Auckland); D. A. Williams (Auckland), G. J. Smith (West Coast); M. E. Broadhurst (Canterbury), H. Tamati (Taranaki), P. Teariki (Wellington); G. L. West (Taranaki), A. P. Coll (West Coast); B. R. Edkins (Canterbury). The Rest: G. Kemble (Auckland); L. Kupa (Wellington), B. I. Dickison (Canterbury), F. Ah Kuoi (Auckland), B. J. Green (West Coast); C. B. Menzies (West Coast), S. Varley (Auckland); W. Henry (Wellington), P. Ravlich (Waikato), B. Jolley (Auckland); R. F. Baxendale (West Coast), I. Bell (Auckland); G. Prohm (Auckland).

Reserves for both teams: T. Fepuleai (Auckland), C. M. Jordan (Auckland), W. Kells (Waikato), R. Sinclair (Northland), B. Gall (Taranaki), D. Campbell (Northland), K. R. Tamati (Wellington), R. Muru (Waikato), A. P. Rushton (Canterbury).