The right breeding in University’s thoroughbred flankers

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 20

The right breeding in University’s thoroughbred flankers

By

JOHN BROOKS

It is coincidental but not without significance that Canterbury rugby flanking combinations have occasionally had an alliter<\ive quality about them. In the late 1940 s the side had Herman, Hobbs and Hardie; the present squad has Hayes, Henderson and, until he broke an arm, Hobbs. The list is likely to be lengthened before long by University A’s “double M” combination of Adrian Muir and Mark Meates. These two 21-year-old loose forwards of contrasting build and abi-

lities have complemented each other’s play splendidly ; in the last four weeks, in particular. Their contributions to the team’s championship win for the C.S.B. Trophy were of extreme importance. Muir, the "gutsy whippet” as he has been dubbed by Frank Creighton, the editor of University’s “Spin It” magazine, exhibited an extraordinary striking rate with his tackling of opposing inside backs and his snaring of the loose ball. In a back-line as enterprising as

University’s, Muir’s support play was vitally important. Meates. with a physique which mirrors his rowing background, was constantly prominent in initiating bursts from the fringes of mauls and from the back of line-outs. His natural speed and ball skills became more evident as the pressure went on University towards the end of the competition, and he relished the close quarter skirmishing in which invariably he set up tire ball well.

Both players revealed considerable promise at rugby during their secondary school days. The slightly-

built Muir, in fact has been a footballer since the age of four and had three years with the first XV at St Kentigern’s College, in Auckland. Muir’s father demonstrated rugby skills above the average, at an early age, and when he was still a third former he played in the first XV at Nelson College. Sadly, he missed his son’s emerging years as a flanker of class; he died five years ago.

Young Muir got the taste for running rugby with his college team which contained the new All Black fiveeighths, Nicky Allen, and the swift, try-scoring wings, Henley-Smith and Begley. “It was an exciting team to play with,” he recalled. “The forwards just got the ball for the backs to run in the tries.” Meates also had three years in the first XV of his secondary school, St Bede’s College, appearing mostly at No. 8 and lock —- two positions once occupied by his All Black father, Kevin. He was rated as the best forward in South Island

schools’ rugby in his final season.

A talented all-rounder, also proficient at soccer, Meates has gone a long way in rowing. He won a red coat in the Avon eight at the last New Zealand championships, raced in the New Zealand colts’ eight, and earned a New Zealand University blue, as well as gaining, an Olympic trial. With an All Black pedigree — his uncle, Bill, was an All Black wing of high

- renown in 1949-50, with 1 Kevin following in 1952 — , Mark Meates might well reach great heights in the i winter game provided that ■ he keeps his head down and ! concentrates on the devel--1 opment of his skills. In the last month os this ! senior competition the two flankers and the bounding i No. fe, Dale Atkins, began to : operate as a unit, com- • plementing each other with certainty. The. New Brighton coach, Ceddie : Smith, pinpointed the trio as one of his chief sources of worry before the grand final. His fears were well founded. Atkins, only 19 and an extraordinarily mature footballer, has just won a place in the Canterbury A squad. Muir is in the provincial B squad, and Meates has been chosen for the Town colts team. But these are early days; the signs of unlimited potential have been displayed, and. the “two Ms” can look to the future with confidence.