Harvey joins the whiz kids of Auckland rugby

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 20

Harvey joins the whiz kids of Auckland rugby

By

MURRAY OLDS

Canterbury rugby’s' loss of Alwyn Harvey .'has been Auckland’s gain in more ways than one. This is Harvey’s first season for

his adopted province since being transferred -by the air force to Whenuapai at the start of the year.

But he has made outstanding contributions to Auckland rugby on both the provincial and club fronts, and has attracted a good many column centimetres too.

On the ‘ representative level, Harvey was quickly spotted by Auckland's coach, Bryan Craies, and he has been a regular first team choice since the squad was formed early in the season.

“He wouldn’t disgrace an All Black side,” says Craies, who is unstinting in his praise 7 for Harvey. “He has a great temperament, tremendous ability, and it’s been a pleasure having him in the team.” On the club front; Harvey has played a leading role in Takapuna’s best season in 40 years. The “Whiz Kids” — the sobriequet given; Takapuna ';because.of the youngsters in the side — won the first round competition for the Allan Mcllroy trophy in a canter; won the second round Choysa Cup by downing Auckland Grammar;, and thus- jvon the J covfeted Gallaher Shield'

without having to contest a- play-off. Takapuna’s coach, Peter Roberts, sings Harvey’s praises too. “He’s the best off the back of the lineout in Auckland at the moment,” say’s Roberts with conviction, although that is a view not shared by . Craies; he plays Harvey at No. 6.. “He’s got real speed and great ball control, he’s the first to the breakdowns and is the quickest thinker around,” Roberts says. And be believes, too, that Harvey would not be uncomfortable in an All Black jersey. “I reckon a guy like Alwyn is better than all the Leicester Rutledges around at the moment,” says Roberts. “And if the All Blacks turn to an open style of -rugby, more like the Wallabies, a player ■ like him would bolt into the side.” . , - All of which is a. subject delicate to broach with Harvey, for he is not given* to talking' freely?, about his own- achieve- ; ments. He would far rather talk about the great season Takapuna has had, greatly ’ down-playing his own contribution in the process.-- ■ . He will ~concede his

game has matured since moving to Auckland. This, he says, is because his club plays a running, ope:: style of football, and Auckland’s milder winter makes for harder grounds, which suit a player with Harvey’s pace. As well senior rugby is a lot tougher and of a higher standard than in Christchurch. “Playing seniors up here is like meeting a Linwood or a Christchurch every week,” says Harvey. "Every week you’ve got to peak and every game’s a crunch game.”

While he says Auckland rugby is not as physically demanding—forwards take a far more active role, running with the ball in a way seldom seen in Christchurch —Harvey believes the mental pressures are a great deal harder. Harvev has adapted quicklv to the more open style played in Auckland. It is a style he enjoys, and the firmer grounds have helped establish the former Canterbury man as one of the fastest flankers in the province. When he first arrived in Auckland, a number of

leading clubs sought his services, but he plumped for Takapuna on. the advice of some friends from Christchurch. “I heard Takapuna played a lot like Old Boys —running and counterattacking from all over the field—so when they got in touch with me I said ‘yes’.”

Harvey hasn’t regretted the decision and he has become an intergral part of the winning “Whiz Kids” team. But the character of the side has been tested to the limit many times this season. Takapuna had to come from behind to win six games this year, most notably against Grammar. Trailing 0-17 at half time, Takapuna staged a remarkable comeback to eventually win, 19-17. Twice against Bryan Williams’s strong Ponsonby side, Takapuna recovered from 15-point deficits to take the winning points, and Peter Roberts says Harvey’s contribution to this season’s success has been considerable. With the cltib season effectively finished, and the three top trophies locked

away in the Takapuna clubrooms, Harvey’s main ambition is. to help Auckland retain the Ranfurly Shield —at least until September 26 when Canterbury has its challenge on Eden Park.

“1 hope I’m still in the squad,” says Harvey modestly— though on his present form there is no way he’ll be dropped — “and I really hope we’ve still got the shield.” Auckland is well-off for loose forwards at the moment, and Bryan Craies has some very definite ideas about selecting his team.

“Before any guy gets in, it’s not good enough that he’s playing as well as the next guy. He’s got to play better,” says Craies. Harvey’s main footballing attributes, according to Craies, are his speed and ability to think on his feet.

“He’s a real go-go loosiej putting heat on the inside backs, making the tackle and then thinking about setting it up for the others,” says Craies. He also believes Harvey would make the All Blacks, , and would have done so some time ago, but for his lack of height. "It may have kept him back, because you can

only really have one shortie in a side,” says Craies. “In some respects, he’s a better flanker than Rutledge, who’s a real tight flanker and not too fast. Alwyn’s yards faster, and a lot more creative too.” Another factor that may have held Harvey back is his career in the Air Force.

“You can’t really get into the top stuff if there’s a job holding you back, and he probably decided there was more future sitting on his backside in a plane than in a shower,” says Craies. It remains to be seen how definitely Harvey stamps his mark on Auckland rugby this season. He has played six games for his new province, including the Ranfurly Shield matches against Horowhenua, King Country and Poverty Bay, but the hardest part of the year is yet to come. Southland, Otago, Waikato, North Auckland and Canterbury are all challenging for the shield, and if Harvey can continue his good form he will be out on Eden Park for each of them.

As Bryan Craies says: “It’s always hard for any-

one to come into a team from outside, especially if it’s Auckland and we’ve got the shield. “But ‘ Alwyn’s ability, and his popularity with the boys, have made the change easy.” •