Selectors pick Valli in bid to solve full-back problem

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 38

Selectors pick Valli in bid to solve full-back problem

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Geoff Valli, a 25-year-old Southlander, became the latest hope to end the full-back dilemma that has plagued All Black rugby for almost six years, when he was named on Saturday to fill the position in the unofficial test against Fiji at Auckland on Saturday week. Valli gets the job in spite of not even being the present Southland full-back. He returned to the side this winter after two years in Australia, and was found a place at second five-eighths, leaving Jeff Gardiner as the full-back.

However, this experience in another position could well have worked in Valli’s favour. A player of such versatility is urgently needed for next month’s, tour to Wales, and Valli could prove to be the player.

' It is a shade ironic that Valli has probably headed off another Southlander, Brian McKechnie, as the player most likely to succeed in two positions, and kick goals as well. . Valli is undoubtedly, one of. New Zealand’s ablest goal-kickers. This has been

the strongest feature of his .play since he became a Junior All Black in 1975, and he holds a New Zealand record of seven penalty goals in a first-class match.

However, whether Valli is the attacking full-back that the modem game demands is very much open to doubt. Even Southlanders, ever loyal to. their own, have reservations ori this score. Valli is one of seven, new All Blacks in the side, which was open only to players Who did not contest the re-

cent series against Australia Four others besides Valli; are in the backs, including the entire three-quarter line of Fred Woodman, Jamie Salmon, and Ken Taylor. Woodman has proved , himself a fast and aggressive wing for North Auckland and , New. Zealand Maoris, while Salmon, who came to New Zealand from England three, years'ago, and Taylor were, both members of this season’s national junior, side., The Wellington _ and New

Zealand Maoris first fiveeighths, Tu Wyllie, is the other hew back and he, too, could very Well be on trial for a trip to Wales. The two new caps in the forwards. are the Manawatu No. 8, Geoff Old, and the Auckland tight-head prop, Greg Burgess, who in spite of having the reputation of being . one of the best scrummagcrs in New Zealand is an inconsistent choice for Auckland. But the .most interesting forward selection , is the re-

turn, after more than a year, and two overseas tours, of Frank Oliver to an All Black scrum. He will lock with Graeme Higginson, the sole Canterbury man in the side, although Steve Scott has found a place in the reserves. ......

It could not have escaped the selectors’ attention that Oliver and Higginson are both front-of-the-line jumpers, and it will probably be Higginson, as the taller of

the pair, who will shift back to No. 5. Oliver has now won All Black selection from three provinces ~ Southland, Otago, and, this time, Manawatu — and that the selectors have turned to him again strongly suggests that they have him in mind for Wales as well. The team chosen should be good enough to beat the Fijians, and it could prove to be a side that is; as appropriate to the time as it is to the occasion. i; The pack is well endowed with size, speed,,, arid experience, and the back line is one of exciting- possibilities, three solid inside men serving three youngsters who have pace aplenty. There must be some doubts about Valli, but the only way to find a top fullback is to continue the hunt, and he might only have to prove himself a reliable goal-kicker to put himself at the head of the list. The teams is:

Geoff Valli (Southland); Fred Woodman (North Auckland), Jamie Salmon (Wellington), Ken Taylor (Hawke’s Bay); Bill Osborne (Wanganui), Tu Wyllie (Wellington); Mark Donaldson (Manawatu); Geoff Old (Manawatu); Stu Conn (Auckland), Frank Oliver (Manawatu), Graeme Higginson (Canterbury), Graham Mourie (Taranaki; captain); Rod Ketels (Counties), Andy Dalton (Counties), Greg Burgess (Auckland). Reserves.— Craig Wickes (Manawatu), Doug Rollerson (Manawatu), Steve Scott (Canterbury); Bruce Middleton (Wanganui), Paul Koteka (Waikato), Peter Sloane (North Auckland).