Sports features Truscott still waiting for call to the kiwis

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 20

Sports features Truscott still waiting for call to the kiwis

By

JOHN COFFEY

If where there is life there is also hope, then the very lively performances given by Paul Truscott at all levels of rugby league this season . would suggest that he still has some chance of being included in the New Zealand team to tour Britain and Prance.

But the Canterbury hooker — and prop, and second-rower if the situation demands — must be at long odds to be named among the 26 tourists after the final trial at Carlaw Park, Auckland, this afternoon.

Truscott was the surprise omission from The Rest pack which will oppose the New Zealand XIII in the trial, and his prospects, became even more bleak when five

other forwards were chosen among the nine reServes, In spite . of assurances by the national selection convener (Mr Snow Telford) to the contrary, it appears that, the five-man panel has exercised all of its options. Although Mark Graham and possibly Olsen Filipaina might have to cable their measurements "from Australia, all of those likely to need fitting for. travelling uniforms have-probably been .assembled in Auckland. But Truscott was the enigma of the forwards when the trialists were announced some weeks ago and the only real vacancies caused by injuries or non-availability have occurred in the backs. Truscott was to have been the next forward to be added to the list Of contenders. Probably Truscott’s only real tour opportunity rests with the display of the Waikato hooker, Paul Ravlich, who was pre-

ferred ahead of him. However, Ravlich is a useful striker for the ball and a diligent rover in rhe loose. He must have the inside running, if lacking Truscott’s comparative youth, versatility, and vitality. Unfortunately, in the minds of at least three selectors Ravlich has apparently done enough in inter-districts games to earn further. retention in the Kiwi squad. He was a

reserve in all three tests against Britain last year, becoming an official New Zealand representative w’hen he was- a-replace-ment wing in the third international.

Truscott’s misfortune is mirrored by the situations of John Smith (Auckland) and Nolan Tupaea (Wellington), two inside backs who were also shunned when the trial teams were first framed. They have belatedly been recognised now that Dennis Williams and Chris Jordan (both Auckland) have withdrawn, and must...have

firm claims to selection. The deft foot-work and sudden acceleration of Tupaea has made him one of the most thrustfui .stand-off halves in this country and his past experience of British club football will be in his favour. A contrasting type, ; Smith’s major assets are .experience, solidity and the ability to cover the ■first-choice scrum-halves,

Gordon Smith (West Coast) and Shane Varley (Auckland). Halves have suffered a high rate of misfortune on previous northern tours and. the value'of having a qualified stand-by .is undeniable.

■ The Australian connection has virtually been severed with the nonavailability of the Sorensen brothers, Dane and Kurt,' and the lack of' interest of Filipaina. Graham has been troubled by. injury, hut, hopefully, will have recovered in time to tour.

If five. players are grouped in the halves . — remembering that the logical captain, Fred Ah Kuoi (Auckland), is just as at home in the centres — then only three wings need to be taken. The test pair, Kevin Fisher (Waikato) and ■ Dane O’Hara (Auckland), are certainties, and the bustling Lou Kupa (Wellington). ? Tould be their understudy. The full-backs, Michael O’Donnell’ (Canterbury) and Gary Kemble (Auckland), have surged away from all challengers, and will also shoulder most of the goal-kicking responsibilities. '

James Leuluai (Auckland), John Whittaker (Wellington) and Bruce Dickison (Canterbury) have earned further ..recognition in the centres. Should Filipaina stay in Sydney, then the strapping West Coast three-quarters, Bernie Green, might have to give only another favourable display at Carlaw Park to 'accompany them as a I centre, and wing. ' v ’ ", It is probable that Barry Edkins (Canterbury) will revert to his more accustomed place of loose forward, rather than secondrbw, to join Graham. If Graham is ruled out, then

the Auckland utility, Gary. Prohm, comes much moreinto the reckoning. u .‘ • The up-and-coming. Bruce-Gall (Taranaki) has? a difficult task seeking to. unseat the tried and trusted second-row quartet: of Tony Coll ’(West Coast), Graeme West (Taranaki), lan Bell (Auckland) and Ray Baxendale (West Coast); But Gall i.< waiting on the substitutes’ bench should any of them falter, and all four i have; had their less memorable ’ moments in recent years.

. The panel is also expected to give a vote of confidence .to its past rankings in . the props.’ Mark Broadhurst (Canterbury) is certainly tne sen"ior min, and it would surprise if • Kevin Tamati (Wellington) was omitted. . Paul Teariki (Wellington), who made his test debut this winter,’ha? the advantage of sharing the New Zealand XII! front row with Broadhurst and Howie Tamati (Taranaki). And surely Alan Rushton (Canterbury) has more to Offer than Brian' Jolley (Auckland), Rick Muru (Waikato) or Dafmy Campbell (Northland).’ Back to. the hookers, then, with Howie Tamati holding top billing. Ravlich has so far nudged Truscott back to' thirdand, ironically, Truscott’s; argument might lose some of its sting if Rushton; was. regarded as a shadow hooker.

The team might be.—Backs O’Donnell, Kemble, Fisher, O’Hara, Kupa, Leuluai, .Whittaker. Dickison, Filipaina (or* Grpen), Ah Kuoi (Captain), Tupaea, J. D. Smith, G. J. Smith, Varley.- • ' ■ ■ .. Forwards: H. Tamati, Ravlich, Broadhurst, Teariki, Rushton, K. R. Tamati, Bell, Baxendale, Coll, West, Edkins, Graham (or Prohm).