Truscott returns to favour

Press, 11 May 1981, Page 36

Truscott returns to favour

* By

JOHN COFFEY

Paul 4 Truscott, who was left" out of the South Island rugby league team for not attending the preliminary coaching school in Greymouth, is one of nine Canterbury players chosen for the final New Zealand trial at the Show Grounds on May 23. The versatile Truscott, a surprise omission from the trial which preceded the 1980 tour to Britain and France, is to hook for The Rest in opposition to his provincial team-mate, Alan Rushton. In addition to Rushton, Canterbury has only the test full-back, Michael O’Donnell, in the New Zealand XHI, although Wally Wilson and Ray Baxendale are the substitutes. The youthful David

Campbell and Peter Klink have earned places in The Rest three-quarters, Terry Gillman and Truscott are in the pack, and Barry Edkins is reserve forward. The South Island has been well treated by the five-man selection panel, in spite of its 27-28 loss to Auckland yesterday. Only Michael McEwen has been overlooked from the side which started the match, and West Coast is represented by Tony Coll, Bernard Green, Wayne Dwyer and Chris Menzies (reserve). Three former internationals from Auckland, Dennis Williams (stand-off), Lyndsay Proctor (prop), and lan Bell (loose forward), have returned to fill the gaps left by the transfers of Fred Ah

Kuoi, Mark Broadhurst, and Mark Graham to Sydney. Of the 26 players who travelled >to Britain and France, Bruce Dickison’ is also overseas, Gordon Smith and Howie Tamati are. injured, John Whittaker is ill, and Nolan Tupaea, Paul Te Ariki, and Ricky Muru have been discarded. James Leuluai and Shane Varley, who withdrew from the Auckland team because of injuries, are in the New Zealand XIII, Varley apparently recovering quickly from a broken bone in a hand. The surprise omission when the sides were announced in Auckland last evening was Nick Wright, a 1978 Kiwi full-back who scored a try and five goals

against South and won the “player of the match” award. Provincial abbreviations are:— (A.) Auckland), (C.) Canterbury. (T.) Taranaki, (Wai) Waikato, (Well.) Wellington, (W.C.) West Coast. The teams are:— New Zealand XIII.-Michael O'Donnell (C.); Gary Prohm (A.). Bernie Green (W.C.). James Leuluai (A.), Dane O'Hara (A.); Dennis Williams (A, captain). Shane Varley (A.); Lyndsay Proctor (A.), Alan Rushton (C.), Kevin Tamati (Well.); Graeme West (T.) Tony Coll (W.C., vice-captain); lan Bell (A.). Reserves: Wally Wilson (C.), Ray Baxendale (C ). The Rest.—Reserves: Gary Kemble (A., captain); David Campbell (C.), Ron O’Regan (A.), Peter Klink (C.), Kevin Fisher (Waik.); Bill Kells (Waik.), Brian Conning (A.); Terry Gillman (C.), Paul Truscott (C.j, Bruce Gall (T.): Owen Wright (A., vice-captain), Wayne Dwyer (W.C.); Billy Ashurst (Waik.). "Reserves: Chris Menzies (W.C.), Barry Edkins (C.).