Scotland taking Wellington seriously

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 32

Scotland taking Wellington seriously

PA Wellington Scotland will play its shadow test side against Wellington at Athletic Park tomorrow with the exception of possibly three positions. The team’s manager, Mr Ken Smith, announced the team shortly before a training session at the Flock House Agricultural College just outside Bulls yesterday. The one new cap in the side is the No. 8, lain Paxton, while the centre, Richard Breakey, has been named to take the place of Keith Robertson who occupied the position against Ireland in

the last of the' Five Nations matches at Murrayfield, on March 21. Apart from this pair the 13 other players all played in the Murrayfield encounter, although Breakey is under pressure from Alastair Cranston, Paxton from Derek White and Bill Cuthbertson from Tom Smith for first test positions against New Zealand at Dunedin on Saturday, June 13. For 11 of the players it will be their first match on tour and there will be considerable interest in the insideback pairing of Roy Laidlaw

(half-back) and John Rutherford — both highly rated individuals. After tomorrow’s match all the players will have had at least one match in New Zealand. The Scotsmen interrupted their coach journey from s Taumarunui to Wellington ? yesterday to train at the ? academic institution where | the principal, is the present 1 North - Island selector and f former All Black coach, Mr j John Stewart. ' The notable absentee from the training field was the full-back and captain, Andy

Irvine, who did not train because of a groin strain, but Mr Smith was quick to point out that Irvine’s injury was a minor one and that all 26 players in the side were considered available for selection.

Meanwhile, two of Wellington’s senior players, Tu Wyllie and Murray Mexted, both passed fitness tests on Wednesday night, and were cleared to play for tomorrow’s match.

Both had missed last Saturday’s All Black trials in Wellington and did not play

for their clubs either the next day. But Wellington’s selectorcoach, lan Upston, was sufficiently impressed with their efforts at training to include them in the team for Saturday. The No. 8 Mexted. has not played since suffering a combination of concussion and an ankle injury in a club match on April 23. The mercurial Wyllie aggravated a back injury playing for Wellington against Wanganui last week, which forced him to pull out of the All Black trial.

There are several changes in the team from that which beat Wanganui, 24-6. The half-back, John Heale, who was not available for that match, has regained his position at the expense of Angus Douglas, who reverts to the reserves. In the forwards Mexted replaces John Wootton, who now moves to flanker ant Mike O’Leary has beet shunted into the reserves. The prop, Kevin Macaulay, is back, too, in place of Brian McGratten, another now in the reserves. Although a reserve for the

All Black trials the Marist St Pats lock, Gerard Wilkinson, can not even claim a place in the squad. t . My Upston has retained Steve Hinds and Brendon Gardner as his locking combination though neither has outstanding claims as a line out jumper. Should the forwards bo able to win a good supply o ’ possession against Scotland. Wellington has a backline oi" truly exciting possibilities. The teams are:— Wellington: Allan Hewson: Bernie Fraser. Stu Wilson, Mike Clamp, Jamie Salmon, Tu Wyllie:

John Heale: Murray Mexted; John Wootton. Steve Hinds. Brendon Gardner. Maurice Standish; Kevin Macaulay, Frank Walker. Scott Crichton. Reserves: Angus Douglas. Brian Cederwall. Warrick Proctor. Tony Meachen, Brian McGratten. Mike O’Leary. Scotland: Andy Irvine; Bruce Hay. Richard Breakey, Steve Munro. Jim Renwick. John Rutherford; Roy Laidlaw, lain Paxton; David Leslie. Alan Tomes, Bill Cuthbertson, Jim Calder; Jim Aitken, Colin Deanes. Norrie Rowan. Reserves.—Backs: Gordon Hunter. Peter Duds, Ron Wilson. Forwards: Ken Lawrie, Gerry McGuinness. Derek White.