Calm and confidence in French camp

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 60

Calm and confidence in French camp

By

JOHN COFFEY

A totally united and ambitious French rugby league team will be opposing South Island at the Show Grounds next Wednesday evening in the first match of its tour of New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. . Louis Bonnery, the youthful national director of coaching in France, said after the side’s arrival in Christchurch last evening that the turmoil of recent controversies had been smoothed over. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Bonnery said that

the players had socialised together immediately -after the aborted French club championship final between Catalan and Villeneuve recently, and that there was no basis to fears that the 10 tourists from those clubs would not play together. “The whole matter is solved, and the players realise the importance of this tour in re-establishing the credibility of France in world rugby league,” Mr Bonnery said. France, begins its rigorous itinerary as the reigning European champjon, the con-

queror of the most recent Kangaroo touring team, and having tied the two-test home series with New Zealand last November. Mr Bonnery regards the tour as vital to the progression of the code in France. Success in Australia and New Zealand has been a major objective since his appointment four years ago, and he promised a professional style of football with fewer inconsistencies than on previous tours. “There has been a widespread tendency to equate France and New Zealand

behind Australia and Britain in strength, but I saw the Kiwis against Britain last season and New Zealand’s game was superior,” he said. “No longer are there huge gaps in standards between nations — the 1980 New Zealanders approached Australia’s level. This tour will sort out Frances position. We could end up top of the world, or lower down — whatever the results, I do not think we will be considered weak,” Mr Bonnery said. Both Mr Bonnery and the tour manager, Mr Robert Rouanet, are more than sa-

tisfied that neutral'referees will be appointed to all of the tests. The threat that some of France’s finest rugby league players will switch to ruigby union after their return — the captain, Joel Roosebrouck, the scrum-half, Yvan Greseque, and centre, Hugues Ratier, have been mentioned in overseas reports as having received offers — no longer troubles Mr Bonnery. The interpreter. Hubie Abbott (an Australian who has played extensively in. France and is travelling with the

team), explained that an agreement has been reached that no footballer maychange codes after reaching 18 years of age. But Abbott does not expect that will end an animosity that extends back to the Second x World War when the Vichy occupational government outlawed rugby league because of its British sympathies and allowed rugbyunion to prosper at its expense. “I don’t see the rivalry ever stopping. The codes compete for juniors and

speciators, and the players , receive -similar rewards,” Abbott said. In Christchurch to meet the tourists was the president of the New Zealand Rugby League. Mr Ron McGregor. But he brought bad news for South Island — its captain and scrum-half. Wally Wilson, • will be required in Auckland on Tuesday for training with the Kiwi first test team. Wilson is the New Zealand reserve back and will not be released to lead South Island.