French new scrum-half

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 24

French new scrum-half

By

JOHN COFFEY

France will play rugby league at the Show Grounds on Wednesday evening, but one of the French will be wearing the white-and-black jersey of the South Island. Murray French, the Canterbury scrum-half in all four of its matches last season, was yesterday brought into the South team. He replaces his successor in the Canterbury side, Wally Wilson, who has been ruled out because of his selection •as reserve back for the New Zealand first test squad. The only- other alteration to the South combination is in- the reserves. Wayne Wallace (Canterbury) returns as the forward substitute in place of the injured Dougal Adams (Canterbury).

Although Danny Carson had to retire injured during Canterbury’s Rugby League Cup defence against Northland on Saturday and later had stitches inserted in a head cut, he still expects to take his-place in the secondrow. The French have wasted little time in getting back into a football frame of mind since their arrival in Christchurch on Friday evening- " They had a preview of the standard of. provincial rugby league when they watched Canterbury salvage a fortunate 31-30 win over Northland. If Canterbury’s disappointing display might have them wondering how South Island upset Australia last winter, the vigour and enthusiasm of Northland might te a warning of what to expect against New Zealand Maoris at Whangarei.

Louis Bonnery, the national director of coaching in France, and the tour coach, Roger Garrigue, surprised experienced observers when they put their players through a rigorous two-hour training run on Saturday morning. But that is to be the norm for a side that has pledged itself to restore France’s standing as a rugby league force. Today the side to meet South Island will train morning and afternoon at Hagley Park. Even the persistent rain which fell in Christchurch

yesterday did not worry the affable Mr Bonnery. “It rains in France, too,” he said, although he added he would prefer a firm surface to start the tour with Mr Bonnery and the other French officials have taken a keen interest in the composi- I tion of the South team. Tales of the outstanding forward play which caused the defeat of the Kangaroos have reached them, and they recognised the names of Ray Baxendale and Barry Edkins from the 1980 Kiwi squad in France. .