Wellington favoured for national rugby title

Press, 6 June 1981, Page 16

Wellington favoured for national rugby title

By

JOHN BROOKS

The nature of Wellington's victory against Scotland last week-end should serve to make Stuart Wilson and his men favourites for the national first division rugby title this winter. The team is chockful of talent in the backs, and the forwards form a willing bunch, strong in scrummaging and eager in the rucks. One of the shining features of Wellington's display against Scotland was • the authoritative play of Wilson at centre. Although rated as one of New Zealand’s best right wings for many years, the ebullient Stu prefers playing at centre, for his attacking qualities are given greater rein in midfield. He made a mockery of the Scottish centre's defence with his dodgy runs. In the previous match for Wellington against Wanganui, he scored three tries from

centre, one of them a brilliant solo effort from 70m. Gathered around Wilson are match-winners in abundance, notably Bernie Fraser, the All Black left wing who scored two tries against Scotland. He has sharpened his skills, and has developed into an extremely competitive player, although he needs to discard his headslapping form of defence. The New Zealand centre against Fiji last season, Jamie Salmon, was a success when tried at second fiveeighths in the Scottish match. He is an inventive attacker, a good distributor of possession, and his tackling is sound. Add to these men Tu Wyllie, the smart, scampering little first five-eighths, Allan Hewson, a clever runner from full-back, and Mike Clamp, a wiry young right wing who earned an All Black trial last month, and

you have an attacking force of high calibre. John Heale, the half-back, is not a “Nectar” Stevens nor a Dave Henderson, but his clearances are adequate and he is seldom caught napping. Wellington has strong reserve backs in Brian Cederwall, a former national trialist at full-back, Warwick Proctor, a high-scoring wing, and Angus Douglas, an able little half-back who is the son of the accomplished Bay of Plenty first five-eights of the same name.

Murray Mexted,. the lofty All Black No. 8, and Brendon

Gard’ner, a veteran lock, are the best known of the forwards and the most successful line-out leapers — not that Wellington commands much ball from this source. A lock who might have won Wellington more ball in the air is the youthful giant, Gerard Wilkinson. But the beefy Steve Hinds has been preferred to Wilkinson, although Hinds did not showmuch appreciation of the offside law against Scotland. With his socks rolled around his ankles, and his beard and his barrel chest jutting forward, Scott Crichton is a distinctive figure in

Wellington’s front row. He is a good one, too. and his power at the scrummage and his diligence at the ruck make him a decided asset. Wellingtons second phase success is built on the speed and certainty of Morrie Standish in the loose. His anticipation of developments and his reliable trapping set the ball up splendidly for his fellow forwards. The scrummaging, too, has become very good, and the national Maori hooker. Frank Walker, rams home the advantage. Under the wise guidance of Mr lan Upston, Wellington has beaten Wairarapa-Bush and Wanganui in shake-down matches. But the win against Scotland show-ed the side’s capabilities, and it will attempt to revive New- Zealand's flagging fortunes across the Tasman when it takes on New South Wales and Queensland later this month.