Difficult task for N.Z. rugby selectors

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 24

Difficult task for N.Z. rugby selectors

Selecting All Black teams in the last few years has not been especially onerous. A replacement here and there has been all that has been necessary to keep the side in good trim and on a path of reasonable success. But now, after last Saturday’s debacle at Athletic Park, some hard thinking is necessary before the panel of Peter Burke, Bryce Rope and Stan Hill settle on their team for the deciding test against the Springboks at Eden Park on Saturday week. The team will be named after the tourists play Auckland on Saturday, not a game that in itself is likely to provide many answers if Auckland's recent form is any guide. Clive Norling had hardly blown the final whistle at Athletic Park last Saturday than the cry began for wholesale changes. However, the selectors must look at both tests to date and balance performances in the.

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

first at Christchurch against the lesser efforts at Wellington.

There are other considerations as well. The likelihood of a firm ground at Auckland in mid-September is one and the All Blacks can go into the third test safe in the knowledge that the Springboks will try to repeat the tactics of close quarter driving, with the ball off the ground as much as possible, that worked so wonderfully for them at Wellington.

The Springboks risked everything on a pack which, initially, inspired about as much confidence as a halfpriced used car. and the gamble paid off. Can New Zealand afford to be so bold?

Incidentally, the only journalist among the 30 or so travelling with the Springboks who predicted a Springbok victory at Athletic Park with any confidence was John Reason, of the London

“Sunday Telegraph". Mr Reason’s reasons could fill this column, but basically he foresaw weak spots in’ the All Blacks, the weak spots that the Springboks exploited.

Yet even Mr Reason will concede that he was as surprised as anyone that a seasoned All Black side should give away so many kickable penalties against a team with a kicker of the calibre of Naas Botha.

New players at Eden Park might not necessarily correct this failing, but there are other areas where the All Blacks must improve and the most glaring is in the quantity and quality of their possession.

Sad to say, Frank Oliver was of little value last Saturday and he must surely give way to a better line-out forward. With Andy Haden writing better than he is playing — or is it that Louis

Moolman is outclassing him? — New Zealand has serious line-out problems. A possibility is to move Haden forward, where he might do . better jumping against Johan, de ; Villiers Visser and'introduce a new No. 5 but s who? Auckland’s Gary Whetton shows promise. but this is hardly the time to call on boys to do men’s work.

Gary Knight must be restored' to the front row, even if it requires a plea through Federated Fanners for volunteers to milk his cows. His return would make a big difference, for his replacement. Greg Burgess, got rather lost in the crush last Saturday.

The other forward under threat is Ken Stewart. After being such a potent force at Christchurch, Stewart was barely sighted at Wellington and if Frank Shelford plays anywhere near as well for Bay of Plenty against the Springboks today as he did for the New Zealand Maoris

last week then he would have to be seriously considered. The backs present a rather different problem. Should the selectors stick with the line of the first two tests in the hope that better ball will rejuvenate it, or opt for a whole new set? There must surely be thought given to moving Stuart Wilson back to the wing. He is clearly uncomfortable at centre, and his talents are being wasted there. Furthermore, Gerrie Germishuys looks to have Fred Woodman’s measure. The other back who is finding the company a bit rich is the full-back, Allan Hewson. A firm Auckland pitch might help restore his confidence, but a wiser course would be to shift Doug Rollerson to full-back and he could also take over the goal-kicking. Eddie Dunn would have strong claims to be the new first five-eighths, if only for the quality of his chip kicking for the Maoris. A new back division could, therefore, read Dave Loveridge. Dunn, Stephen Pokere, Lachlan Cameron, Wilson, Bernie Fraser and, at fullback, Rollerson. The big question is whether the All Black selectors are prepared to ring such changes at this stage of the series. However, one thing is certain: unless the All Blacks come up with something different, be it in players or approach, this series is going to be lost.