Three new All Blacks for crucial third test

Press, 7 September 1981, Page 34

Three new All Blacks for crucial third test

From KEVIN McMENAMIN. in Whangarei Three new All Blacks have been named for the allimportant third test against the Springboks, at Eden Park next Saturday, one of them a 21-year-old lock in his first full season of provincial rugby. He is Gary Whetton, who played well enough for Auckland against the Springboks 'on Saturday to confirm his potential. However, it is doubtful if many players of his age have been pitched into such deep water. On Saturday Whetton won what line-out ball he did, and most of it was in the first half, against a makeshift opponent, Thys Burger. Next week-end he is expected to mark Louis Moolman, almost certainly the best line-out forward in the world today. Whetton replaces Frank Oliver, who has obviously come to the end of his Ail Black road, a road which started and ended against the Springboks. Whetton may not

be the ideal choice, but he is probably as good as any in the present threadbare locking ranks.

A New Zealand Colt last year, W’hetton is 6ft s‘uin and he weighs just over 16‘ust. He actually believed he had become an All Black two weeks ago, an administrative mix-up resulting in his being told that he was Graeme Higginson’s replacement for the second test. The other two new All Blacks are Stephen Pokere, who finally gets the call which had to come eventually, and the find of the season, the one-man “Bokbuster” from Opotiki, Frank Shelford. Pokere, who is 23, will play at second five-eighths, Lachlan Cameron moving to centre and Stuart Wilson returning to his true position on the right wing. Fred Woodman, the right wing in the first two tests, has been pushed into the reserves. The 26-year-old Shelford, whose firebrand disnlavs in

his two matches to date against the Springboks — the New Zealand Maoris and Bay of Plenty — seem incongruous with his occupation of a clothing firm executive, takes over as the open side flanker, and the line-out rear-gunner, from Ken Stewart, who may also be finished as an All Black. The . only other change from the side which lost the second test at Athletic Park is that Gary Knight returns at tighthead prop, his second test replacement, Greg Burgess, seemingly doomed to become one of the more forgettable All Blacks. Knight, thankfully for NewZealand, is now in a position to have a few cowless days. The selectors, Messrs Peter Burke, Bryce Rope and Stan Hill, have elected to stick with Allan Hewson at full-back despite his shaky display in the second test. It is a calculated risk, the hope obviously being that on a firm Eden Park, and with his Wellington team-mates.

Wilson and Bernie Fraser, to support him from the wings, Hewson will rediscover the fine form he showed against Scotland on the park earlier in the season. The retention of Hewson, plus the inclusion of Pokere, leaves little doubt that the All Blacks are going to try and run the ball next Saturday. Boldness could well be the friend the side covets most. The third test team is: Allan Hewson (Wellington); Stuart Wilson (Wellington). Lachlan Cameron (Manawatu). Bernie Fraser (Wellington), Stephen Pokere (Southland). Doug Rollerson (Manawatu); Dave Loveridge (Taranaki); Murray Mexted (Wellington); Mark Shaw (Manawatu). Andy Haden (Auckland). Gary Whetton (Auckland), Frank Shelford (Bay of Plenty); Gary Knight (Manawatu), Andy Dalton (Counties, captain), John Ashworth (Canterbury). Reserves: Mark Donaldson (Manawatu), Brian McKechnie (Southland), Fred Woodman (North Auckland), Geoff Old (Manawatu). Hika Reid (Bay of Plentv). Rod Ketels (Counties).