All Blacks set for tough introduction to Rumanian rugby

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 36

All Blacks set for tough introduction to Rumanian rugby

NZPA staff correspondent Constanta, Rumania

The All Blacks seem set to receive a good introduction to the hard facts of Rumanian rugby when they play their first match against a South-east/ Constanta Select XV„ at Constanta early tomorrow morning (N.Z. time).

Rumanian rugby officials are pessimistic about the chances of the local team and predict a win to the New Zealanders by as much as 40 points, but those calculations do not take into account the factor of jetlag which the All Blacks are certain to feel as they play on the superb surface of the May 1 Stadium just three days after a 28hour, flight from New Zealand.

The All Blacks will also have to adapt to the pattern of Rumanian rugby and it is here that the Constanta side is likely to provide the most lessons.

Fergus Slattery, the Irish captain who took his province. Leinster, on a tour of Rumania 18 months ag, believes the match will be particularly useful in acquainting the All Blacks with the tough brand of play, especially in tackling, of the Rumanians.

“They will be up against a useful team and will have to look to take the ball wide if they wish to score tries. The Rumanians are.not very dangerous but. they are well

organised on defence." he said. The All Black coach. Peter Burke, is well aware of the need to outflank the Rumanians and his backs devoted a considerable time in their first practice on getting the ball quickly to the wings. Bernie Fraser and Fred Woodman.

The practice brought the first casualty of the tour when Andrew Donald required stitches in his' right hand after splitting the webbing in a collision with Gary Whetton. Donald was later ruled out of the team and his place will be taken by Dave Loveridge.

The Constanta team contains four full 'Rumanian internationals, the centre Gheorghe Varzaru. the wing, Mircea Chiricencus. the prop. Dumitru Musat. and the lock, Gheorghe Caragea. There are also two players, the loose forwards. Constantin Dlorea and Stefan Constantin, who were on the recent Rumanian tour of Scotland. The team has been weakened by the loss of five players to the international

side for Saturday s test and the forward pack seems unlikely to gain more than scraps of possession from set play. Rugby in the Constanta region has a reputation for being more attractive than the rather sterile brand played in recent years by the national team and the side's first five-eighths. Nicolae Dinu. is regarded as a good runner of the ball — if he is sent on to the field with those instructions. The teams are:

NEW ZEALAND: Brian McKechnie: Fred Woodman, Jamie Salmon. Steve Pokere. Bernie Fraser. Doug Rollerson: Dave Loveridge: Geoff Old: Graham Mourie leapt). Andy Haden. Jock Ross. Mark Shaw: Rod Ketels, Hika Reid. Wayne Neville.

Reserves: Lachlan Cameron. Stuart Wilson. Andy Dalton. John Spiers. Frank Shelford. SO UT H-EAST / CONSTANTA SELECT XV: Vasile Ion; Cornel Pllotchi. Gheorghe Varzaru. Mihai Holban. Mircea Chiricencus. Nicolae Dinu; Mihai Marghescu; Constantin Florea; Stefan Constantin. Mihai Nache. Gheorghe Caragea. Florin Constantin: Vasile Ungureanu. Emi-, lian Grigore. Dumitru Musat.