All Blacks look forward to easier match

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 64

All Blacks look forward to easier match

NZPA staff correspondent Clermont Ferrard A French selection adventurous in spirit but probably lacking the skill and forward power to mount a sustained challenge is the prospect that faces the All Blacks at Clermont Ferrard, early tomorrow (N.Z. time).

The New Zealanders, having flown south from Alsace into the heartland of French rugby, are rather ironically expecting an easier game than in their 15-13 first-up win in Strasbourg. The French selection appears nowhere near the strength of the Strasbourg selection and has something of a provincial- flavour, with ten players from the local district. The main club in the area, Montferrand, supplies two of the three internationals in the selection side — the halfback and captain, Yves Lafarge; and the first five eighths Roger Aguerre. Lafarge toured New Zealand in 1979 and the French selectors surprised by playing him ahead of the more established Jerome Gallion in the first test.

Paul Lafarge had rather a wretched afternoon at the hands of Mark Donaldson and the All Black loose forwards and almost his only bright spot was in making the sharp break which led to the memorable 80-metre try late in the game by Patrick Mesny. Since that inauspicious debut, Lafarge has played only oncemore for France, coming on as a replacement against Ireland earlier this year. Aguerre has played just one international for France, against Scotland in 1979 but

he has a reputation as a fine goal-kicker.

The other international is the lock, Alain Guileert, who played eleven times for France between 1975 and 1979, including two caps against New Zealand in 1977. Guileert is now considered to be past his best but the French selection will be relying on him and the No. 8. Eric Champ,*to win line-out balls against Andy Haden, Jock Ross and Geoff Old. The French selection also contains a number of France B. players in the full-back, Patrick Bergeal, the centres, Alain Lasczak and Joel Molenat, and the flanker Rene Traille.

i A family name familiar to Iflew Zealanders is also included on the wing where Patrick Bonal, a brother of Jean-Marie Bonal a wing in New Zealand with the 1978 French team — plays. The All Blacks, with Andy Haden, Mark Shaw and Geoff Old having their fourth consecutive game on tour, should carry far too many guns for a fairly mediocre looking French team up front.

Murray Mexted’s rib injury has left the coach, Peter Burke, with few options when selecting the loose trio, but the situation should be relieved by the arrival of the stop-gap replacement, Brian Morrissey, today.

Fingers will be crossed, in

the All Black camp that Graham Mourie comes through the game — his first on tour — without furthr trouble . with his niggling hamstring injury. The teams are:—

French Selection: Patrick Bergeal; Patrick Mermet, Alain Lasczak, Joel Molenat, Patrick Bonal. Roger Aguerre; Yves Lafarge; Eric Champ; Terry Galian, Alain Guilbert, JeanJacques Mathieu. Rene Traille; Pierre de Trez, Patrick Bentaboulet, Jean Luc Lamothe.

. Reserves: Sylvain Selponi. Jean Pierre Dales, Christian Rizon. Jean Tapie, Patrick Rocacher.

New Zealand: Allan Hewson; Stu Wilson, Jamie Salmon. Bernie Fraser, Lachlan Cameron, Doug Rollerson; Andrew Donald; Geoff Old: Graham Mourie, Andy Haden, Jock Ross, Mark Shaw; Wayne Neville, Hika Reid, Rod Ketels.

Reserves: Dave Loveridge, Brian McKechnie, Fred Woodman. Andy Dalton, Frank Shelford. Paul Koteka.