The year of the skilled and agile ‘loosie’

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 25

The year of the skilled and agile ‘loosie’

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

When the new tackle-ball law was introduced into NewZealand rugby this vear, there was a lot of expert opinion to the effect that it would benefit sides with fast and efficient loose forwards.

This contention appears to have be borne out bv the final placings in the C.S.B. Cup senior cbmnetition, which ended last Saturday.

Christchurch, the Cup winner, has a particularly good set of loose forwards, as also have New Brighton and University A. which finished second and third respectively. So. too. has Burnside, the side which has made such a dramatic improvement this winter.

Each of these sides has other strengths, but it can be no accident that they share the common asset of loose forwards who are not only very quick about the field, but possess good ball skills as well.

Christchurch was. perhaps, fortunate that in this "year of the loose forward" it should secure the services of Stewart Cron as its senior coach. As a champion player himself in the role, he may have been able to steal a march on his coaching rivals. At the outset, the first choice Christchurch trio was Jock Hobbs. Ray Waghorn and John Mill, with Eddie Cutts as the back-up. Injuries took their inevitable toll and Cutts has had two enforced spells.

Recently. Waghom lost a finger in a non-rugby accident and although the' finger was sewn back on there is doubt whether he will be playing any more rugby.

To fill the gap left by the loss of Cutts and Waghom. Craig Common was promoted from senior B and he played so well last Saturday that Christchurch should continue to field a very potent set of loose forward's. Cron readily admits that it has been the forwards, and especially the loose forwards, who have kept Christchurch at the top this season.

This does make for something bf a change. It has usually been the widespread talents of its backs that have made Christchurch the most successful club in senior rugby over the last 14 vears.

However, Cron does not

put down the backs. "Wayne Tinker and Graham Kehch are two very competent inside backs and we couldn't have done as well as we have without Robbie Deans," he said. Cron believes that now that Craig Green is back from his travels with the New Zealand Colts, the back play will get even better. "Green is a class footballer and with him regularly in the mid-field, we should be able to sharpen our attacking play."

While Christchurch is riding high at the moment as the Cup winner, it is the C S.B. Trophy series, which begins on Saturday, which decides the cham-

pion side. Christchurch looks certain to make a bold tilt at the double, achieved for the first time last winter by Lincoln College, but already' Cron has proved his worth as a coach.

Not only is this his first year of senior coaching, but it is also his first full-time coaching appointment. He

had done only "spot" coaching since he retired from playing in 1977. the year after be became an All Black on the tour to Argentina. Cron claims little of the credit for Christchurch's Cup success. And he is quick to point out that while Murray McEwan is listed as the manager of the side, he is, in fact, the back coach, and his experience of recent senior rugby has been a vital factor in the side's first round triumph. “There is a good blend of experience and youth and we have been fortunate in the quality of the senior B players we have had to call up." said Cron.

If there was a sadness for Christchurch last Saturday, it was that Mick Powley was missing from the front-row. Powley was injured the previous Saturday and he is the side's last remaining link with the Christchurch teams that dominated senior rugbv through the earlv and mid--19705-