Wallabies hit by injury

Press, 3 September 1982, Page 26

Wallabies hit by injury

PA Pukekohe The touring Australian rugby team were to study a video tape last evening and ponder the whys and wherefores of its 16-40 loss to Bay of Plenty on Wednesday. “We’ve got a video tape of the match which will be compulsory viewing—it will be like the Germans being taken back to Belsen," the Wallaby manager, “Chilla” Wilson, said. Now will begin the reorganisation as the Australians try to fight their way back to form with the crucial third test only 10 days away. Hampering the return to form are injuries to no less than 13 of the touring party of 30. Their first training session yesterday in preparation for Saturday’s match against Counties took on the look of a casualty ward. The team physiotherapist, Richard Dunn, was kept busy as Wallabies made an unend-

ing stream to the sideline for his attention. The injured list hangs manacingly over the tourists as they enter the final stages of their tour and attempt to restore their winning record. The tour captain, Mark Ella, is among the injured, he is nursing a strained shoulder muscle although he will lead the team on Saturday. Secoiid five-eighths, Michael Hawker, who has a dislocated finger and lock Shane Nightingale, who sprained an ankle at training yesterday are two other . members of the match side whose fitness is in doubt. Other players on the casualty list are winger Mick Martin whose calf injury is expected to prevent him playing again on the tour, lock Duncan Hall who has withdrawn from the tour because of back injury but hopes to regain his test place, and his locking part-

ner Phil Clement who suffered concussion in the Bay of Plenty game. Winger Paul Southwell has a severely bruised hand, Bruce Malouf a pinched nerve in his neck, Steve Cutler a badly bruised calf, Ross Reynolds a strained shoulder, * Ross Hanley a dislocated finger, Steve Tuynman a pinched nerve in the lower back and Glen Ella a bad case of toothache. The injury crisis is being mostly felt in the second row where only one of the team’s four specialist locks is fit. Injuries to Cutler, Nightingale and Clements mean that coach Bob Dwyer’s search for a locking partner for Steve Williams in the final test has been thrown into disarray. . Nightingale has been tentatively slotted into the team for Saturday’s match, but after twisting his ankle, his availability must be in doubt. Clements and Cutler are

both strong contenders for the locking berth and their injuries were not the reason for their non-selection. The only other player capable of partnering Williams is specialist No. 8, Ross Reynolds, who as one of the only forwards to stand out against Bay of Plenty, must be the leading contender. The team selected for Sautrday's match, the 12th of the tour, ,is significantly stronger than that which was trounced in Rotorua on Wednesday, containing only three changes from the triumphant second test side. Andrew Slack, who captained Australia on Wednesday, has been put at centre, and out of form Tim Lane returns at first five eighths after his unconvincing performance in Wednesday’s debacle. Nightingale, if fit, ..completes the changes in a side sufficently powerful and talented to topple Counties.