Rival’s recent form a worry for Canty

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 60

Rival’s recent form a worry for Canty

From KEVIN McMENAMIN, in Palmerston North Canterbury will be looking for a big effort from its forwards when it meets Manawatu today in a game which is vital to both sides in their pursuit of the national first division rugby title.

The Manawatu pack is the most experienced in the country and as Canterbury has found to its dismay in the past it has - a technical excellence which is very difficult to counter. There were thoughts a fewweeks ago that Manawatu might be waning as a first division power. However, since losing its first two championship matches, to Otago and Counties, it has bounced back with victories over North Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Wellington. A 49-3 lacing of Bay of Plenty, which has since beaten Australia. was followed, last Sunday, by a 28-9 thumping of Wellington, a game in which the Ranfurly Shield holder was demolished in both the forwards and the backs. One change has been made in the side which beat Wellington. The durable Frank Oliver was pinned beneath a trailer while working on his brother's farm last Sunday

morning and he had to withdraw. His injuries proved to be only minor and the word yesterday was that while Oliver is fit for service, the trailer is still unuseable. In addition to Oliver. Manawatu has three other All Black forwards — Mark Shaw. Garrv Knight and Geoff Old. The other four, Terry Sole, Murray Rosenbrook, Bruce Hemara, and Terry Clare, are all hardened campaigners. Canterbury, generally this season, has struggled when its forwards have not been able to get clearly on top. The Hawke’s Bay game last week was an exception. Then the forwards had total control. but the points would not come. Against North Auckland on Wednesday the home pack held Canterbury for almost the entire game and Canterbury was lucky to score its winning points in the last eight minutes.'

Rain is forecast for Palmerston North today, and this is another reason to expect that the game is going to be contested largely in the forwards. One advantage Canterbury can count on is line-out height and it will be important that ball won here is used intelligently. The Canterbury selector. Mr Alex Wyllie. is leaving until this morning a decision about whether Victor Simpson will play centre or wing, although if Warwick Taylor is passed fit Simpson will probably get his way and return to centre. Manawatu has an interesting backline. Mark Donaldson and Ken Granger provide experience, but there are three players under 20 — the full-back. lan Wood, the centre who is only 18. and Matene Love,'the first fiveeighths who scored twm fine tries against Wellington. Canterbury, with four wins from its five championship

games, must win today if it is to stay on target for the title. Some of its players, particularly among the forwards. have had a lot of hard rugby lately, and much will depend on their commitment. Manawatu must 6e slightly favoured, but Canterbury had made a habit this winter of rising to the occasion and Mr Wyllie has made the side very aware of the fact that today is an occasion when that something extra will be required.

Canterbury: Robbie Deans: Craig Green. Victor Simpson. Garry Hooper: Warwick Taylor. Wayne Smith: Bruce Deans: Dale Atkins; Don Hayes, Kerry Mitchell. Albert Anderson. Jock Hobbs: Murray Davie. John Mills, John Ashworth. Manawatu: Mark Finlay: Ken Granger. lan Wood. Warfen Chapman; Lachie Cameron. Matene Love; Mark Donaldson; Geoff Old: Mark Shaw. Frank Oliver. Murray Rosenbrook, Terry Sole; Gary Knight. Bruce Hemara. Terry Clare.