Forwards main problem

Press, 25 October 1982, Page 26

Forwards main problem

NZPA staff correspondent Cardiff The New Zealand Maori forwards can expect some concerted lineout and scrummaging work over the next ' few days to remedy shortcomings in their display against Cardiff. This was the verdict of captain, Paul Quinn, and coach, Percy Erceg, who both noted deficiencies in those areas which, if not corrected, could greatly restrict the. ball possession to the talented Maori backs. The lineouts were a par-

ticular problem in the first half when Hud Rickit and Carl Baker, had little joy in the middle and at the tail of the lineout respectively against Welsh international, Robert Norster, and England cap, John Scott. “It’s simply a question of practice and timing to get the lineout jumping right,” Quinn said. The Maoris scrum backpedalled alarmingly against the Cardiff scrum at times and Quinn attributed this to the Welsh props’ habit of grabbing their opposites be-

fore they went down, thereby causing > the Maoris to lose momentum.' “We are used to taking a second grab and settling in. but they came straight in over the mark," he said. Quinn said that he felt the Maori backs had been “fidgety” in the first half and had tried too much too early. “The forwards were able to take the pressure off them in the second half by driving forwards before releasing the ball and the backs looked a lot better,” he said. The Maoris had grown in

confidence as the game progressed. but had tended to relax towards the end, Mr Erceg said. “I am sure that played a major part in their try and is something we will have to watch. "Over all however I am quite happy and the game certainly gave us something to work on,” he said. The Maoris reported no serious injuries, but both fullback Warren McLean and centre Arthur Stone have leg injuries • which may rule them out of Wednesday’s game against Maesteg'