French captain to play

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 60

French captain to play

PA Wellington The great French flanker, Jean Pierre Rives, heads a star-studded World rugby XV live-up for its match against a Wellington representative side at Athletic Park on April 3.

The match, which will probably be accorded firstclass status, is the feature event of the Poneke Rugby Club’s centenary celebrations.

The match organiser, Duncan Garvey said he was thrilled with the confirmed inclusion of Rives, the mastermind of France’s rugby successes since the late 19705. The blond flanker led France to New Zealand in 1979, the first French side to win a test match in this country. His selection offsets the disappointment at the withdrawal of Ollie Campbell, Ireland’s first five-eighths and goal-kicking machine.

Campbell, who kicked Ireland to the Five Nations title last year, wsa keen to make bis first appearance against a New Zealand side but his club has put pressure on him to stay. He will probably tour New Zealand later with the British Lions.

Mr Garvey is trying to get Argentina’s Hugo Porta, rated by many as the finest first five-eighths in the world, to take Campbell’s place and should know within a week or two. Other confirmed starters at this stage are the Australians, David Campese and Brendan Moon, the All Black wing, Fred Woodman, the French half-back, Gerard Martinez, the Welsh No. 8, Carl Dennehy, the All Black locks Andy Haden and Gary Whetton, and the Maori All Black hooker, Bruce Hemara.