Hobbs in doubt for test

Press, 16 June 1983, Page 32

Hobbs in doubt for test

PA Wellington The participation of the Canterbury flanker, Jock Hobbs, in Saturday’s second test against the British Isles is threatened because of injury and his Auckland counterpart, Alwyn Harvey, will fly to Wellington today act as his understudy. Hobbs strained groin muscles during Canterbury’s match against Marlborough on Tuesday and although he joined the All Black team which assembled in Wellington yesterday, his chances of playing in Saturday’s

match are severely affected. Hobbs will undergo a fitness test when the New Zealand team trains at Trentham, north of Wellington, today and Harvey, who vied with the Cantabrian for the place vacated by Graham Mourie on the open side of the All Black scrum, will step into the side in case of Hobbs’s unavailability. “Jock saw a doctor today and he will try out again tomorrow but we’re hopeful that he will be able to reach the standard of fitness re-

quired,” said the All Black coach, Bryce Rope, yesterday. “Meanwhile Alwyn will be on the first flight from Auckland tomorrow and he will run with the team just in case Jock is not right. “Tomorrow will be our last big training run before the test and so we have to make arrangements to cover the worst possible outcome of Jock’s test. Alwyn is a very experienced forward and so I’m sure he will be able to participate fully whatever happens.”