Top kickers not in Lions lineup

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 30

Top kickers not in Lions lineup

The British Lions will face Canterbury tomorrow without either of their champion goalkickers, Ollie Campbell or Dusty Hare. This will be the first time on the tour that one of the two has not played.

The goal-kicking will probably be left to Hugo McNeill, who has had nothing more than a few long-range shots at goal in his earlier tour games. Given their injury problems, and the desire to take no risks with Campbell before the third test next Saturday, the Lions have named a strong side to play Canterbury. It is:— Hugo McNeill; John Carleton, Clive Woodward, David Irwin, Roger Beard; John Rutherford, Roy Laidlaw; lain Paxton; Peter Winterbottom, Maurice Colclough, Steve Bainbridge, John O’Driscoll; Staff Jones, Colin Deans, lan Milne. Reserves. — Dusty Hare, Ollie Campbell, one other back to be named; Graham Price, Ciaran Fitzgerald, John Beattie. O’Driscoll has been named as the captain, and this will be the first time that he has filled this role on the tour. There are 11 changes from the side which beat North Auckland on Saturday, and there are a number of players who might be on trial for selection for the third test. McNeill may need to do more than kick goals if he is

to hold his test position. He is being hotly challenged by Gwyn Evans, whose worth as a running full-back has been revealed in recent games. Carleton, Baird and Irwin all played in the second test in Wellington, and although he will fill his usual fly-half position tomorrow a good game by Rutherford could increase his chances of getting into the test side as a centre, where he played against North Auckland. Paxton, who injured a leg in the Wellington test, will be intent in proving that he is fully fit again, and O’Driscoll may need to prove more than his fitness if he is to hold his test place. The Canterbury team was announced at training yesterday morning, and it is as expected. The selector, Alex Wyllie, however, has kept four players guessing by bracketing two in two positions. They are Dale Atkins and Andy Earl at No. 8 and Albert Anderson and Kerry Mitchell as Tony Thorpe’s locking partner. Only one player was not considered because of injury and he is the Lincoln College hooker, Gwyn Williams, who damaged a shoulder

when playing against West Coast last week. The Canterbury team is:— Robbie Deans; Craig Green, Victor Simpson, Garry Hooper; Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith; Bruce Deans; Dale Atkins or Andy Earl; Don Hayes (captain), Tony Thorpe, Kerry Mitchell or Albert Anderson, Jock Hobbs; John Ashworth, John Mills, Murray Davie. Reserves. — Andrew McMaster, Kieran Keane, Allan Lindsay, Phil Robson and the two bracketed player omitted. Once again Green has been moved to the wing just to get him into the team. Although clearly the best back in Canterbury this season, Green still rates behind the University duo, Taylor and Simpson, for the two mid-field positions. Ashworth is the solo survivor from the last Canterbury side to play the Lions, in 1977. Ashworth scored a try that day when Canterbury was beaten, 14-13, by an Andy Irvine penalty goal in the last two minutes. The Canterbury side will assemble this afternoon and have a light training run before staying overnight in a city hotel.