Smith for fourth test

Press, 11 July 1983, Page 21

Smith for fourth test

The New Zealand rugby selectors’ faith in Wayne Smith's fitness for the fourth test against the Lions, in Auckland this Saturday, means that the 1983 All Blacks will equal the achievement of their predecessors of 1966.

In that series. New Zealand made only one change of personnel over the four tests: Malcolm Dick replaced •Spooky” Smith as right ‘ wing for the final game. The remaining 14 All Blacks played in all four tests, each’ of which was won, incidentally, by the home team. This winter the All Blacks are again poised to beat the Lions by four tests to nothing, and only one change has been made in the side over the series.

lan Dunn, the first fiveeighths in the first test, was subsequently replaced by Smith, although there is little doubt that the Canterbury player would have appeared in the initial international of the series, had he not been suffering from a back injury. The luckless Smith suffered a torn groin muscle in the third test in Dunedin. The All Blacks for the fourth tests are.—

Allan Hewson; Stu Wilson (both Wellington), Steven Pokere (Southland). Bernie Fraser (Wellington); Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith (both Canterbury); Dave Loveridge (Taranaki); Murray Mexted (Wellington); Mark Shaw (Manawatu), Andy Haden, Gary Whetton (both Auckland), Jock Hobbs (Canterbury); Gary Knight (Manawatu), Andy Dalton (Counties, captain), John Ashworth (Canterbury). Reserves.— Backs: Andrew Donald (Wanganui), Robbie Deans (Canterbury), Arthur Stone (Waikato). Forwards: Hika Reid (Bay of Plenty), Kevin Boroevich (King Country), Geoff Old (Manawatu).