Steve Scott’s rugby future in doubt

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 56

Steve Scott’s rugby future in doubt

By KEVIN McMENAMIN Hopes that the former Canterbury and All Black half-back, Steve Scott, had of getting back into rugby this year have just about been dashed. Scott missed all of last season after having major surgery on his left knee in May, and his target then was to make a comeback this year. However, although the operation was a success the knee has not mended to the point where Scott could seriously contemplate a return to rugby. “I can run on it all right, but when it comes to changing direction in a hurry and taking knocks on it I could be in a lot of trouble. The

risk is too great at the moment,” said Scott yesterday. However, he has not given up hope completely. “Maybe later in the season I might give it a try, but I doubt it. I think it will have to be next year if I am ever going to play seriously again.” Scott said he had enjoyed the break from rugby last winter, although there were times when watching his Shirley club side he “would have loved to have got out there.” At the age of 28, Scott realises that time is not exactly on his side, but he stresses the point that if he does return to senior rugby it will be with an eye to

winning his place back in the Canterbury team. “I appreciate that it would not be an easy task, especially with Bruce Deans now firmly established as the Canterbury half-back, but if I am going to play club I would want to try for the top stuff as well,” he said. Even if he does return to full fitness, Scott would have an immediate problem in becoming the first-choice Shirley half-back, a position filled last year by the Canterbury reserve, Allan Lindsay. If he had been in a position to make a bid for a place in the team this year, Scott had intended to try to win selection as a second

five-eighths, a role he filled with great brilliance in his days at Shirley Boys’ High School. Unless his knee does improve dramatically in the near future, and fate would probably also have to take a hand, it seems that Scott will finish with three games short of 50 for Canterbury. The total would have been much higher had he not been in strong competition with Gary Barkle for three seasons. Scott’s last game for Canterbury was against Hawke’s Bay at Hastings mid-way through the 1982 representative season. This was a match Canterbury lost completely against the run of play and Scott was

one who was made to pay the price. He was replaced by Deans for the last seven games, including the successful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington. Scott admitted that his desire to get back into top rugby did have something to do with his dismissal two years ago. “No-one likes going out like that, and it would be silly to say that I did not have a point to prove.” Yet even if Scott should have cause to reflect sadly on his last game for Canterbury, bis debut would conjure up happier memories. This was in 1976 when he took the field at Lancaster Park against Ireland as a

replacement for an injured Lyn Davis. That day Scott was something of a blond bombshell, his long flowing passes drawing praise from all quarters. Another debut Scott can savour was his first appearance for the All Blacks. This was when he was called in as a replacement for Mark Donaldson on the 1980 tour of Australia and in his first match, against Queensland Country, he scored four tries in the course of a brilliant display. But that tour was his first and, presumably, last as an All Black, and many people thought he was harshly treated in not getting the trip to France late in 1981.

When Donaldson withdrew the selectors went for a little-known half-back from Wanganui by the name of Andrew Donald, who, as it turned out, was a wise choice. The reason Scott missed out may be found in his inconsistency. There were some, too, who felt that he tried to do too much on his own. But then so did Sid Going and while Scott may not warrant mention in the same breath as the little North Auckland man there is no doubt that Scott, on his day, was a champion footballer. Unfortunately the chance for him to further express his talents may have gone for good.