All Black coach predicts some surprises

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 72

All Black coach predicts some surprises

PA Auckland Mr Bryce Rope, the All Black coach and the convener of national selectors, predicts a few surprises and even a few raised eyebrows when the teams for the All Black trials and the North v. South game are announced tomorrow.

The All Black trial will be played in Hamilton next Wednesday week. The island game is at Rotorua the following Saturday. Mr Rope made it clear yesterday that the playing personnel in the trial may differ greatly from the island teams selection. “The days have gone when the convener of the island selectors was on the All Black selection panel,” said Mr Rope. “The North and South Island selectors are completely divorced from the national selectors, and are interested only in putting their strongest team on the field. “We national selectors do not interfere in any way, not even in their conversations.” Mr Rope said the only liaison between the three panels (North, South and national) was that the All Black selectors would be made aware of who were in the North and South Island teams before naming the teams for the All Black trials. “I can see a few surprises in the trial teams,” he

said. “Once we know the island teams we can sort things out to give as many players as possible a chance.” "Stu Wilson and Dave Loveridge are now gone from the old team. The other over 30s are still available but we will certainly be looking at some of the younger players.” Mr Rope dropped a hint that one or two players may be placed out of position for the trial. “While our forward play is strong at this time I feel we are a little short in depth for open side flankers and No. 7 in the line-out,” he said. “We have got Frank Shelford and Jock Hobbs for these positions but after them the court is wide open. There is a great opportunity for players to work their way into these positions.” Mr Rope expressed satisfaction that the All Blacks are well served with big, tall locks. There is little reason to believe the old brigade will be disturbed in either the All Black trial or the island game. There is, however, the

possibility the selectors will want a close look at men lacking a little in stature compared with the regulars such as Alan Whetton (Auckland), Andy Earl (Canterbury), Tony Thorpe (Canterbury), Gary Braid (Bay of Plenty) and Neill Ruddell (North Auckland) in the quest to boost the options on an open side flanker and No. 7 jumper in the lineout. The retirement of Wilson, an aging Bernie Fraser and the non-availability of Loveridge also opens up new prospects. It is not without reason that once Mr Rope and his co-selectors, Stan Hill and Brian Lochore, know the make-up of the North and South Island teams, one or two young promising wings and half-backs may be called into the trial squads. For the time being Mr Rope is interested only in picking a side to beat France. “I have video tapes of all the French games in the five nations championship. The French are our first hurdle and we are not considering the side to tour Australia at this stage.”