Kirwan, Smith in test debuts for All Blacks

Press, 4 June 1984, Page 24

Kirwan, Smith in test debuts for All Blacks

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Two new caps on the wings are the main feature of the All Black team to play France in the first test at Lancaster Park on Saturday week.

The retirement of Stu Wilson meant that one new wing had to be found and, as expected, his place on the right flank has gone to the 19-year-old Aucklander. John Kirwan. The left wing is the Waikato speedster, Bruce Smith, who has been preferred to Wilson's All Black partner since 1979, Bernie Fraser. After 47 games for the All Blacks, including 22 tests, Fraser’s spell in the bigtime rugby may have run its course. The mistakes, particularly in handling and tackling, that have crept into his game in the last 12 months could hardly be ignored. Kirwan is the one new All Black in the team. Smith having been on the tour to England and Scotland last year. Kirwan will be 19 years 183 days on Saturday week, and he will be the thirdyoungest All Black ever. The youngest was Edgar Wrigley, who was 19 years 79 days when he made his debut in 1886 and Pat Walsh was 106 days past his nineteenth birthday at 'his first appearance in 1955. Kirwan beats by seven days the most famous of all teen-age All Blacks, George Nepia. Apart from Smith’s selection ahead of Fraser, the team for the first test was very much as expected. In spite of the departure of his two Wellington partners, Wilson and Fraser, Allan Hewson is still the firstchoice full-back. The absence of Dave Loveridge because of injury means that Andrew Donald continues at half-back after two tests in Britain last year, and the pack is unchanged from that which

opposed the Lions in four home tests last winter. The front row of John Ashworth, Andy Dalton and Gary Knight, returns after none of the three was available for the short British tour. This will be the seventh year that the trio has been together in New Zealand sides. Dalton also resumes the captaincy and he is one of two players who will set new position records in the first test. It will be his twenty-eighth test at hooker, putting him one ahead of the previous re-cord-holder, Tane Norton. Murray Mexted will play his twenty-fifth test at No. 8 and that will put him one up on Brian Lochore, now one of the New Zealand selectors. The game will be Andy Haden’s thirty-eighth test, which will bring him level with Bryan Williams and Kel Tremain. Only lan Kirkpatrick (39) and Colin Meads (55) have played more.

Canterbury and Auckland share the provincial honours with four selections each. The Canterbury four are Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith, Jock Hobbs and Ashworth. Two more, Robbie Deans and Craig Green, are in the reserves. The only non-All Black in the reserves is Alan Whetton, a twin brother of Haden’s locking partner, Gary Whetton. If Alan should play alongside his brother they will become the thirteenth set of brothers to play international rugby for New Zealand, and the first set of twins. If there is an unlucky player it would have to be Deans. He had the better of Hewson in their meeting at Athletic Park on Saturday and although each kicked . five goals — Hewson from nine attempts and Deans from eight — Deans placed the harder kicks. The decision must have been close, with Hewson’s proven ability to win test matches tipping the scales his way. The full team is:— Allan Hewson (Wellington); John Kirwan (Auckland), Steven Pokere (Auckland), Bruce Smith (Waikato); Warwick Taylor (Canterbury), Wayne Smith (Canterbury); Andrew Donald (Wanganui); Murray Mexted (Wellington); Mark Shaw (Manawatu), Andy Haden (Auckland), Gary Whetton (Auckland), Jock Hobbs (Canterbury); John Ashworth (Canterbury), Andy Dalton (Counties, captain), Gary Knight (Manawatu). Reserves.— Robbie Deans (Canterbury), Craig Green (Canterbury), David Kirk (Otago); Alan Whetton (Auckland), Brian McGrattan (Wellington), Hika Reid (Bay of Plenty).