Otago capable of causing big boil-over

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 44

Otago capable of causing big boil-over

From

JOHN BROOKS,

in Dunedin

An unheralded but highly motivated Otago team and a French selection with a distinct midweek look about it could provide the ingredients for a big rugby boil-over at Carisbrook this afternoon.

The touring Tricolours want desperately to win the match, so that they can approach the first test against the All Blacks in Christchurch this Saturday with a string of four straight victories to boost their confidence. But the side they have chosen for the task has a brittle look about it, and that brittleness could lead to moments of panic against a team which promises to develop into the dark horse of this season’s national rugby scene. The Otago coach, Laurie Mains, was emphatic yesterday that his players were intent on stamping their mark on the game. There would be no negative approach as a reaction to France’s whipping of Wellington last week-end, he said. In a bold, but controversial, move which highlights the Otago attitude, Mr Mains has chosen his two gifted half-backs, David Kirk and Dean Kenny, to partner each other behind the scrum — “simply because they are the two classiest backs in the province.” Uncharacteristically, France has not shown such disregard for convention, preferring to rest most of its key players with the international encounter at Lancaster Park in mind. It will certainly have conditions made to order for open rugby. The weather in Dunedin is brilliantly fine, and Carisbrook, after its $BO,OOO face-lift, is splendidly firm and well grassed for the big game. But it is doubtful that the French selection for today’s game will reach the same heights of skill and daring as the shadow test side accomplished on Athletic Park last Saturday. A rather undistinguished line-up includes Henri Sanz and Jacques Gratton, the half-back and blind-side flanker who were added to

the side al the eleventh hour, and the baby of the team, Eric Bonneval, aged 20, who will play his first tour game. Normally a fullback. he has been placed in the centres. France will also have its third captain in four matches, with the elevation in status of Pierre Lacans, the lightweight open-side flanker from the rugby mad centre of Beziers. Before the tour he was spoken of as the successor to Jean-Pierre Rives, the celebrated French captain of the last six years, but it seems likely that France will favour slower, yet bigger, loose forwards for the tests. Mr Mains is well aware of the French ability to use the ball to devastating effect in the backs, but he is unfazed by it. “Any loose ball left lying around will be moved wide swiftly by the French,” he said. “Although their style of passing looks risky to New Zealanders, it is deceptively quick because of the snap of the wrists of the passer. “The intercept looks on, and in a way it is, but if you miss its a certain six points at the other end.” Phil Young, Otago’s captain, celebrated his twentyseventh birthday yesterday with a pledge that his side would win. But he is fully aware of the difficulties which have to be overcome. “If you give them an inch they take a mile — so you can’t allow them an inch,” he said. Mr Mains agreed that an Otago success would not be gained easily. “It is not just a matter of making the first tackle count,” he said. “We have got to make the first five tackles count.” Otago will be at a psychological disadvantage because the players will have to give up their traditional blue jerseys, through a colour clash with the French, and play in gold garb instead.

But France, too, might be put off its stride just as much because the Otago Rugby Union cannot find a tape of the Marseillaise, the French anthem, and there is some suggestion that local officials should burst into chorus as substitutes. Otago does have a fitter coach, however. Laurie Mains, the man who took over from Fergie McCormick as All Black full-back, is in fine fettle. But Jacques Fouroux, the French mastermind, fell over at training yesterday and twisted an ankle. He was chaired from the field by his players and the practice ended. The injury is serious for the tourists. Mr Fouroux’s coaching technique relies heavily on personal participation in training runs. The team doctor, Jean Pene, called from the golf course to tend the stricken coach, said Mr Fouroux’s injury was not too serious. “His left ankle is sprained,” he said. “It will be sore, but it is not too bad.” The teams are.— France.— Bernard Vivies, Patrice Lagisquet, Marc Andrieu, Eric Bonneval, Laurent Pardo; Guy Laporte; Henri Sanz; Jean-Charles Orso; Pierre Lacans (captain), Jean Condom, Alain Lorieux, Jacques Gratton; Daniel Dubroca, Bernard Herrero, Pi-err-Edouard Detrez. Reserves.— Forwards: Philippe Dintrans, Jean-Pierre Garuet, Laurent Rodriguez. Backs: Pierre Berbizier, Philippe Sella, Jean-Patrick Lescarboura. Otago.— David Hamilton; Noel Pilcher, Mike Gibson, John Haggart, Ralph Milne; Dean Kenny; David Kirk; Wayne Graham; Phil Young (captain), Richard Knight, Peter Fisher, Andy Hollander; Trevor McLennan, Ken Bloxham, Steve Hotton. Reserves.— Forwards: John Latta, Mark Hudson, Dave Callan. Backs: Lindsay Smith, John Waldron, Hugh Robson.