All Blacks undermined

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 17

All Blacks undermined

Should the Wallabies take a step towards capturing the Bledisloe Cup by winning the rugby test in Sydney tomorrow, one of the contributing factors will be the absurd itinerary followed by the All Blacks. The three matches leading up to the international have been against South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria — all “soft” sides which collectively yielded 236 points in

the All Black cakewalks. These games provided the worst possible preparation for a team which is now to be confronted by a Wallaby combination full of resolve in the forwards and rich in attacking talents in the backs. The All Blacks will feel they have run into a brick wall. The three matches provided the New Zealand

JOHN BROOKS

players with a false idea of their ability, and piles of points, including the world record which Robbie Deans greeted with faint disdain. They also involved the All Blacks in a vast amount of travelling, exposed the team’s leaders, Andy Dalton and Murray Mexted, to injury, and dampened what little zeal there is for the code in the far-flung states.

Bryce Rope, was quoted as saying that the 99-0 drubbing of South Australia was “worthless,” from the point of building up for the first test. He was right, of course, but that was scarcely the players’ fault. They were placed in the invidious position of facing this, and two other fledgling sides whose only chance was for the All Blacks to get dizzy from running back to half-way, after so much try-scoring. Had the New Zealand players eased up on their outgunned opponents they would have been criticised for poor form. So they took the only possible course and annihilated their rivals. Neither line of action would help them tackle the Wallabies convincingly in Sydney. Muhammad Ali never prepared for his world heavy-weight title fights by training against dwarfs.

The New Zealand Rugby Union should not have agreed to such an ill-bal-anced itinerary, and it is time that it recognises that Australia is a strong rugby nation. The team to play in the gold jersies tomorrow is stronger than the combination which beat the All Blacks in Wellington two seasons ago, and it is certain to make a bold showing.

Australia gave the All Blacks a helping hand by getting rid of its outstanding coach, Bob Dwyer. That did not invite a reciprocal gesture by New Zealand in agreeing to such an extraordinary itinerary.