Grim week continues

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 40

Grim week continues

NZPA staff correspondent Canberra A joyless week continued for the All Blacks yesterday when they defeated Australian Capital Territory, 40-16, in grim conditions at Rugby Park, Canberra. It was a thoroughly unlovable match — played on a day of penetrating cold in front of a large, unforgiving crowd and featuring play which was mostly ridiculous, seldom sublime. There were displays of ill temper in keeping with the mood which has descended on the All Black camp in recent days and the match maintained the stucatto rhythm of a misfiring cylinder.

There was a total lack of flow or tempo. Players had switched off before the match began and backs, particularly, never produced

the sort of games which brighten reputations. New Zealand’s forwards were superior to their opponents though they only occasionally had complete control. They dominated in line-outs and in the second phase but could not attain any real momentum to get things working to their advantage. “It was a bits and pieces sort of game,” the captain for the day, Jock Hobbs, commented. “We’re only just happy with it. We wanted to control things and play patterned rugby but we weren’t always able to."

New Zealand’s forward performance was commanding rather than controlled. Murray Pierce, the big WeUington lock, had an outstanding line-out match un-

til he was forced to limp from the field with a gashed calf midway through the second half. The Canterbury full-back, Robbie Deans, collected 16. points, converting five of New Zealand’s six tries and adding two penalties to take his personal tally on tour to 101. Another notable performance for the All Blacks came from the half-back, David Kirk, who is also pressing for test selection. Scorers:— New Zealand 40 (Mike Clamp 3, Hika Reid 2, Frank Shelford tries; Robbie Deans two penalty goals, five conversions) beat A.C.T. 16 (lan Vest try, three penalty goals; David Campese dropgoal). Half-time: New Zealand 21-6.