No attempt to influence referee—Aust. coach

Press, 18 August 1984, Page 72

No attempt to influence referee —Aust. coach

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Whether the final test of the Bledisloe Cup rugby series between New Zealand and Australia will be decided on merit, or whether it will be marred by violence, was debated in both camps yesterday. Impassioned talk by both coaches this week — Mr Alan Jones (Australia) and Mr Bryce Rope (New Zealand) — could result in open confrontation as players attempt to settle outstanding scores. The alternative is that the match will rise above petty retaliation and that the immediate future of the Cup, which is tenuously balanced after Australia’s 16-9 victory in the first test and New Zealand’s 19-15 win in the second, will be decided fittingly. Australia has promised to give its backs rein in this match and New Zealand considers the same action desirable, to tip the series its way. ...

The prospect that today’s match may become a bloodbath has been promoted largely by the Australians. There is a persecution complex in the Wallaby camp — one that draws its strength from injuries suffered by the lock, Steve Cutler in the second test two weeks ago, and by Nigel Holt in Queensland’s match against the All Blacks last Sunday. Both men suffered head wounds, and the Australians are quick to claim that both resulted from All Black forwards’ deliberate use of the boot. Mr Jones warned yesterday that similar acts on Saturday would not be tolerated. “We have come too far to be intimidated,” he said. “There has been a fairly significant catalogue along the way of people being opened up and put off the paddock and we’re not going to stand for that sort of business. “If they want it tough,

they’ll get it tough. If strong arm stuff is needed to win this test then strong arm stuff it will be. “We’re not going to put up with that Mickey Mouse stuff," he added. Tempers have been strained further by tabloid newspaper reports here saying the Australians know who “scarred Cutler for life” and were not willing to stand for similar attacks on their players. Mr Jones vehemently denied suggestions that his comments were deliberately intended to influence the Irish referee, Mr David Burnett. Suggestions are that Mr Jones is merely trying to draw Mr Burnett’s attention to the All Blacks’ rucking techniques in the hope he will police the tourists closely, limiting their effectiveness, but the Australian coach said he had no intention of attempting to influence Mr Burnett, who would control Saturday’s match according to his own conscience.

Mr Rope remains confident that Mr Burnett will allow the All Blacks to play the natural rucking game which is a pillar of their match pattern. “We’ve had Burnett before and we respect him as a referee,” he said. “He plays the advantage rule very, very well and he allows us tb ruck much more than most Northern Hemisphere referees. “Rucking is important and I feel a lot of the upheaval in the Queensland match was caused by their forwards killing the ball.” Mr Rope expects Australia to run the ball more as their lasl tactical resort after a disappointing performance at Brisbane. He also expects line-outs to be a key area, but ultimately he anticipates goal kicking will decide the test Mr Jones partially agrees. He feels Australia must repeat its lineout domination of the first test to have a chance of victory.