Wyllie at the crossroads?

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 40

Wyllie at the crossroads?

By KEVIN McMENAMIN On the surface, the decision of the Canterbury Rugby Union on Tuesday night to hold over until its meeting next week discussion on its nominations for the All Black selection panel next year would seem innocent enough. . After all, the nominations, both for All Black and Island selectors, do not close until October 22. However, there is one very significant difference between this week and next. When the union meets next Tuesday the representative season will be over and the Canterbury coach, Alex Wyllie, might be more disposed to make known his plans. Mr Wyllie has steadfastly refused to make any comment on what he hopes to be doing next season, and his reluctance is understandable at a time when his prime responsibility is keeping the Ranfurly Shield in Christchurch. Mr Wyllie is coming to the end of his third season as the Canterbury selectorcoach and, given the success

the side has enjoyed in this period, he could probably have the job for another three, if he wanted it. As to higher office, Mr Wyllie has never disguised the fact that he could be interested, although he has little time for a system which would require him to wait at least six years before he would get around to coaching the All Blacks. But if he does want to move up through the ranks he would have to move shortly, and it could be that he feels that the time is ripe. He does not believe in coaches staying with the one team for too long, on the grounds that fresh ideas, and, perhaps, a fresh face, are needed to keep a team on its toes. If Mr Wyllie is thinking of standing down from Canterbury and making a bid for the New Zealand panel (or possibly the South Island one, although this seems unlikely) it does put the Canterbury union in a slightly difficult spot. It is already obliged to nominate “Tiny” Hill, who it has supported for a number

of years as he has made his way through the Island panel to the national panel, where he is junior only to the present All Black coach, Bryce Rope. It is not impossible, and there are precedents, that Canterbury could nominate both men. It could easily be argued that two men are being nominated to fill three vacancies.

There are other complications, though, and not the least of them is that there is a movement afoot in the North Island to have Brian

Lochore, third in the pecking order behind Messrs Rope and Hill, take over next year, if only because he is seen as the best equipped person to coach the side in South Africa. Some 10 years ago another Canterbury coach, Sir James Stewart, made a bid for the top job, with nothing more than a background, albeit a very successful one, as a provincial coach. It is said he came within a vote or two of “beating the system.”

Mr Wyllie might be just as strong a candidate, but with Mr Lochore as a rival it would be extremely difficult for him to walk straight into the coaching job.

So a better idea of what Mr Wyllie hopes to do next winter will be revealed when the union discusses, and presumably makes, its nominations next week. The possibility certainly exists, though, that Saturday’s Bay of Plenty game could be the last time Mr Wyllie sends Canterbury into action. The All Black selectors, and coach, for next year will probably be determined

at the November meeting of the N.Z.R.F.U. council. The emphasis will then turn to the manager, who is unlikely to be named until February. Mr Dick Littlejohn, who took over this year, is almost certain to be available again, and despite one or two public relations slips he did quite a good job with the All Blacks in Australia this year. He was especially liked by the players. However, he could face challenges, if only because of the importance of the South African tour, and there could be one from Mr R. W. Thomas, a past president of the Canterbury union who managed the All Blacks in 1978 and 1979 and was widely praised for the job he did. Mr Thomas said yesterday that he would not rule out the possibility that he might stand again. “There are a number of factors to be taken into account before I could make any decision, but it’s a possibility. I don’t think my career in rugby has come to an end yet,” he said.