Last chance for All Blacks to impress coach

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 48

Last chance for All Blacks to impress coach

NZPA staff correspndent . Suva The All Black team which will meet Fiji in an unofficial “test” on Saturday took partial shape yesterday when the coach, Bryce Rope, named his side to play Eastern Division in the penultimate match today.

With the “test” so close, the need to rest key players and to field others lacking recent play encroached on Mr Rope’s selection policy. The result is a largely second string side, once again including the three new caps on the tour and filled with players pressing for test selection. Impressions made in today’s match against a fiery Eastern Division side could sway Mr Rope’s thinking on some test positions. Players with real “test” hopes include the prop Kevin Boroevich, who is competing with Scott Crichton for the tight-head position, the lock Murray' Pierce, the flanker Mark Shaw, the centre, Arthur Stone, and full-back Mark Finlay. The All Black team is:— Finlay; Mike Clamp, Stone, Kawhena Woodman, Warwick Taylor, Grant Fox; David Kirk; Murray Mexted (captain); Frank Shelford, Albert Anderson, Pierce, Shaw; Boroevich, John Mills, Brian McGrattan. Reserves:— Backs: Kieran Crowley, Steven Pokere, Andrew Donald. Forwards: Alan Whetton, Crichton, Hika Reid. Finlay, who played his first match for New Zealand last Wednesday, has the potential to tip Crowley out of the side for Saturday. Neither has played a test, though Crowley’s All Black experience is greater than Finlay’s and they approach this match evenly placed in the selection stakes.

Crowley’s form against Western Division was only moderate — he kicked four penalty goals and two conversions from 12 shots at goal — and his appearances in the backline were only moderately successful. His trump card is that he is considered a more reliable goal-kicker than Finlay in spite of his 50 per cent success rate on Saturday. With Wayne Smith rather than Grant Fox likely to play at first five-eighths in the “test,” goal-kicking will become a top priority. Fox will take the kicks in today’s match, so Findlay will not have an opportunity to show his form. The composition of the New Zealand midfield in Saturday’s match is uncertain. Steven Pokere, who has been rested for today’s

game, has had an extremely limited season and seemed to lack match fitness when making his first tour appearance last Wednesday. He is being. challenged by the in-form Stone. Shaw is back to his vigorous, most determined form. He excelled in the first tour match against a President’s XV and again as a replacement in the second last Saturday. The Manawatu flanker has become a key man at training and in team discussions. It seems likely that Shaw will unseat Frank Shelford and partner Jock Hobbs on the side of the All Black scrum in the international. Pierce continues to threaten Gary Whetton’s test role. Though Whetton has a proven partnership with his Auckland teammate, Andy Haden, Pierce’s form recently has been outstanding and a good effort again tomorrow could force Whetton’s relegation. The Wellington props, McGrattan and Crichton, seem likely to front the All Black scrum in Saturday’s match but Boroevich, improving with experience, could complicate the issue by performing well against Eastern. Mr Rope reported all members of the touring party fit yesterday. Hobbs is recovering from his nose injury, received in last Saturday’s match, while cuts, bruises and grazes suffered by other All Blacks are healing. "