Test today for Mr Rope

Press, 2 November 1984, Page 44

Test today for Mr Rope

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Any rugby coach who has gone through a season with 19 wins from 20 games, is much liked by his players, has a bright and open personality and, so far as is known, has had no skeletons found in his closet, should not have to worry too much about re-election. But it will come as no great surprise if Mr Bryce Rope should be given the thumb? down by the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union when it decides in Wellington today the All Black coach for 1985.

Apart from a few moans that he talks too much (and to some minds this could, perhaps, be a plus rather than a minus) and his modest coaching background, which after two years with the All Blacks should no longer matter, the main thing against Mr Rope is that he has no experience of South Africa, where the All Blacks are due to play next year. t The man who is tipped to

unseat him is Mr Brian Lochore, and South Africa is a place he does know something about. He led the AU Blacks there in 1970 and returned in 1979 as the coach of an international side, which performed very well.

Mr Lochore also made his name as a coach when he guided his home province of Wairarapa-Bush to first division status in 1981. Mr Lochore has all the makings of a top international coach. It is because a South African tour is in sight that a movement has grown to have him fill the position sooner than he would have expected. To secure the job, Mr Lochore must not only outvote the encumbent, Mr Rope, but also step ahead of “Tiny" Hill, the third man on the AU Black selection panel who has been there longer. However the votes for coach are cast, these three are likely to be retained as the selection panel. It could be a test of Mr Rope’s good

grace, if he is willing to stay as a selector after finding himself unwanted as the coach.

Not only can he point to a record of 19 wins from 20 games this year, but in his two seasons in office the All Blacks have won series against Australia, France, and the British Lions, plus one-off wins against Australia and Fiji. The only blot on his record was when the young New Zealand team he took to England and Scotland last year failed to win either test, a draw and a loss being its results. Messrs Rope, Hill and Lochore will not be the only names on today's ballot papers. Colin Meads and Alex Wyllie are others deserving of attention. However, regardless of the qualifications of either of these, it is hard to imagine the council going beyond the sitting selectors, not even as a compromise choice.

Mr Wyllie has been honest enough to stipulate that

he is interested only in the coaching job, and has no desire to be merely given a seat on the selection panel. Mr Wyllie may carry enough clout in Canterbury to be so bold; nationally it is hard to believe.

So, everything points to a straight contest between Messrs Rope and Lochore, and the preferential voting system that will be used just might help Mr Rope to sneak through. Because of his record, and, more importantly, because he has developed the team that will be going to South Africa, he might be a shade more attractive to the uncommitted voters on the 18-man council.

Mr Rope has had more than his fair share of harrowing tests this year. If Jean-Patrick Lescarboura and Mark Ella had found the posts with last-minute dropped goals in two tests his record would have been quite different, and he almost certainly would have been on the outer today. Maybe, his luck will hold.