Barbarians look sharp in training

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 80

Barbarians look sharp in training

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Peter Murdoch, the coach of the New Zealand Barbarians, was yesterday confident of a top showing from his side against the Australian Barbarians in Brisbane tomorrow after a solid training run yesterday morning. Despite beating South Queensland, 34-0, on Wednesday night, Murdoch was not happy with the way his combination had gone, and cancelled a day trip on Thursday in favour of a solid training work-out. That and another long run yesterday morning have worked wonders, and the coach said yesterday he was now more confident about his side’s chances.

“We must have a good chance to win,” he said. “I’m a lot more confident after training. There was more commitment and harder work from them today. The handling has improved and the backs are beginning to get some combinations together.” While the Barbarians are beginning to click together at last, there are still a couple of problems in the forwards. The first is in the loose trio, where the replacement, Glenn Rich, will come into the side just hours after stepping off the plane from Auckland. He has been roped into the side after the All Black, Alan Whetton, broke his left hand just after the start of £

the second half against South Queensland on Wednesday night, but cannot get to Brisbane until 1 p.m. today. “We’ve been lucky because Mark Darrah, who injured his right knee against Sydney on Sunday, has come right sooner than expected and if he is fit by Sunday he will play instead of Mark Brooke-Cowden,” said Murdoch. “But we sent for Rich because we need a specialist line-out man to jump at number seven, and he will play regardless.” The other worry for the forwards is with the line-out specialist and lock, Andy Haden, who is still troubled by his right achilles heel. "He’s still sore but it

shouldn’t hinder him on Sunday,” Murdoch said. The injury kept Haden on the sidelines on Wednesday when he should have captained the Barbarians against South Queensland. Jock Hobbs filled the role on Wednesday, but tomorrow the captain will be the All Black skipper, Andy Dalton. Of the other players, Murdoch has few worries. The young full-back, Greg Cooper, has thrived on the short tour and Murdoch marked him down for big things in the future. “He’s very mature and dedicated. He’s always out at training before everyone else and he always stays behind afterwards to practice his goal kicking.” The wings, John Kirwan,

and the Fijian, Senivalati Laulau, have been consistently the fastest men in training while the secondfive eighth, Bill Osborne, is now beginning to get over the handling problems that have let him down so far. The first five-eighth, Wayne Smith, and half-back, Dave Loveridge, are reestablishing their former All Black combination. The game on Sunday will be the last national outings for two leading Wallabies of the past decade, the skipper, Andrew Slack, and the second-five eighth, Michael Hawker. The Australian Barbarians will be without the services of the test hooker, Tom Lawton, who is sport-

ing nine stitches in his face after a club match last week-end. The teams are.— New Zealand Barbarians: Greg Cooper, Senevalati Laulau, Bernie McCahill, John Kirwan, Bill Osborne, Wayne Smith, Dave Loveridge, Glenn Rich, Jock Hobbs, Andy Haden, Murray Pierce, Mark Darrah or Mark Brooke-Cowden, Brian McGratten, Andy Dalton (capt.), Kevin Boroevich.

, Australian Barbarians: James Black, lan Williams, Andrew Slack (capt.), Michael Lynagh, Peter Grigg, Michael Hawker, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Peter Lucas, Steve Lidbury, Bill Campbell, Steve Cutler, Enrique Rodriguez, Andy Mclntyre. Reserves: Phil Cox, Tim Lane, Ross Hanley, Greg Burrows and Jeff Miller.