England has potential to fully test All Blacks

Press, 30 May 1985, Page 34

England has potential to fully test All Blacks

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

To lose to England in the first test at Lancaster Park on Saturday, the All Blacks will probably have to play substantially below their best.

But given that it is very early in the season for them, plus their recent poor record on Lancaster Park, the possibility does exist. At the same time, there is a growing confidence in the England ranks that it does have a team which will, at the very least, give the All Blacks a good run for their money. Much of this confidence has been inspired by the splendid first half the team had against Otago on Tuesday. In both the forwards and the backs it looked to have players capable of matching the best anywhere. The second spell was not so good, although the forwards soldiered on solidly enough. The big question to be answered today is what team England will field. English selectors are renowned for picking teams that appear strange, and sometimes downright weird,

to everyone else but themselves. English journalists on tour with the present side believe that if the “right” team is chosen it could be a very interesting test, and one in which England might be capable of springing a surprise. “The potential is there for the best England side in many years,” said one of the journalists yesterday. There are certainly some sound arguments to support this view. At Carisbrook, England looked very good in the forwards where they had men who were both big and fast. The scrummaging, for the most part, was exceptionally good and in Steve Bainbridge, England has a line-out jumper to rate with the best. The backs, too, look to be more gifted than might have been thought, with pace being one of their most noticeable assets. So, what therefore, is the "right” team? Stuart Barnes played so well at fly half against Otago that he must surely be retained in this position. By his explosive running he dispelled any ideas that might have been gained from his earlier outings that he is primarily a kicker. With Barnes at fly half, Huw Davies is likely to play again at full-back and while there is always a danger in having a non-specialist in this position, Davies, with 15 caps to his credit, has the experience, and the natural ability, to be more than adequate. As the only two fully fit wings, Michael Harrison and Simon Smith appear certain selections and Jamie Salmon, on the strength of his game against

Otago, must have the inside running to partner Paul Dodge in the centres. Richard Hill had a fine game at half-back against Otago but it is hard to see him being chosen ahead of Nigel Melville. Melville has had five operations on knee cartilages since he was injured in New Zealand in 1983, after joining the Lions as a replacement. He was injured again last season,, but there is no denying his brilliance and the only worry for the selectors might be in respect to his confidence. There are a few grey areas in the forwards, mainly in the back row. John Hall, if only for the height he will bring to the back of the line-out, seems certain to be one flanker and Gary Rees played so well in Dunedin that he must be favoured to be the other. This would put David Cooke, reputedly the best flanker in the team, in competition with Bob Hesford for the No. 8 position and Cooke very likely will get the nod. Steve Brain is the probable hooker, with the experienced Gary Pearce on his tighthead side and Paul Huntsman, who looked decidedly useful at Carisbrook, the loosehead prop. If this so-called “right” side is named, England will at least take the field on Saturday with size in the forwards and pace in the backs. Such ingredients, if wisely deployed, could be most challenging to the All Blacks in their first outing of the year. The All Blacks assembled in Christchurch yesterday and will have a training run this morning at Southbridge.