All Blacks tipped to take match from Wallabies

Press, 29 June 1985, Page 80

All Blacks tipped to take match from Wallabies

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The All Blacks must be favoured to give New Zealand the first leg of this week-end’s big footballing double-header in Auckland by beating the Wallabies in the rugby test for the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park this afternoon.

Both sides go into the match with a recent series win, but in neither case was the opposition all that strong. New Zealand at least, did improve substantially from one test to the next against England, while Australia, although winning both

easily, did dip the other way in its two outings against Canada. Australia has clearly been hit by retirements and injuries to key backs, but it does have a very big pack, probably its biggest to date, and there is also a wealth of experience. It was largely

through these forwards that the Wallabies achieved a grand slam tour of Britain last year. The game will be played very much against the backdrop of the All Blacks’ approaching tour of South Africa, and if the barbed wire going up around Eden Park yester-

day is any indication, it might be more than a question of whether today’s fifteen will all be names for the tour next Wednesday. Nevertheless, the announcement being so close must be a spur to the All Blacks. The players are in the somewhat awkward position of being able only to play themselves out of the touring party. The coach, Mr Brian Lochore, has been at great pains this week to try and keep the South African tour in the background, if only in the minds of his players. The players want likewise, but it has not been easy with protesters at training and around their hotel. The captain, Andy Dalton, said that because of the South African situation the All Blacks have had to concentrate even harder on their task today, and although this could prove beneficial it could also be wishful thinking. To beat Australia, Mr Lochore estimated that the All Blacks would need to improve by between 10 and 20 per cent on their 42-15 winning performance against England at Athletic Park three weeks ago. In recent years Australian strength has been in its backs, but this time the forwards look the more formidable unit, and it will not be at all surprising if this is where the coach, Mr Allan Jones, wants the game played. Another problem the All Blacks may have to overcome is the referee, Irishman Mr David Burnett. One of the reasons why the side went so well at Athletic Park earlier this month was that the referee, Kerry Fitzgerald, of Australia, allowed it to play a traditional rucking game. Mr Burnett, like most British referees, is not renowned for allowing rucks to continue for long. Teams:— New Zealand: Kieran Crowley, John Kirwan, Steven Pokere, Craig Green, Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith, David Kirk, Murray Mexted, Jock Hobbs, Murray Pierce, Gary Whetton, Mark Shaw, Gary Knight, Andy Dalton (captain), John Ashworth. Reserves: Forwards, Steve McDowell, Hika Reid, Alan Whetton. Backs, Dave Loveridge, Allan Hewson, Grant Fox. Australia: Roger Gould, Peter Grigg, James Black, Matt Burke, Tim Lane, Michael Lynagh, Nick FarrJones, Steve Tuynman, David Codey, Steve William, Steve Cutler, Simon Poidevin, Enrique Rodriguez, Tom Lawton, Andy Mclntyre. Reserves: Forwards, Mark Mcßain, Cameron Lillicrap, Ross Reynolds. Backs, Peter Slattery, Glen Ella, lan Williams. Referee: Mr Dave Burnett (Ireland).