Two problem areas in touring team

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 38

Two problem areas in touring team

The midfield backs and the loose forwards are likely to present the most problems for the All Black selectors when they sit down together in Masterton this afternoon to name their 30 players for the South African tour. It is a long time since New Zealand has sent 30 players away on a tour but this does not make the task any easier. And nor is it simply a case of picking the best 30 players on New Zealand form this year. The conditions to be encountered in South Africa have to be taken into account, which means big forwards are a must and also backs who are suited to hard grounds. Needed, too, will be three or four players who can fill different positions. Despite his poor goalkicking at Eden Park last Saturday, Kieran Crowley will be one of the full-backs and whatever way they go the selectors are going to have to gamble on the second choice. The favourite must be Allan Hewson, for the simple reason that he was a

reserve for the England and Australian tests last month. But “Hewie,” if only for his defensive limitations, would be a big risk in South Africa. Robbie Deans would have to be preferred if his fitness could be guaranteed, and this could well be a gamble the selectors are going to take. They would probably require some medical opinion to convince them that Deans is far enough along the road to recovery to stand up to a hard tour. The only other possibility is the Otago youngster, Greg Cooper, who certainly has the potential. But at 19 he could be a little too young. The wings just about pick themselves — Craig Green, John Kirwan, Mike Clamp and Terry Wright — and Green’s ability to play in the midfield makes him doubly handy. But the specialist midfielders after the test pair, Steven Pokere and Warwick Taylor, are far from obvious. Bill Osborne, for his experience, would no doubt be an automatic choice, if it were not for his string of injuries. However, he might

have thrown them off in time. This leaves four candidates for the remaining vacancy, and any one of them would be a sound bet. The four-are Arthur Stone, Victor Simpson, Kurt Sherlock and lan Wood. Stone and Simpson have experience on their side, and Simpson, in particular could be a most exciting player on the hard South African grounds. But because there is plenty of experience in the backline, promise might be encouraged here and Wood, who will be remembered in Christchurch for his exciting display in the Manawatu Ranfurly Shield challenge two years ago could just edge out Sherlock. Wayne Smith and Grant Fox will be the first fiveeighths, and just as surely David Kirk and Dave Loveridge will be the halfbacks, with the latter likely to recapture his test place before long.

The first question to be resolved so far as the forwards are concerned is how

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

many specialist locks are to be named. The odds are there will be only three, allowing for an extra loose forward who can play at lock if necessary. The test pair, Gary Whetton and Murray Pierce, need have no worries, and who better as their back-up than an old soldier like Andy Haden? Haden might even be willing to lock the mid-week scrum on his own. If there is to be a fourth specialist lock then Albert Anderson will probably get a trip, but experience has shown that a team with loose forwards, to spare, providing they are adaptable, is better off. So, who will the seven loose forwards be? Murray Mexted, Jock Hobbs and Mark Shaw will be the first three sorted out and Glynn Meads makes strong appeal

as the back-up No. 8 to Mexted and a man who can play the odd game at lock, a position in which he has some experience. Allan Whetton fits the same bill, but he is assured of a place, probably as a flanker. This leaves two more to be found and ideally one would have to have size and strength and the other speed and agility — the Shelford cousins, Wayne and Frank, could be made to order. Still, there are others who must be carefully considered, and not the least of them are the Canterbury pair, Dale Atkins and Andy Earl. Atkins is, without much doubt, the second best No. 8 in the country behind Mexted, and could be a match-winner on South African grounds. Against Atkins is that he may not be versatile

enough, and there is that old bogy (which should have been laid to rest ages ago) that he is not a good ball winner at the back of the line-out. Earl, on the other hand, is one of the most versatile forwards in the country, and his ability to play in any position behind the frontrow would make him a most valuable tourist. However, the opposition may be a shade strong. Glen Rich, the Southland tearaway, Dennis Kelly, and the rising Auckland flanker, Mark Brooke-Cowden, are others who rate a thought. Kelly, despite showing a few deficiencies for the Emerging Players team at Ashburton on Sunday, could run Frank Shelford close. After wading through this rich assortment of loose forwards, the selectors might be relieved to get to the front-row. Andy Dalton and Hika Reid are unchallenged as the hookers and John Ashworth, Gary Knight

and Steve McDowell can be marked down as props. The fourth prop looks to be a straight contest between the two Wellington men, Brian McGrattan and Scott Crichton. In Crichton’s favour is his strength, while McGrattan has the greater mobility on his side. With the opponent South Africa, strength might be preferred. A likely team therefore, is:— Backs. — Kieran Crowley, Robbie Deans, Craig Green, John Kirwan, Mike Clamp, Terry Wright, Steven Pokere, lan Wood, Warwick Taylor, Bill Osborne, Wayne Smith, Grant Fox, David Kirk, Dave Loveridge. Forwards. — Murray Mexted, Glynn Meads, Jock Hobbs, Mark Shaw, Alan Whetton, Wayne Shelford, Frank Shelford, Murray Pierce, Gary Whetton, Andy Haden, John Ashworth, Gary Knight, Steve McDowell, Scott Crichton, Andy Dalton (captain), Hika Reid.