Seven Canterbury men in All Blacks

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 1

Seven Canterbury men in All Blacks

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Auckland, with eight players, and Canterbury, with seven, provide half the All Black team to tour South Africa in the next three months. The seven from Canterbury are Robbie Deans, Craig Green, Victor Simpson, who is one of the four new All Blacks, Warwick Taylor, Wayne Smith, Jock Hobbs, and Albert Anderson. Canterbury can also lay some claim to an eighth, as one of the props, John Ashworth, moved north to Hawke’s Bay only three months ago. Deans, the special hero of

Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield reign of the last three years, was “surprised and pleased” when he heard his name announced last evening. “I really didn’t know if I was in with a chance at all,” said Deans, who has come back from a serious knee injury to regain his place in the team. Deans said he was in no doubt that he was in good shape for a long and demanding tour. “I have put a lot of work into getting fit and getting the knee right, and this makes it all worth while,” he said.

The Canterbury coach, Mr Alex Wyllie, was away from Christchurch on business last evening and could not be reached. However, his feelings can easily be imagined, and he was correct with his prediction that Canterbury would lose the services of seven players. On the one hand he would be pleased for the seven, but after Saturday he may have to try to hold the Ranfurly Shield, with a very different team from that of the last three years, and almost an entirely new back-line. Further comment and the team, back page.