Simpson suits tactics for the first test

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 32

Simpson suits tactics for the first test

From

staff correspondent STEVE McMORRAN in

Buenos Aires

The AH Black centre, Steve Pokere, paid the price for a season of inactivity when he was dropped from the New Zealand team for the first test against Argentina tomorrow.

The omission of Pokere, and his replacement by Canterbury’s Victor Simpson, who has played only two matches for the All Blacks, was the major surprise of the test team named yesterday by the coach, Mr Brian Lochore. Though Pokere dazzled in New Zealand’s 72-9 win over a Cordoba selection on Wednesday ■ his lack of match play and failure to display the qualities Mr Lochore has deemed essential in midfield has opened the way for Simpson’s test debut. Mr Lochore has analysed the Pumas’ play, and made minor adjustments to New Zealand’s etablished test side to combat what he sees as the Pumas’ strengths. Simpson enters the side because he has strength where Pokere has guile. He is a straightforward player suited to the robust midfield game Mr Lochore has made part of his tactical blueprint. Pokere accepted before the test side was named that Mr Lochore may have had strategic preferences which would mitigate against his test selection. “If that is so, then I will know I have been dropped for a better player on this tour,” Pokere said. Simpson, hardly an All Black veteran, debuting in test rugby on his first tour, has found shock heaped on shock this season. “Making the All Black team in the first place was a blast,” he said. “Now making the test side is even better. All it would take would be for me to score a try (on Saturday) to blow me right away.” Simpson is one of three new caps in Mr Lochore’s test 15,. and the only debutant selected over an etablished test player on form rather than other contingencies. The Auckland prop, Steve McDowell, will prop the

tighthead side of the All Black scrum tomorrow because the touring party’s two specialist tightheads are unavailable through injury. Grant Fox, making his test debut on his second All Black tour, takes Wayne Smith’s place at first five because the Cantabrian could not be considered due to illness.

Smith’s weight has begun to drop after a kidney disorder, causing fluid retention, made him swell more than 12.5 kg above his playing weight. Those not considered through either illness or injury were Smith, Knight and Frank Sheiford who was invalided out of the tour at Rosario with concussion. Crichton returned to New Zealand on Monday with a rib injury at the same time as his Wellington teammate, Mike Clamp, who began the tour with concussion, became fit and available for selection.

Significant selections of incumbent test players include those of Murray Mexted at No. 8 ahead of the newcomer, Wayne Shelford, and David Kirk at half-back ahead of Dave Loveridge, on his comeback tour.

Shelford’s performances here have threatened Mexted’s outstanding record of 32 consecutive test appearances. His thirty-third tomorrow will be made under the threat of impending rejection. Kirk blazed into contention with a strong performance at Cordoba but benefited also from Fox’s selection because the two have combined well in their two outings on tour. Loverdige may have slipped in test contention when Smith was claimed by illness. Andy Haden and Hika Reid are notable returns to test rugby after varied layoffs. Loveridge last played in 1983 before a knee injury forced him to surrender his test place to Andrew Donald, and then to Kirk. Reid’s last test was in England in 1983 in the absence of the former All Black captain, Andy Dalton. With Mexted’s retention, Mr Lochore finds the centre of experience in his test team in the back row, where Mark Shaw and the tour captain, Jock Hobbs, are also test veterans. Warwick Taylor at second five and Kieran Crowley at full-back were incumbents who faced only minor challenges for their test positions, while John Kirwan and Craig Green on the wings were similar test favourites. Green’s presence, and that of Taylor, gives Simpson the luxury of playing his first test inside and outside provincial team-mates. Mr Lochore welcomed the completion of his selection process and the opportunity to begin the preparation for tomorrow’s test match. “I have to admit that being a selector is not a duty I enjoy,” he said. “Even in my playing days I was a selector and the thing I disliked most was having to say to someone, ‘I think that this chap is a better player than you are.’ “That’s especially hard when you have a team situation like this one when all 30 members of the touring party are playing their hearts out. “I’ve said before, and I told the players when I named the team, that everyone on this tour is playing near to their best form. When that happens it becomes especially hard to pick one player over another.” Mr Lochore would not discuss the tactical criteria which had shaped the test side. “It’s never been my policy to say why I pick one player over another. “In this case very little separated some players. It was very hard to omit one player and select another, and I think it’s important now that we put the selection process behind us and settle into a selection mentality.” The New Zealand team for the first test against Argentina at the Ferrocarril Stadium is:— Kieran Crowley, John Kirwan, Victor Simpson, Craig Green, Warwick Taylor, Grant Fox, David Kirk, Murray Mexted, Jock Hobbs (captain), Andy Haden, Murray Pierce, Mark Shaw, Steve McDowell, Hika Reid, Brian McGrattan. Reserves: — Forwards: — John Drake, Bruce Hemara, Alan Whetton: Backs: Dave Loveridge, Steven Pokere, Robbie Deans.