Shelford and Todd miss out on test

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 80

Shelford and Todd miss out on test

NZPA special correspondent BRUCE MONTGOMERIE Bordeaux The Canterbury forwards, Adrian Shelford, and Brent Todd, and Wellington’s Sam Stewart, are unlucky to miss out on the New Zealand rugby league team for the second and final test against France in Perpignan on Sunday morning (New Zealand time). The Kiwi coach, Mr Graham Lowe, has surprised by including the Auckland captain, Ron O’Regan, in the forward pack and rearranging both the forwards and backs as the Kiwis attempt to complete their tour of France with an unbeaten record. O’Regan replaces James Goulding, aged 19, who second row in the st. He moves into the loose forward position, with the captain, Hugh McGahan shifting to the second row. But Shelford, Todd and Stewart have been in great form in recent matches and could have capably filled the second row spot with McGahan in his regular loose forward position.

Mr Lowe has recalled the

powerful standoff half, Olsen Filipaina, who has been playing too well to be left out, and dropped Shane Cooper, who ousted Filipaina from the first test. The injured Darrell Williams has been omitted and Dean Bell shifted from centre to wing, with the first test reverse back, Fred Ah Kuoi, moving in to join James Leuluai in the centres. “Williams could be fit to play and if so we may make him a reserve,” Mr Lowe said. The team doctor, Mr Lloyd Drake, has been working hard to mend Williams’ ankle injury. Mr Lowe said Williams could be included as reserve in the match against an Aquitaine-Provence selection at Talenca near Bordeaux (tomorrow morning, New Zealand time) and as a reserve in the test. The Kiwi test team is: Gary Kemble, Dean Bell, James Leuluai, Fred Ah Kuoi, Dane O’Hara, Olsen Filipaina, Clayton Friend, Kurt Sorensen, Wayne Wallace, Dane. Sorensen, Owen Wright, Hugh McGahan, Ron O’Regan.