North Auckland coach wary of French side

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 38

North Auckland coach wary of French side

NZPA staff correspondent Whangarei North Auckland’s rugby coach, Ken Going, expects France to play plenty of tricks without tabling its test cards at Okara Park, Whangarei, today.

The match is the first part of France’s twomatch New Zealand tour preceding its one-off test at Lancaster Park on Saturday. Going fears and respects the French side, acknowledging its forward strength and co-ordination and its backline skills. On North Auckland’s behalf, however, he asks for three things today: a hard ground, a fine day and luck with the bounce of the ball. The Northlanders have three matches behind them this season, a narrow win over Waikato in a non-championship game, a loss to Counties in its first championship fixture and a 55-7 win over Thames Valley. Things began to go its way in its latest match and, although Mr Going defers to the French for their flair and invention, he promises some fireworks from his own players. “I haven’t been impressed with our play this season but then again we did put it together the other day against Thames Valley,” he said. “Admittedly it wasn’t strong opposition but the guys did what I wanted to see. They played very well within our pattern.

We had a lot of ball and it was good to see it used well.” Mr Going accepts possession will be harder to achieve today against a tall, physically dynamic French pack. “They are a typical French side,” he said, “very tall and very strong. “They’ll be a lot harder to get the ball off but hopefully we’ll get some and with a good ground, a nice day and the bounce of the ball we could do OK. All we ask for is an ounce of luck. "I’m sure they’ll have plenty of tricks up their sleeve but we feel very proud to be given a match on a short tour like this and the players are keen to do well. “I hope the game will bring out the best in them. An international usually does.” Mr Going watched France play Australia last Saturday and admitted surprise at its poor showing. He takes no heart from its performance, however, remembering its ten-try dissection of Queensland a week earlier. “That was a fantastic effort,” he said. “When we last played Queensland we really struggled.” France trained lightly

yesterday, testing unusual scrum and line-out formations. Its team to meet North Auckland features a loose forward, Jean-Charles Orso, playing at prop, and a prop, Jean Portolan, playing at lock. Portolan gives the French scrum weight but lacks lineout height so Orso will jump at the front, ahead of a new cap, Patrick Serrier. North Auckland has less line-out size but compensates with the guile of its lock and captain, Mike Budd. The teams for today’s match are.— North Auckland: Darrell Going; Tai Ngakuru, Charles Going, Fred Woodman, Percy Cooper, lan Dunn; Tony Abel; Colin Phillips; Neil Ruddell, Mike Budd (captain), John Wilkinson, Frank Lamborn; Neil Cooper or Willie Phillips, Bill le Clerc, Hugh Harvey. Reserves: Alan Goodhew, Edwin Hills, Warren Johnston, David Jurlina, Don Stevenson. France: Jerome Bianchi; Jean-Baptiste Lafond, Marc Andrieu, Phippe Berot, Pierre Chadebech, Guy Laporte; Rudolph Modin; Jean-Luc Joinel; Jacques Gratton, Patrick Serrier, Portolan, Marc Ceciilon; Jean-Charles Orso, Bernard Herrero, Jean-Pierre Garuet. Reserves: Daniel Dubroca, Pierre-Edouard Detrez, Laurent Rodriguez; Pierre Bezier, Jean-Patrick Lescaboura, Eric Bonneval.