Taranaki might find itself right at home

Press, 2 July 1986, Page 68

Taranaki might find itself right at home

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Already the winner of the A.G.C. South Pacific championship, the Canterbury rugby team starts out on phase two of its operations this winter when it meets Taranaki in its opening national championship game at Lancaster Park this afternoon.

Phase three, if it eventuates, will be a bid to regain the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland in late September, but the coach, Alex Wyllie, is adamant that this is too far in advance to be contemplated and the championship must be the goal that the side sets itself. Last year Canterbury used the high kick most effectively to brush aside Taranaki’s shield challenge, but the conditions are likely to call for a rather different script today. Yesterday’s rain will have left the park very slippery — it was quite soft in the middle after last Saturday’s test — and with more rain likely the game could develop into an old-fashioned forward slog. And, as is well known, when it comes to finding a safe track through muddy pastures Taranaki people have definite advantages, even those who don’t make their living off the land. So far, Taranaki has played two games in the National Mutual sponsored championship. It started out with a heavy loss to Auckland, but did well to beat Otago, 15-14, at Carisbrook last Sunday. This is Taranaki’s first season in the first division after dominating the

second division for a number of years. It will not want to get itself in the position of being threatened by relegation so soon after taking the step up. Taranaki has included all three of its players who took part in the recent “rebel" tour of South Africa. They are all backs, Kieran Crowley, Bryce Robins and Dave Loveridge, and Loveridge, in particular, is a very good heavy ground player. Mr Wyllie, to no-one’s great surpise, is relying mainly on the players who carried Canterbury through the difficult days when the Cavaliers were zipping around South Africa. It may be well short of the strongest team Canterbury can field, but as last Saturday’s test proved young men eager to prove themselves can be just as valuable as those with awards for long service. Nevertheless, it is a somewhat stronger side than the one which overran Mid-Canterbuury, 487, last week. The return after a long break of Dale Atkins will enhance the forward drive and back too, are the top props, Murray Davie and Chris Earl. In the backs Canterbury looks sound, rather than

brilliant, and it could find Warwick Taylor a decided asset if the ground is heavy. He is always good value in such conditions, especially in his kicking. Despite the absence of so many of its All Blacks, this is still a fairly experienced Canterbury side, and the home ground advantage might again be enough to bring out the best in the team. It will certainly not want to take any risks. Taranaki is just the sort of side which could take a lot of pegging back if it was able to establish an early lead, and Crowley’s goal-kicking is one avenue by which it could do this. The teams are:— Canterbury: Richard Connell; Roger Kilpatrick, Steve Hansen, Joe Leota; Wayne Burleigh, Warwick Taylor, James Leggat (one to be omitted); Bruce Deans; Dale Atkins; Don Hayes, Andy Earl, Pat O’Gorman or Tony Thorpe, Grant Mickell; Chris Earl, John Buchan, Murray Davie. Taranaki: Kieran Crowley; Charlie McAlister, Steve Crockett, or Tony Arnold, Bryce Robins; Andrew Brown or Peter Wishnowsky, Brian Quin; Dave Loveridge; Colin Cooper; Ray Wishnowsky, Neil Barnes, Peter Hall, lan Marshall; Warren Bunn, Lyall Bunn, Ron Elms.