Grant Fox to take kicks

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 64

Grant Fox to take kicks

PA Auckland Grant Fox rather than the All Black full-back, Greg Cooper, will lead off Auckland’s goal-kicking in the season’s opening Ranfurly Shield rugby match against Thames Valley, at Eden Park today.

The selector-coach, John Hart, admitted yesterday having a problem deciding which of the sharpshooting goal-kick-

ers, arguably the country’s two best, would have priority.

"But it’s a nice sort of problem,” Mr Hart said. “Especially when we’ve got someone as accurate as Brett Craies in the reserves and Terry Wright as a standby, too.”

Mr Hart said that while Fox would lead off for this match this would not necessarily be the pattern

for the rest of the season and he expected Cooper would get plenty of chances later.

Despite the apparent overwhelming superiority of his side, Mr Hart has a few apprehensions about today’s match.

One is the likelihood of wet weather, which could prove a leveller, and another Auckland’s limited preparation.