Kiwi back-line faces reshuffle for third test

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 36

Kiwi back-line faces reshuffle for third test

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Team changes by the New Zealand rugby league tourists could point to a reshaped line-up for the third test against Australia at Brisbane on Tuesday evening.

Joe Ropati has been switched back to the wing and Darrell Williams put at centre for their last Australian country game this evening. Ropati and Williams get the chance to establish a pairing against North Queensland after the loss of the test wing, Dean Bell, through suspension. The whole test backline from inside centre to wing now faces a shakeout as the coach, Graham Lowe, examines his options. With just four days to go before the test, the game against North Queensland, at Mackay, will help provide a pointer to final test hopefuls. While the regular test incumbent, Dane O’Hara, is a certainty for one wing spot in the Brisbane test, there are several pretenders for Bell’s job, including Ropati, Williams, Mark Elia and even Gary Mercer. That will more than likely mean a reshaping of the centres. Mr Lowe now has to look at restructuring the backline, and ensuring that the replacement not only has penetration, but is capable of filling Bell’s boots in defence.

The test combination, which could have expected only minor changes at most from that which performed strongly against Australia in Sydney on Saturday, was thrown into disarray by the four-week suspension handed to Bell after a high tackle in a Sydney club game on Sunday. But the team’s manager, Mr Tom McKeown, said yesterday that while the tour selectors did have a test team in mind, any of the players taking the field against North Queensland was capable of forcing his way into the test side. “The team is disappointed that Dean was suspended, but it is something we’ve got to accept,” he said. “We’ve got several options in replacing Bell; Joe Ropati could go back on the wing (from centre, where he played in the second test), and Williams has played a lot at centre including a test against Great Britain on our tour last year.” Mr McKeown said Gary Mercer played a brilliant game in the 32-7 thrashing of the Queensland country champions, Wide Bay, on Tuesday evening and another solid per-

formance against North Queensland could see him forcing a place. He said that while the forward pack was fairly settled with its established internationals filling five of the six berths, the first test hooker, Wayne Wallace, was determined to regain the spot from Barry Harvey, who did the job in the second test. “Brown and Goulding (at prop) could also stake claims with solid performances,” he said. Then James Leuluai could well force his way back in the backs, ahd Shane Cooper is playing at half-back and also wants a test berth. “The game is very important to us and could have a big bearing on the test team.” The test side is due to be named tomorrow. It will probably be announced when the side reaches Brisbane from Mackay. The New Zealand team is: Marty Crequer; Joe Ropati, Darrell Williams, Mark Ella, Gary Mercer; James Leuluai; Shane Cooper; Peter Brown, Wayne Wallace, James Goulding; Dean Lonergan, Brent Todd; Sam Stewart. Reserves: Dane O’Hara, Ron O’Regan.