Craig Green’s third match in four days

Press, 26 August 1986, Page 34

Craig Green’s third match in four days

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Saving a test on Saturday, almost singlehandedly winning a club final on Sunday; what new rugby adventures await Craig Green as he plays his third game in four days, against Otago at Lancaster Park this afternoon?

And if Green really wants to prove himself an iron man he could line-up for a fourth time tomorrow night when his club side, Shirley, meets Glenmark, which he has previously played for, in the Town-Country showdown.

However, he may give this one a miss. Today, though, Green is expected to be on the left wing for Canterbury as it endeavours to preserve its perfect record, through four games, in the National Mutual provincial championship. The Canterbury coach, Alex Wyllie, has not been able to have a full training run since Canterbury beat Australia 10 days ago.

“So many of the players have had other commitments that it has been hopeless trying to get everyone together. It would have to be the worst build-up we have ever had for an important game,” said Mr Wyllie yesterday. As a result he has been unable to finalise his team. “So far as I know there are no injury problems, and if not then we will probably field the same team which played against Australia,” he said.

As always when it plays on Lancaster Park these days, Canterbury will be favoured to win. However, despite Otago’s record of two losses in five cham-

pionship games this season it does have a formidable look about it. There is plenty of size in the forwards, and Canterbury might have to be on its toes in the line-outs to match the likes of Gordon Macpherson, Richard Knight and Andy

Hollander. Also “discovered” since he shifted to Dunedin is the former Lincoln College loose forward, Brent Pope, and he is a good ball winner. In the backs Otago has a number of talented players, although so far this year the line has seldom reached the heights expected of it. The return, after a long absence through injury, of Mike Gibson might help

matters. Otago’s championship wins have been over Southland, North Auckland and Wairarapa-Bush, all away games, while it has been beaten at home by Taranaki and Wellington.

“Perhaps they are a team which plays better away from home, so we cannot put too much store on us having Lancaster Park in our favour,” said Mr Wyllie. “And you only have to look at their team to realise what a danger it could be if we give them

chances.” Incidentally, Canterbury's record on Lancaster Park has now extended to one loss in 40 games, the loss, of course,

oeing to Auckland when it took the Ranfurly shield last year.

With club‘rugby virtually finished, the Canterbury players should be able to devote themselves more to the representative team and they have three matches in the North Island coming up.

To lose at home would be a setback to the side’s hopes of winning the national title, a goal which has come more firmly into focus since Wellington beat Auckland. It is nine ■ years since Otago has managed to beat Canterbury, and despite a poor build-up Canterbury should only need to produce something approaching the form it showed against the Wallabies two weeks ago to maintain its winning run.

The probable Canterbury team is: Robbie Deans; Joe Leota, Victor Simpson, Craig Green; Warwick Taylor, Stephen Bachop; Bruce Deans; Dale Atkins; Don Hayes (captain), Andy Earl, Albert Anderson, Jock Hobbs; Chris Earl, John Buchan, Murray Davie. The Otago team is: David Hamilton; Paul Turner, Mike Gibson, Warren Matene; Rhys Ellison, Lindsay Smith; Dean Kenny; Mike Brewer (captain); Brent Pope, Richard Knight, Gordon Macpherson, Andy Hollander; John Latta, Ken Bloxham, Trevor McLennan or Steve Hotton.

To accommodate Otago’s travel arrangements the game will start at the unusually early time of 2 p.m.