Gallagher and Berry may play in test

Press, 4 November 1986, Page 44

Gallagher and Berry may play in test

By

PETER O’HARA,

of NZPA, in Bayonne

The All Black coach, Brian Lochore, says that the young midfield backs, John Gallagher and Marty Berry, could come into serious consideration for test selection if they play well at Bayonne against a Cote Basque selection tomorrow morning (N.Z. time).

Mr Lochore said that if his touring side had one problem at present it was a “lack of accuracy” in midfield. The coach agreed it would be unusual at home to introduce two new centres from provincial rugby to a test match, but, he said, it was different when touring. “They are playing internationals twice a week and the training for tests is similar. The transition is different on tour.” Mr Lachor — who takes sole responsibility for selection — acknowledged that it would be a drastic change to drop both test centres, Joe Stanley and Arthur Stone. But he stressed that he had an open mind on selection and would wait until after the midweek match to decide the combination for the first test at Toulouse on Sunday. Mr Lochore’s most likely course might be to pair one of the new All Blacks with Stone, whose form has been dependable at least, while Stanley has suffered from lapses in passing and defence. Gallagher, aged 22, has

played at centre for Wellington and emerged as a strong possibility for a test place when Mr Lochore named him for the Bayonne match. The Wellington policeman has played twice at full-back on tour but was picked at centre for the next game because of Stanley’s poor form. Inside him will be the 20-year-old Berry, a strong if awkward runner used at second fiveeighths, who is in contention partly because of Stone’s ability to play at both second five and centre. Mr Lochore said, that the four French selections taken on and beaten so far on tour have not been as strong as expected. “They have been quite different to what recent All Black sides have played. “The French have kept their test players away from us. They have kept their test players out of the fray.” But that could work in the favour of the All Blacks, he said. “We probably know their strengths better than they know ours. There’s

nothing like playing the opposition to know the danger points.” But the Bayonne match is expected to threaten the New Zealand team’s unbeaten record, as the tourists are resting most of their likely test players and Cote Basque reputedly has a well-oiled combination. Mr Lochore said the most important matches were the tests, but “we are New Zealanders and we are All Blacks — we don’t like getting beaten.” “If you ask me to judge whether it is more important to win the Bayonne match or the test I will say it is the test. However we are not going to throw the next match.” The All Black team for the Bayonne match tomorrow is: Kieran Crowley; Terry Wright, John Gallagher, Marty Berry, John Kirwan, Grant Fox; Dean Kenny; Mike Brewer; Mark Shaw (captain), Mark BrookeCowden, Michael Speight, Andy Earl; Kevin Boroevich, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Drake. Reserves: Craig Green, Arthur Stone, David Kirk: Gary Whetton, Hika Reid, Steve McDowell.