Doug Bruce delays naming side

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 64

Doug Bruce delays naming side

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The Canterbury team to play Wellington in their AGC South Pacific championship rugby match at Athletic Park will not be known until a few hours before the game on Sunday. More than half the Canterbury side will be in New Plymouth tomorrow for South’s game against Central in the zone competition, and they will make their way to Wellington on Sunday morning. “The rest of the squad will go to Wellington on Saturday night and we will, see how things look on Sunday morning before finalising a team,” said the Canterbury coach, Doug Bruce, yesterday. He said that none of the South players had indicated to him that he did not want to play again on Sunday. “But injuries could come into it, so it’s better we wait and. see. We have

not been able to train as a team this week anyway,” said Mr Bruce. He said that the Welk ington game was an important. one for Canterbury.

“If we can win this we still have a chance of the championship, and as our last two games (against Queensland and Auckland) are against the leading sides ,we could do it without .any help from others.” :

The Wellington coach, Earle Kirton, also has his problems, with only one of. Wellington’s Central players available for the game. This, is the prop, Scott Crichton, who has been given permission to leave the Central squad and return to Wellington on Sunday. The Wellington team is expected to • be: Wayne Gray; Lolani Koko, Denis Tocker, Chris Welch; Dave Rennie, Tim Perez; Neil Sorensen; Issac Adams; Michael O’Leary, Fraser Mexted, Pat Dunn, Falu Patolo; Scott Crichton, Paul McKay, Jimmy Mei.