MR Dalton admonishes N.S.W.

Press, 27 April 1987, Page 23

MR Dalton admonishes N.S.W.

By

JAMES SHRIMPTON

NZPA-AAP Suva The controversial New South Wales rugby coach, Paul Dalton, has told his Wallaby stars that they must follow his game plans. “I don’t like seeing International footballers taking the game in their own hands and trying to do it on their own,” Mr Dalton told his team after they struggled on Saturday to defeat Fiji, 23-20. “We’ve spoken about it — it will not be tolerated again. “There are 15 men in this side and there is one coach. You are a bloody good side, when you play football. “When you try to do the Individual stuff we get ourselves into trouble.” Mr Dalton said later, “I’m new and they think because they have played for Australia they know better. "Well, unfortunately they don’t The sooner they come to grips with that the better.” What angered and "insulted” Mr Dalton was the Australian display in the first 25 minutes of the first half, during which the eager Fijians ran up an 11-0 lead before New South Wales settled down and took control. Not once did New South Wales follow instructions to take advantage of a

. stiff breeze and put pres-: sure on the Fiji fullback with long kicks, the coachsaid. ' They also “took some very bad options.” <' Then after the first of two tongue-lashings from ; Mr Dalton, they "did what they were told to do"in; the second half, tightened, their game and took control. ’..1 New South Wales led,' 23-14, midway through the half, but then a third Fiji try put the home side: within striking distance./;; However, the Fijian’s: final assault fizzled out as’ •; the New South Wales de- ; . fence held well. In their enthusiasm, tfiei Fijians twice crossed the New South Wales line h! the late stages only to be* pulled back for infringe-; ments,,, . playedjfeiy WeU ’” Mr Dalton said. - "They certainly have; improved from that 0-59. disaster in Brisbane. Their scrums and lineouts were good and their backs were brilliant “It was the bounce of the ball out there today,”; the coach said. • “We made it the hard: way." New South Wales nowhas two wins and a one*: point loss with two . matches to go in the AGC South Pacific championship; Fiji is winless. .. ■ ’