Andy Dalton hobbles out of All Blacks

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 38

Andy Dalton hobbles out of All Blacks

PA Auckland Seldom one to gamble, the All Black coach Brian Lochore today named what he considered to be close to the strongest possible New Zealand side for the opening rugby World Cup match against Italy at Eden Park tomorrow.

Allowing for the injury which will keep Andy Dalton, the chosen All Black captain, out of the side, Mr Lochore said New Zealand would field its most experienced players.

He did not see this had any bearing on the choice

of the All Blacks for the second pool match against Fiji in Christchurch next Wednesday — whether the All Blacks would use reserve players there, or perhaps leave some second-string men on the bench for the whole campaign. "We have not even discussed the team to play Fiji, and will not look at that until after the Italian game. In a tournament such as this we can only look at one game at a time, it is not like a tour with mid-week games — every one is a test,” Mr

Lochore said. The sight of Dalton wandering away from training represented the first really sad sight of the World Cup so far. For 14 minutes or so after Mr Lochore had told the players in midfield who were in the test side, Dalton seemed to keep up with the very mobile All Black forwards in the training manoeuvres. His dodgy hamstring muscle was covered by a large bandage, but suddenly Dalton slowed down, spoke to Mr Lochore, Sean Fitzpatrick

was summoned from the Pukekohe stadium No. 2 field where the remaining 11 players were training, and Dalton walked slowly away from the field.

The AU Black team is: John Gallagher; John Kirwan, Joe Stanley, Craig Green, Murray Taylor, Grant Fox; David Kirk (captain): Wayne Shelford; Michael Jones, Gary Whetton, Murray Pierce, Alan Whetton; Steve McDowell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Richard Loe.

Reserves: Bruce Deans, Frano Botica, Terry Wright; John Drake, Albert Anderson, Zinzan Brooke.