Bledisloe Cup a chance for redemption?

Press, 22 June 1987, Page 21

Bledisloe Cup a chance for redemption?

By

ROBERT LOWE

NZPA Sydney

With New Zealand winning the first World Cup, Australian rugby followers are already looking forward to next month’s trans-Tasman test in Sydney.

The one-off international on July 25, for which the Bledisloe Cup will be,at stake, will give the Wallabies the chance to redeem themselves for failing to do what many of their supporters predicted they would — make it to a World Cup final showdown with New Zealand. Former Wallaby prop, Chris Handy, who played against the All Blacks from 1978 to 1980, said the Australian team had its work in front of jt to retain the Bledisloe Cup. However, he told television viewers that he still thought Australia was the only team capable of beating New Zealand in the World Cup. “They didn’t make it there, but they are capable of beating them in the Bledisloe Cup,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that, they have that little edge over New Zealand that creates the doubt. The New Zealanders are playing well, but it will be a sensational match.”

Another former Australian international, star first five-eighth Mark Ella, also said the Walla-

bies could overcome the All Blacks.

Ella, who before the World Cup had ranked the three top teams in order as being New Zealand, France and Australia, said the Wallabies could win by containing the All Black forwards and then taking their opponents on in the backs.

“Australia can nullify what New Zealand has done if they work on the forwards, really build them up and get their confidence back,” he said. “Once we stop the New Zealand flow, I don’t see any reason why we can’t take them on in the backs. If Australia can control the forwards, get our flankers pressuring on (All Black first five-eighth Grant) Fox, we can do it. Fox holds the ball a little too long before letting it go and I think they are beatable.”

The Sydney “Sun-Her-ald” said yesterday that it was the momentum of the All Black forwards, the collective no-frills method and the boot of Fox that saw New Zealand home against France in the Cup final at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. “The New Zealand pattern, which has served them so ably and successfully for such a long time, carried them to victory

once again,” the paper’s rugby writer, Jim Webster, said. "While neither adventurous nor exciting, the rolling forward drive and the accompanying boot of five-eighth Grant Fox, who potted 17 points on his own, saw them shatter the French hopes. The cockerel was plucked bare and roasted 29-9.” However, Webster said the French were sure to contemplate what might have been had Australian referee Kerry Fitzgerald awarded a penalty, or even a penalty try,’to France in the twenty-sixth minute of the first half, when New Zealand was leading 9-0.

“Then, in a scrum on New Zealand’s line, the French had the feed, went for the shove and the scrum went down in the front row in the old ploy of collapsing the scrum to stop it moving.” ; The "Sunday Telegraph” also said France had a case for being awarded a penalty try., * "This was the only real scoring chance the French had in the first half, as the All Blacks dominated the game,” its rugby writer, Greg Campbell, said.

He said New Zealand had a “meritorious victory” through a "typically determined and can-. trolled forward effort.”