Tough league match

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 88

Tough league match

By

JOHN COFFEY

Canterbury’s remarkable progress in representative rugby league this season would take another unexpected turn if Wellington was beaten at the Addington Show Grounds tomorrow.

Not than Canterbury is by any means out of its depth in the revamped national provincial championship. Indeed, it could, probably should, have stayed ahead of both Auckland and Wellington during the first half of the competition. But Canterbury did not maintain an advantage it had achieved by hard work and enterprising football, failing to score in the second halves of both games. In its most recent appearance Canterbury reversed the order. After conceding 24 points to Queensland before the interval, Canterbury came back with such verve that it almost headed off the visitors.

Ray Haffenden, the

Canterbury coach, said yesterday that he had detected a deficiency in the “mental toughness” of his team and had sought to rectify it. “It is not their attitude, which is very good. But I enlisted some help from outside the squad and have approached the side’s motivation in a different manner,” said Mr Haffenden.

He admits, though, that Canterbury faces a tough task in attempting to reverse the 17-10 loss it suffered at Lower Hutt in late April. Wellington’s backline has been strengthened by the addition of the former Kiwi centre, James Leuluai, and New Zealand Maoris wing, Victor Aramoana, while Canterbury has lost five first-choice players — Kevin Teague, Glen Moore, Ross Taylor, Russell Tuuta and John Green — because of injuries.

Without its regular props, Taylor and Tuuta, Canterbury will field a

lightweight pack short on first-class experience.

The original secondrowers, Gary Leek and Esene Faimalo, have been shunted up front, Peter Kaisa is to make his debut for the top provincial team, and Logan Edwards has been included in the starting lineup for the first time. “The forwards are lighter, but also more mobile and we have had to change some of our thinking. I will be looking for mobility on defence and some -emphasis on running the big Wellington forwards around the field,” said Mr Haffenden. Wayne Wallace, the Canterbury hooker,, has another chance to further his test claims against his stern challenger, Barry Harvey. Mr Haffenden feels Wallace will enhance his prospects. “At training the other night Wayne led the team through everything. I didn’t realise how fit he was, but he was in front of the field throughout the

two hours, half of it fitness work,” he said. Tomorrow’s match is vital also for many of the younger players seeking places on the 1989 Kiwi tour to Britain and France. Later this month a side will be chosen from the Rest of New Zealand to oppose Auckland in a national trial at Carlaw Park, a game that may be seen more as a stepping stone not so much to this season’s home tests but to the 1989 tour. Teams:—

Canterbury: Heemi Wihongi; Pomare Connell, Steve Campbell, Steve Campbell, Mike Dorreen, Vince McCue; Mark Nixon, Brendon Tuuta; Gary Leek, Wayne Wallace (captain), Esene Faimalo; Peter Kaisa, Glenn Grut; Logan Edwards. Reserves: Lance Setu, Gary McLauchlan.

Wellington: Morven Edwards; Willie Tangira, David Ewe, James Leuluai, Victor Aramoana; Geoffrey Tangira, Sibi Raika; Robert Piva, Barry Harvey (captain), Dairoa Ben Moide; Philip Henry, Sonny. Whakarau; Mike Kuiti. Reserves: Leigh Bristow, Kelly Makaore.