Taranaki coach expects test dress rehearsal

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 88

Taranaki coach expects test dress rehearsal

PA New Plymouth The coach, Bryce McEldowney, expects the touring Welsh rugby team to attempt a full dress rehearsal for the second test when it meets his Taranaki side at Rugby Park today. The second test against the All Blacks is just one week away and given the team the Welsh have named, Mr McEldowney expects his side to be facing a dummy-run of the tactics to be used next Saturday.

“It’s a shadow test side and they will try out the tactics they want to use next week, against us,” Mr McEldowney said. “I am picking they will try a more expansive style, speed the game up a bit and put the ball on the ground a lot quicker to set up the second

phase. “We have watched a library full of their games and there are clear pointers as to how to beat them but I’m certain they will try different tactics today,” he said. “We know their style from the Five Nations but we are ready for them if they play a faster, more open game.” Taranaki only missed going down to the second division last year with a last-minute try against Wairarapa-Bush in the first envision relegation match.

Taranaki was hit by injuries last season losing 12 players, and have since lost the blockbusting wing, Charlie McAlister and the long-serving No. 8 Colin Cooper.

© A sigh of relief went through the Welsh rugby

team yesterday as its injury worries subsided slightly. ( ' i The team manager, Rod Morgan, said that the prop, Mark Pugh, who joined the team 1 on Thursday would, replace Anthony Buchanan who has a displaced vetebrae in his neck. There had been some conjecture as to whether Pugh would replace Buchanan or the other prop in Wednesday’s match against Hawke’s Bay, Jeremy Pugh, who left the field with a bad gash on his right eyelid which later required eight stitches.

But Pugh’s eye, which had been closed totally on Thursday, has responded well to treatment Buchanan, however, is unable to pack down again for at least 10 days