Australia B big puzzle

Press, 16 June 1988, Page 52

Australia B big puzzle

PA Auckland Australia B is one of the biggest puzzles for the All Blacks as they contemplate non-test matches in their forthcoming rugby tour of Australia. The All Blacks meet the Australian B team at Brisbane on June 26. The All Black coach, Alex Wyllie, was yesterday intrigued at what the r‘nature of the opposition will be. “We’re not sure just who they’ll put in against us in that one,” Mr Wyllie said. But it could be presumed Australia might play all of its reserves from its recent tests against England, experienced players like the

inside back, Brian S>mith and the loose forward, Julian Gardiner. If so, it could be the strongest of the three teams the All Blacks will meet in their opening three games. When it was pointed out that Wales had created problems for itself by not playing a test strength side first up on its recent New Zealand tour, Mr Wyllie said the cases were not comparable.

Wales on its tour had played against Waikato and Wellington, which would be something like the All Blacks in Australia going in first against Queensland and New South Wales. However, the All Blacks

were expecting reason- , ably strong opposition from Western Australia, a side with a heavy New Zealand influence. Most of the All Blacks were at full pace in practice yesterday, though the wing, Terry Wright and the second five-eigths, Warwick Taylor, were still nursing knocks from last week-end’s test and trained only lightly.

The All Black team for Sunday, June 26 is.—John Gallagher, Jasin Goldsmith, Frano Botica, John Kirwan, Warwick Taylor, Grant Fox, Graeme Bachop, Wayne Shelford (captain), Zinzan Brooke, Albert Anderson, Andy Earl, Mike Brewer, Richard Loe, Warren Gatland, Ron Williams. Reserves: Bruce Deans, Joe Stanley, John Schuster, Sean Fitzoa-

trick, Alan Whetton and Kevin Boroevich. The tour Itinerary is:June .19 v Western Australia, Perth. June 22 v Randwick, Sydney.

June 26 v Australia B, Brisbane. June 29 v New South Wales Country, Singleton. July 3 v Australia (first test), Sydney. July 6 v Australian Capital Territory, Canberra. July 10 v Queensland, Brisbane.

July 13 v Queensland B, Townsville.

July 16 v Australia (second test), Brisbane. July 20 v New South Wales B, Gosford. July 23 v New South Wales, Sydney. July 26 v Victorian Invitation XV, Melbourne. July 30 v Australia (third test), Sydney.