Test records near for Fox, Kirwan

Press, 29 June 1988, Page 32

Test records near for Fox, Kirwan

By the end of the threetest series against Australia next month, two Auckland All Blacks, Grant Fox and John Kirwan, might well have etched their names in the New Zealand rugby archives.

Fox will go into the first international against the Wallabies on Sunday with 177 points and he is fast closing on the two players ahead of him, the legendary Don Clarke (207) and the former Wellington fullback, Alan Hewson (201). Clarke accumulated his points from 31 tests and Hewson surpassed 200 in 19 tests. Fox, who will be playing his eleventh international at Sydney, will almost certainly become the most prolific scorer in fewer tests, but it must be remembered that his totals were inflated by playing against some lesser opposition in the World Cup. Even so, Fox, who celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday this month, has spared no opposition since becoming the established New Zealand first fiveeighths for the World Cup campaign last year. Until then Wayne Smith was the No. 1 fly-half and the goal-kicking duties were the responsibility of Kieran Crowley.

Already Fox has easily headed off Clarke and Hewson for the most conversions, but he is behind both in tries, penalty goals and dropped goals.

Kirwan’s six tries in the two recent tests against Wales advanced his tally to 18, taking him past lan Kirkpatrick (16) and into second place only one behind the dashing Wellington wing of the late 1970 s and early 1980 s, Stu Wilson.

Wilson’s total came from 34 tests, Kirwan has appeared 22 times. Aged 23, Kirwan’s test debut was against France at Lancaster Park in 1984. That two-test series brought no reward and a trip to Australia later that year brought even less joy; he was injured in his first match and replaced on tour.

However, Kirwan was restored to full fitness the next season, scoring his first test try against England in- the second international and he scored a

brace in both tests against Argentina later that year. Kirwan failed to register a try in six tests (three against France and three against Australia) in 1986, but the World Cup last year provided him with six and the Welsh visit this season provided him with a real bonus.

The scoring breakdown of Kirwan and Fox is: :— t John Kirwan Year Opponent T Pt 1985 England 1 4 1985 Argentina 2 8 1985 Argentina 2 8 1987 Italy 2 8 1987 Fiji 1 4 1987 Wales 1 4 1987 France 2 8 1987 Australia 1 4 1988 Wales 4 16 1988 Wales 2 8 18 72 Grant Fox Year Opponent c. P. D. Pt 1985 Argentina — -— 1 3 1987 Italy 8 2 — 22 1987 Fiji 10 2 — 26 1987 Argentina 2 6 — 22 1987 Scotland 2 6 — 22 1987 Wales 7 1 — 17 1987 France 1 4 1 17 1987 Australia 1 3 1 14 1988 Wales 6 "■ 1 " —. 12 1988 Wales 8 2 — 22 45 26 3 177