Kiwis ‘will qualify’ for final
By
JOHN COFFEY
Hugh McGahan, who captained the New Zealand rugby league team to victory over Australia last year, is confident the Kiwis will qualify for the 1988 World Cup final. Still using crutches while recovering from surgery on his right knee, McGahan arrived in Christchurch from Sydney last evening to assist the Kiwis to prepare for their encounter with Great Britain at the Addington Show Grounds on Sunday.
“Certainly, we have the players and the experience to beat Britain. With the likes of Mark Graham leading up front and Dean Bell setting up his outside
backs, and taking their immense defensive capabilities into account, the Kiwis have many advantages,” he said. But McGahan, who watched the Lions upset Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium last Saturday, was not underestimating the opposition.
The Kiwis would need to be wary of the highly rated half, Andy Gregory, and prop, Kevin Ward. Others who emerged in a match-winning effort included the other prop, Hugh Waddell (“very impressive”), a secondrower, Mike Gregory (“their player of the tour”), and the fullback, Phil Ford (“he really
stood out”). “They surprised everyone by concentrating on playing football and proving they can play the game, and play it very well.
“Their discipline held out and they were able to control the ball for sets of tackles longer than the Australians. They also put pressure on Australia with their kicking game,” said McGahan. But the tourists were not sound when placed on the defensive — “the Kiwis have to bustle them the whole time.” “Also, the Australian performance was not up to standard in the third test. That was a telling factor in the outcome.
“New Zealand definitely has the team to beat Britain. Tony Gordon has looked after the Kiwis’ physical capabilities, and now the mental preparation has to be rounded off,” said McGahan.
The Kiwis assembled in Christchurch yesterday and had a training run at Burnside Park. Tony Gordon, the coach, reported that the countdown towards one of this country’s most important rugby league internationals was progressing according to plan.
New Zealand will train at Leslie Park, Hornby, this morning and Christchurch Boys’ High School this afternoon.
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Press, 14 July 1988, Page 52
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365Kiwis ‘will qualify’ for final Press, 14 July 1988, Page 52
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