Wyllie, Wyes lend Canterbury helping hand

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 60

Wyllie, Wyes lend Canterbury helping hand

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

The physical side of rugby training gave way to the psychological aspect for the Canterbury team last evening when it was addressed by two men time-honoured in Ranfurly Shield circles, Alex Wyllie and Don Hayes.

Doug Bruce, the Canterbury coach, did not have to scout far for two influential and inspirational personalities when he decided to invite outside input into Canterbury’s preparation for the shield match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday. Mr Wyllie, the boss of the coaching partnership with Mr Bruce when Canterbury reigned supreme in shield rugby from the end of 1982 to near the close of the 1985 season, and Hayes, the captain throughout the era and only player, along with Bruce Deans, to play all 27 matches, were only two willing to accept the invitations. The evening, at the Merivale clubrooms, was to let the players know what Ranfurly Shield rugby was all about, Mr Wyllie said. “Most of them already know but

when we challenged it was a different game. “It is pretty obvious Canterbury’s performances have not been that marvellous in the last few years, not up to what we have come to expect.” Mr Wyllie said that

when Canterbury lifted the shield from Wellington in 1982 the team had lost a couple of vital games beforehand and that had to be considered /when assessing Canter- ■ bury’s challenge this year. “The game of rugby, as in any sport, is not decided until the final whistle. It is an 80min game and Auckland has been finishing strongly whereas Canterbury perhaps hasn’t been,” Mr Wyllie said. Ranfurly Shield rugby was a special occasion with more hype than other matches, Hayes said. “The biggest shock for the guys is when they run on to the field with a big stadium full of people. I remember the noise when we ran on to Athletic Park to play Wellington for the shield in 1982. It was amazing, the noise was so great you couldn’t hear yourself speak.”

Hayes said it was important not be overawed by the occasion. "I recall Hoppy (Aiteter Hopkinson) telling \us that the first 20min could slide by before you could click your fingers', and you could wake up and find the game gone. That seemed to happen to Otago in 1984.” Hayes said that Canterbury had shown glimpses of true form at times but had been unable to sustain it. “They’ve got to do that on Saturday to have a chance, if they can then they have every show.” Hayes said that the present Auckland team was one which did not seem to know how to stop. “They just keep going, waiting for the other side to crack — perhaps we should do a dope test on them.”