Young players in strong backline

Press, 4 April 1989, Page 48

Young players in strong backline

By

BARRY CLARKE

The Canterbury rugby league side is poised to shed its time honoured forward-dominated play image with the naming last evening of its strongest backline in seasons.

The new coach, Frank Endacott, and his coselector, Kevin Allan, have chosen four teenagers in the backs for the match against West Coast at Greymouth on Anzac Day.

Scrumhalf Justin Wallace, stand-off Brett Rodger, the vice-captain, centre Carl Hall, all 19, and the 18-year-old wing, Whetu Taewu, are the

backbone of one of the youngest Canterbury sides ever fielded. “They’ve got speed to burn, they’re young and they’ve got skill,” said Mr Endacott. “From the side we’ve named you can see how we will play the game this year. We’ll be giving the ball plenty of air.” Canterbury has relied on tough, experienced forwards in the past, which has not been enough to counter the pace of Auckland, and more recently the strengthening Wellington.

However, this season it has the youth and speed to match its northern counterparts when the

first division championship starts in May. Five players will make their Canterbury debut against West Coast — Wallace, Rodger, Taewu, Hall and the former Otago representative, Murray Cain, named at fullback. The four teenagers have all played for the Junior Kiwis, as has another in the 17-man squad, Stuart Simcott, one of two forward reserves. The squad is: Murray Cain (Addington), Mike Dorreen (Addington), Andrew Vincent (Papanui), Hall (Linwood), Taewu (Halswell), Rodger (Hornby, vice captain), Wallace (Linwood), Moko Rangiaho (Linwood), Dar-

ren Twist (Halswell), Ron Simanu (Sydenham), John Green (Addington, captain), Gary Leek (MaristWestern Suburbs), Logan Edwards (Marist-Western Suburbs). Reserves: Neville Woodham (Hornby), Simcott (Papanui), Darryl Henare (Linwood), Russell Tuuta (Linwood). Hall partners Andrew Vincent in the midfield, which has pushed last year’s leading centre, Mike Dorreen, on to the wing. Darryl Henare, the big strapping former Mount Albert wing, has failed to make the starting 13. He had been overshadowed in ' the preseason series by several

other contenders, but Mr Endacott will not hesitate to promote him if he produces the form he did in Auckland last year. Mr Endacott has given the captaincy to second rower John Green in the absence of the injured Wayne Wallace. The forward combination is likely to change when Wallace and the international prop, Ross Taylor, return. Moko Rangiaho and a rejuvenated Ron Simanu will prop the scrum against Coast, but one will drop out for Taylor. The same is likely to happen to the useful Halswell hooker, Darren Twist, who fills Wallace’s spot.