Campese ready for Lions

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 43

Campese ready for Lions

NZPA-AAP Sydney The globetrotting test rugby wing, David Campese, left the warmth of swimming in Egypt’s Red Sea this month for the big wet of Sydney to meet up with his next target in life — the touring British Lions. The internationally known Australian-born son of an Italian migrant winemaker, who settled in the A.C.T., has been rushed into the revamped N.S.W. line-up to clash with the tourists at Concord Oval on Saturday. Dazzling stepper Campese crossed the Mediterranean last month from a season with an Italian club, Milano, where he paired with Randwick’s Brad Burke in the off-season. Campese went to the area originally prompted by the presence of his father’s old family friends in the Padova area. Accompanied by his Italian girlfriend, Monica, earlier this month he lazed in 35deg. heat in the calm Egyptian waters without a breaker in sight. But Monica had her optical business to return to, and the Australian a date with his other love, test rugby. “I just wanted a break before I got into it again,” said the 26-year-old veteran of 42 test caps. “I’m feeling very fit, hard, scaling around 86kg, and feel good — I just want to get back into it here slush, and all.” The goose-stepping backliner played five-eighths for Milano. But his friend, Matt Burke, reported: “He doesn’t threaten “Noddy” (Michael Lynagh) for his test spot there.” Campese said there had been no new rugby league offers either from Sydney clubs or from England sources. The menacing runner who debuted in 1982 will be a constant threat for the Lions at Concord. Campese has already been slotted for his wing’s Green and Gold jersey as has most of the team for the first test, believes the N.S.W. chairman of selectors, Barry Want. Mr Want was stung by suggestions that the lock, Tim Gavin, had been denied a chance to gain his test spurs against the Lions by being dropped from the N.S.W. firsts squad. Gavin’s outstanding form made him a strong prospect for the lock job. The N.S.W. team is: Marty Roebuck, David Campese, Darren Junee, Lloyd Walker, Acura Niuqila, Kent Bray, Nick Farr-Jones (capt), Steve Tuynman, Scott Gourlay, Simon Poidevin, Steve Cutler, Damien Frawley, Mark Hartill, Phil Kearns, Adrian Skeggs.