Three changes to N.Z. side

Press, 10 July 1989, Page 36

Three changes to N.Z. side

Duane Mann will make his rugby league test debut, Gary Mercer has been recalled and Phil Bancroft is in the reserves for the Kiwis to play the second Lion Red series match at Rotorua on Sunday. Mann, in his second season as Auckland’s hooker, replaces Barry Harvey. Aged 24, Mann made a fine impression for the President’s XIII which opposed the Australians in the first tour fixture. Back on the wing, where he has served his country admirably in the past, Mercer will be making

his sixth test appearance. He was a logical choice when Mark Elia was ruled out by a knee injury. Less clearcut was the reshuffling of three scrum-halves. Gary Freeman has been promoted into the starting lineup, Clayton Friend omitted altogether from the 17man squad, and Bancroft, who played 21 matches for Canterbury before transferring to Auckland last year, is to be a back reserve in his first international callup. The Kiwi coach, Tony Gordon, sent Freeman on to substitute for

Friend at half-time in yesterday’s first test. Mr Gordon said later that Friend had damaged a shoulder a few minutes earlier, but the North Sydney scrum-half did not want to talk about it last evening. The team is: Darrell Williams; Tony Iro, Kevin Iro, Tony Kemp, Gary Mercer; Shane Cooper, Gary Freeman; Brent Todd, Duane Mann, James Goulding; Hugh McGahan (captain), Sam Stewart; Brendon Tuuta. Reserves: Kurt Sherlock, Phil Bancroft, Esene Faimalo, Mark Horo.