Waikato to be at full strength

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 26

Waikato to be at full strength

PA Hamilton Unbeaten Waikato will field a full strength line-up for its match against the touring Argentine rugby team in Hamilton on Tuesday. The Waikato coach, Glenn Ross, is using the match as a dress rehearsal for the rest of his team’s national championship programme, which resumes next month with a South Island tour. Waikato has won all nine of its matches this season, including a 67-0 thumping of Counties in its only national championship. In possibly Mr Ross’ most difficult

forward choices, he has plumped to continue with Richard Jerram at lock ahead of Steve Gordon and return Duane Monkley to the openside flanker’s spot in place of Stuart Gemmell. Jerram seized his chance when Gordon went off injured in Waikato’s third game of the season and played well enough to get a North Zone team spot during the former New Zealand colt’s two-month recuperation. Monkley missed Waikato's last two games because of injury and in his absence Gemmell, originally in the squad as the reserve hooker, played well

in the high scoring romps against Counties and Thames Valley. Gordon has even missed reserve selection for the Pumas match, with Mr Ross opting for flexibility among his emegencies. The Waikato team is: Daryl Halligan, Paul Simonsson, Andrew Strawbridge, Warren Jennings, Rodney Mclntosh, Brett Craies, Kevin Putt, John Mitchell, Duane Monkley, Brent Anderson, Richard Jerram, Tom Coventry, Richard Loe, Warren Gatland, Graham Purvis. Reserves.— Andrew Te Whaiti, Bernie Smith, David Hansen, Stuart Gemmell, John Schuler, Rob Gordon.