Spotlight on Shelford

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 88

Spotlight on Shelford

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Auckland “Everything seems to be revolving around me,” mused the new Kiwi stand-off half, Kelly Shelford, in Auckland yesterday as the Australian and New Zealand sides prepared for tomorrow’s World Cup rugby league qualifying match at Mount Smart Stadium.

Shelford, the only newcomer to test football in either starting lineup, has the responsibilities of solving New Zealand’s goal-kicking and backline attacking problems as well as keeping tackling tabs on the great Wally Lewis.

While the sturdy Shelford might at first glance look to Lewis to be something of a reincarnation of his old nemesis, Olsen Filipaina, and comes from one of this country’s most famous footballing families, it was no surprise his brow was furrowed yesterday. It is four years since Shelford was a regular goal-kicker at club level, and the five goals he contributed towards Auck-

land’s 26-24 defeat of Australia did not greatly boost his confidence.

“I thought I was struggling to get them over,” he admitted. Shelford has been practising for 90 minutes each day since Tuesday, having found an ally in the groundsman at Onewa Domain, the headquarters of the North Harbour Rugby Union, who has given him access. But Shelford would clearly have preferred a lighter schedule of duties in his first international fixture. “I wanted to concentrate on my own game,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure being put on me at the moment. I wouldn’t mind so much having the goal-kicking job if it was my third or fourth test.”

In the last two seasons Shelford has earned an enviable reputation as a big match player. The former Junior Kiwis captain scored two tries when Auckland beat Great Britain last year, he touched down again for the Presidents XIII against Australia at Palmerston North, then

led and kicked a depleted provincial side to its upset of the Australians.

“He’s played against them twice and knows what to expect,” said the Kiwi coach, Tony Gordon, of Shelford. “I talked to Kelly about the goal-kick-ing largely to take the pressure off Kevin Iro. While I feel Kevin could be a complete goal-kicker the extra responsibility has been worrying him a bit so we’ll let him get on with his other jobs,” said Mr Gordon.

To make matters just a little more difficult, Shelford has not previously partnered Gary Freeman in a halfback combination. “There will be no problems, though, it’s worked out fine at training,” said Freeman. Bob Fulton, the Australian coach, described Shelford as “a very strong player who has had two pretty good games against us.

“But he wasn’t marked by Wally Lewis in either of those matches, and that’s another thing altogether. Obviously, it is a different atmosphere alto-

gether in a test and now he is coming up against the best player in the world,” said Mr Fulton.

While the Australians went through their customary relaxed and utterly confident training routine yesterday, the Kiwis held a press conference then retreated behind the gates of a naval base.

The Kiwis give the impression they believe Australia can be prevented from completing a clean sweep of the Lion Red series, if the ball bounces kindly for them. Restricting the potentially potent Australian attacks at Rotorua last Sunday was encouraging, the first points in the new World Cup qualifying round are a lure, and memories of the 18-0 win in the corresponding encounter in 1985 provide a welcome precedent. “But we need just a little luck,” said Freeman, who had a try slip from his fingers in the first few minutes at Rotorua.

Australia is likely to have Paul Sironen in the second-row, though he did

not join in team training yesterday. If Sironen’s ankle injury flares up again, Mai Meninga will probably be switched from the centres to loan his 106 kg physique to the forward effort.

Favouritism rests firmly with the Australians. But the Kiwis have improved with time and match play. Continuing fine weather in Auckland should contribute to the World Cup cycle getting off to a rousing start. Teams.—

Australia: Gary Belcher; Dale Shearer, Mai Meninga, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock; Wally Lewis (captain), Des Hasler; Sam Backo, Kerrod Walters, Steve Roach; Paul Sironen, Bradley Clyde; Paul Vautin. Reserves: Greg Alexander, Michael O’Connor, Bruce McGuire, David Trewhella. New Zealand: Darrell Williams; Gary Mercer, Kevin Iro, Tony Kemp, Mark Elia; Kelly Shelford, Gary Freeman; Brent Todd, Duane Mann, James Goulding; Mark Horo, Sam Stewart; Hugh McGahan (captain). Reserves: Kurt Sherlock, David Watson, Brendon Tuuta, Esene Faimalo. Referees: Ray Tennant (Britain).