Waikato expects forward battle

Press, 25 July 1989, Page 44

Waikato expects forward battle

PA Hamilton The Waikato rugby coach, Glenn Ross, expects a torrid forward battle to ensue when his side meets the Pumas at Hamilton’s Rugby Park today.

Mr Ross, when told the Argentine coach, Rodolfo O’Reilly, had named a powerful tight five and a near test-strength backline, said it was apparent the Pumas would resort once again to the 10-man game.

He predicts the tourists will try to gain dominance in the forwards, and more often than not play it safe with the ball won.

“It’s hard to gauge exactly how they will approach this match,” he said, “but I believe they’ll base it around their strong scrum again. "They’ll try to keep it pretty much in the forwards, and kick a fair bit.”

But Waikato will not take the field today intent on countering the Pumas.

“We’ll have to concentrate on controlling or accommodating their powerful shove,” said Mr Ross.

“But our main priority will be to get out there and put our own game pattern in place. “Driving forward play is a part of that but I want to see all of my players take a hand in it. “This is a very import-

ant game for us. It’s a stepping stone into the national championship. “We haven’t played for six weeks, so there are a few cobwebs to shake out.”

Waikato has played one of its first division matches, posting a record 67-0 win over Counties. In the C.A.N.Z. series early this season it met two other first division rivals, North Auckland and Otago.

It beat North Auckland, 30-21, en route to the C.A.N.Z. final, in which it

beat Otago 36-15. It has won all nine of its outings this season, in its last match beating Thames Valley 72-0. The Waikato team to play today is unchanged from that which beat Thames Valley, and before it Counties. Waikato’s rampant form has forced Mr O’Reilly on to the back foot. He played it safe yesterday in naming 10 players capped against the All Blacks at Carisbrook in the side to take the field against Waikato.

Serafin Dengra and Luis Molina will pillar the scrum, while Pablo Buabse and Marcelo Valesani will provide the locking power. They are four of the tight five that played the AH Blacks 10 days ago. The backline, from the halfback, Daniel Baetti, through to the centre, Marcelo Loffreda, is the same as that fielded in the first test.

Argentina: Sebastian Salvat, Marcelo Righentini, Marcelo Loffreda, Diego Cuesta Silva, Fabian Turnes, Rafael Madero, Daniel Baetti, Joaquin Uriarte, Marcos Baeck, Pablo Buabse, Marcelo Valesani, Miguel Bertranou, Serafin Dengra, Ricardo Le Fort, Luis Molina.

Reserves: Adrian Rocca, Gustavo Milano, Pablo Garreton, Federico Silvestre, Matias Allen, Alejandro Scolni.

Waikato: 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.