Canty rugby books now balanced

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 40

Canty rugby books now balanced

One international victory does not necessarily mean a winter of contentment for the Canterbury rugby team, but the win against Argentina enabled it to balance the books for the season to date and offered fresh encouragement for the upcoming national first division championship campaign. The period between the South Pacific series and the national championship was critical in the coaching career of first-year provincial coach, Frank Jack. That Canterbury exhibited a refreshingly positive approach to its eariyseason games and lost three of the South Pacific matches by four points or fewer meant little to a fickle Canterbury public which has yet to shed memories of the Ranfurly Shield glory days. The cold hard facts were Canterbury, never out of the top three in the first three years of the South Pacific championship, plummeted to the bottom, without a win in five matches. So Mr Jack and a good few of his chosen players were under the spotlight when the ‘supposed easier fixtures, against teams from the lower tiers of the National Mutual championship, came around. They answered by winning the next five. West Coast suffered its second biggest drubbing, 75-3; Southland, ahead with 32min remaining, was overhauled by a Canter-

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

bury team battling into a breeze and occasional driving rain; the Hanan Shield selection was taken apart in the second half; Marlborough conceded by a record score and record margin, 60-12; and the painful Pumas went away licking their wounds last Saturday. In its last five matches, Canterbury has included 38 tries in its 234 points and has conceded eight tries and 56 points. The short respite before the first national championship match, against Counties at Pukekohe on August 12, will allow Canterbury to take stock of what has come and gone and what lies ahead. Mr Jack and his assistantcoach, Alister Hopkinson, have been encouraged by the attitude of the players and that support has manifested itself in the 15man rugby being played by the province. Co-opting Mr Hopkinson has given Mr Jack a man well versed in the technical requirements of forward play and the former Canterbury and All Black prop is not short of motivational powers. Not that the coaches stick rigidly to taking the areas they are most familiar with — they switch specialist roles at practices at times. The two coaches are brothers-in-law who share a common interest, as

well as quick repartee. But Mr Jack is the boss and Mr Hopkinson, the apprentice, was firmly told (tongue-in-cheek) that he had to wait six matches before being allowed to comment to the media. -2: The Canterbury backline has pieced together some deft moves, the cutout pass being employed effectively, and the pacy Fijian wing, Paula Bale, has been the player to benefit most He has scored 13 tries for Canterbury in six apprearances, only five behind Craig Green’s season’s record. Bale and Wiremu Maunsell have proved good finishers on the wings, the enthusiastic Andrew McCormick and the fiercly determined Warwick Taylor have developed a good understanding in the centres, and any one of Stephen Bachop, Greg Coffey or Wayne Smith can comfortably slot between Taylor and either of the All Black halfbacks, Bruce Deans or Graeme Bachop. Behind the backline is Robbie Deans, poised to become Canterbury’s greatest points-scorer, and still a line-kicker and goal-kicker of quality. Deans might have lost a yard or two of pace, but his positional play and safeness under the high ball remain Canterbury assets.

The openside flanker, Murray Henderson, and the hooker, John Buchan, have played all 10 matches to date, and their performances suggest that they will not be replaced barring injury. Albert Anderson, Andy Earl — perhaps at lock or at No. 8 rather than the blindside flank — Chris Earl and Rob Penney have also staked claims for permanent places throughout the championship. The forwards’ positions are well covered. Chris Earl will be the No. 1 tighthead prop, but Kevin Hill and Tavita Sio can play either side of the scrum without discomfort John Jackson is primarily a lock, Richard Ewins mostly a No. 8 but Chris England is a handy man indeed, being able to fill any spot outside of the front row.