All Blacks win but left with some hard thinking before the test

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 18

All Blacks win but left with some hard thinking before the test

NZPA

Swansea

The All Blacks are coming to realise that the problems of the Welsh national team do not necessarily follow through to the club sides after another tough, spirited tour match yesterday.

The All Blacks beat Swansea 37-22 at the St Helen’s ground in cold, miserable conditions yesterday. It was a rousing, rugged match before a crowd of about 15,000 and showed that not all aspects of Welsh rugby are in turmoil.

Coming after last Saturday’s spirited display by Cardiff, it left the All Blacks with some hard thinking to do before the November 4 test against Wales. Swansea is not one of the top clubs in Wales on recent form but yesterday it fought determinedly and with intelligence in difficult conditions and made an excellent contribution to the match.

While parts of the game, especially in the second half, were of less than top quality, the total was a game of character in which one score right on halftime proved the single most decisive moment of the game.

The All Blacks had struggled to a 15-0 lead with the strong wind at their backs when the Swansea fullback Mark Wyatt landed a penalty from close to the All Black posts. From the kickoff, the first five-eighths, Frano Botica, put up a high up-and-under, three Swansea players dithered in front of their posts and the All Black flanker, Mike Brewer, nipped in to grab the ball and plunge over the line.

It gave the All Blacks a vital 21-3 cushion and while Swansea, inspired by captain and international halfback Robert Jones, managed three tries it did not get closer than 21-10 and 33-22. But victory came at a price for the All Blacks. Two likely test players, the flanker Alan Whetton and the second- five - eighths John Schuster suffered hamstring and groin injuries which could hinder their prospects of being ready for the test against Wales. “I can’t say yet how bad they are. We’ll have to wait a couple of days until they settle down,” the coach Alex Wyllie said.

In any case Mr Wyllie had other things on his mind after the match. He had seen his side put through a stiff examination and although it won comfortably there were areas of concern.

Too many basic mistakes, dropped ball and the squandering of scoring opportunities, marred the performance. However, there were some bright aspects. Brewer’s fine support play was rewarded with two tries; Craig Innes collected his first tries for the All Blacks with two on the right wing; Botica was inventive and sound at first five-eighths; Steve Gordon won some impressive ball at the front of the lineout while Andy Earl, who came on for

Whetton after 20min, had an excellent game both in the lineout and around the mauls.

Facing a stiff, cold wind in the first half Swansea showed astute judgment in keeping the ball close to its young, inexperienced forwards as they battled upfield. The All Blacks, looking to build a substantial halftime advantage, were unable to get on top and were slightly flattered by the scoreline at the interval.

Innes had got his first try, cutting inside the covering defence after Bruce Deans and the captain, Wayne Shelford, had moved right from a set piece move inside the Swansea 22m line. Gatland had added another 7min before halftime, when Innes sliced through a gap in midfield, Brewer carried the ball on and the Waikato hooker was well placed to take the final pass. Brewer then picked up his decisive first try. Botica converted all three tries and added a big 50m penalty from the halfway line. In reply Swansea had only a Wyatt penalty to show for its efforts. It had the All Blacks under siege for periods during the half and only desperate defence by Schuster stopped the right winger Mark Titley ending a thrilling 60m movement down the field with a try in the left corner. Wyatt kicked a second

penalty after the lock Murray Pierce was penalised at a ruck 28m out 2min after the break.

Then the Swansea pack brought the crowd to its feet with a surging drive to the All Black line. From . the five-yard scrum wide on the right, Jones ran right, drew the defence, and flanker lan Davies surged around the open side and crashed over the line. Wyatt’s conversion hit an upright.

With the All Blacks winning a welter of lineout possession Brewer got his second try, backing up a strong run by Shelford. Botica’s conversion carried the All Blacks out to a 27-10 lead.

Wyatt could have kept Swansea close had he not missed kickable penalties twice within three minutes as the French referee, Rene Hourquet; hammered the tourists.

By the end of the match he had penalised the All Blacks 16 times, Swansea 10 times. More significantly the All Blacks conceded nine second half penalties to Swansea’s three.

Innes got his second try when Shelford and Brewer drove forward into the Swansea 22 after 65min, and quick hands to the right gave Innes the overlap. Botica again converted to make the All Blacks safe at 33-10. Swansea showed its resilience by hitting back with two late tries. The lock Paul Arnold

scored after the veteran hooker, Billy James, had been held up short from a tap penalty, then centre, Kevin Hopkins, benefited from a brilliant individual burst by the Welsh test candidate, Tony Clement. The fly half skipped around the back of a scrum, evaded Gatland, drew the defence and gave Hopkins a clear run to the line.

Deans got the final try, spinning over the line from a five-yard scrum a minute from the end. But it was not one of his better days.

Swansea’s backs ran with vigour, notably the robust left winger, Arthur Emyr, and Clement — who also kicked superbly — while Jones was at the hub of most of the side’s best work. Its forwards belied their poor reputation and Davies, James and the mobile prop, Mike Morgan, stood out. Walter Little, who came on for Schuster, showed he is not out of his depth with two classy touches, one when he pinned his ears back and bolted through a tiny gap between two Swansea tacklers. Scorers:—

All Blacks 37 (tries to Craig Innes 2, Mike Brewer 2, Warren Gatland, Bruce Deans; Frano Botica 5 conversions, I penalty). Swansea 22 (tries to lan Davies, Paul Arnold, Kevin Hopkins; Mark Wyatt 2 conversions, 2 penalties). Halftime 21-3. Referee: Rene Hourquet (France).