Big changes to backline

Press, 4 November 1989, Page 96

Big changes to backline

NZPA York The Kiwi rugby league coach, Tony Gordon, has made major changes to his backline for Sunday’s game against Widnes in an attempt to have more attacking play. The tour centre, Tony Kemp, has been put at fullback, a position Mr Gordon always thought he was better at, with the test No. 1, Darrell Williams, coming into the ’centres. “I’m looking for more attack from the fullback situation and I hope Kemp can fulfil that role,” Mr Gordon said yesterday. “We’ve also been having troubles with our centres so we’ll have a look at how Williams will go there. “He’s strong and a good defender and I’m looking for his experience to get our backline moving.” Asked if putting Kemp at fullback and Williams in the centres was an experiment with the third seriesdeciding test only a week away, Mr Gordon said: “There’s a lot of things that have crossed my mind and I’ll just have to see how that situation goes.”

The other interesting selection is that of the Wellington replacement wing, Dave Ewe, who only arrived at the Kiwis’ camp late on Thursday. Ewe will be marking the Great Britain speedster, Martin Offiah, in his Kiwi debut and Mr Gordon said he had confidence in him. Mr Gordon has also decided to rest test player Kevin Iro, who has 14 stitches in his head from the second test, and has chosen Dave Watson to pair Williams in the centres. Watson gets his chance ahead of Kurt Sherlock after a good attacking display against Hull. Mr Gordon said playing Widnes, with its six Great Britain internationals and Kiwi Kurt Sorensen, would be like another test match with the only way to win being to apply constant pressure and to minimise mistakes. The New’ Zealand team is: Tony Kemp, Dave Ewe, Dave Watson, Darrell Williams, Gary Mercer, Kelly Shelford, Gary Freeman, Brent Todd, Duane Mann, Esene Faimalo, Mike Kuiti, Sam Stewart, Hugh McGahan (captain). Reserves: Kurt Sherlock, Phil Bancroft, George Mann, Francis Leota.

• British rugby league’s New Zealand sensation, Emosi Koloto, should be playing again in a week after being told five weeks ago his career was probably finished because of injuryThe Widnes second-rower, who was a provincial rugby union representative with Wellington and Manawatu, has almost completely recovered from a serious neck injury thanks to the touring Kiwi team’s medical staff.

Koloto has been seeing the Kiwi team doctor, Wayne Morris, and the physiotherapist, Peter Boyle, for the last two weeks on the recommendation of his club captain, Kiwi Kurt Sorensen.

He pinchfed a nerve in his neck during a game five weeks ago which meant he could not move his head and he lost his co-ordination.

He has regularly made the long journey from Widnes to the Kiwis’ York base and within six days of being . given anti-inflammatory drugs, three acupuncture treatments and special exercises Koloto is 90 per cent fit.