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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 14. June 13 1977

Sport

page 13

Sport

Sport header

The All Black Selection

How does one account for the selection of the first Test team? Quite honestly I am not sure. On one hand we hear from Mr Gleeson, the All Black coach, that he is to revert back to the ten-man game, based on forward fundamentals, good rucking and kicking first - five.

I suppose Duncan Robertson is one of the best kickers in the country, but he was certainly overshadowed in the trials by Doug Bruce, particularly in the department of line and tactical kicking, and there must be severe doubts about Robertson's fitness. Not that I don't have a very high regard for Robertson's football ability, because I believe that he is a far better all round player than Bruce, but he is more geared to the running game, contrary to Mr Gleesons remarks.

Although man for man the selected forward pack is probably the best that could be selected, most of the players are North Islanders, and hence more used to and better skilled at the art of mauling rather than rucking. Particularly the likes of Knight, Kirkpatrick, Haden and Johnstone. There is nothing wrong with this of course, but once again if seems contrary to Gleeson's scheme of things. Surely if he wanted players skilled in the art of rucking, he would have looked more closely at players from Southland, Otago and Canterbury. Perhaps Bill Bush, Rutledge, Stewart or Seeax.

Certainly under the sustained rucking prowess of Otago, the Lions looked anything but world beaters. To see rucking of that calibre, one had to look at Otago teams of old.

The selection of Batty must be some what of a risk as well. A player who has had only three club games, who broke down as a hopeless crock in South Africa doesn't inspire confidence. There is no doubt that fully fit. Batty is one of the most exciting rugby players in the world, but surely, one would have thought that the New Zealand selectors would have learnt from bad experiences in the past regarding the selection of half fit players. One only has to remember Batty himself last year, and in the previous tour to South Africa the case of Colin Meads trying to play Test Rugby with an arm not properly recovered from a serious fracture.

Of course the real bombshell selection was the fullback Colin Farrel. On his day a brilliant attacker, a fine fielder of the ball and a devastating tackier, but on an off day, which isn't infrequent, he is bloody awful. Despite the attributes in his favour, he rarely kicks goals, and his line kicking is only moderate. Against the Lions with their abilities to counter attack through the likes of Andy Irvine J J Williams and Phil Bennet, the importance of finding touch with line kicks is crucial. The other thing is, of course, that none of Farrells greatest attributes fit in with Gleeson's ten-match approach, which may mean that New Zealand intends to run the ball and counter attack themselves from defensive positions. This may be added reason that the risk with Batty has been taken because the ability of Bryan Williams and Batty in covering and supporting their fullback in defense is second to none in this country.

Certainly the All Black team looks a strong attacking unit but the defensive capabilities of Osborne and Farrell are yet to be tested under test match conditions. All in all a team capable of heating the Lions providing Batty and Robertson are fully match fit, and Farrell has an 'on' rather than an off day at fullback. As regards kicking, one can only say that New Zealand had better score their points from tries.

— Our man in the stands

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