Rugby: Waikato fail to woo Aussie back

By WYNNE GRAY AND NZPA

Former Wallaby Nathan Grey has rebuffed requests from Waikato to bail them out of a midfield back crisis as the NPC counts down to its start in the new millennium..

The Mooloo men have sagged in recent weeks with injuries to Keith Lowen (shoulder), Scott McLeod (hamstring) and Mark Ranby (ankle) decimating their midfield back strength.

As the trio began their recuperation and the selectors contemplated some quick-fix solution, the idea of targeting Grey grew more appealing. However, when contacted, he turned down the request.

"I have just got back into club rugby after 10 weeks out with a damaged toe and I just want to sort myself out before I get back into rugby fulltime," Grey said yesterday.

Grey is a powerful second five-eighths who shifted to New South Wales because he was struggling to break past Tim Horan to get a permanent place in the Queensland team.

Whenever Horan was injured, Grey usually filled in for the Wallabies but with both of them hurt for much of this season, the test job was shared between Rod Kafer and Jason Little.

"I would have been keen if he had been ready," Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke said about Grey yesterday. "It would have eased our problems because were were looking in dire trouble there for a while."

However, it now appears Lowen and perhaps Mcleod will be fit to travel to Dunedin to play Otago on Sunday, though Searancke is waiting until tomorrow to choose his final side.

While the midfielders have taken a hammering, blindside flanker Nick Holten looks as though he will need six weeks out to repair a leg injury.

But Searancke was fortunate to find a replacement squad player.

Originally, loose forward Clark McLeod was loaned by Canterbury to try out for Northland before Waikato swooped and picked him up this week.

Searancke said: "Losing Nick was a huge hole for us and when I heard Clark might be available to help out I said go for it."

Meanwhile, Canterbury coach Robbie Deans will start three All Blacks in the opening match of the NPC against Wellington tomorrow night.

Prop Greg Somerville and loose forwards Reuben Thorne and Scott Robertson are in the starting XV. Utility back Leon MacDonald has been named on the bench.

The Canterbury backline features three former All Blacks in Caleb Ralph, Mark Mayerhofler and Daryl Gibson.

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Marika Vunibaka, Daryl Gibson (captain), Caleb Ralph, Mark Mayerhofler, Derek Maisey, Ben Hurst, Sam Broomhall, Scott Robertson, Chris Jack, Steve Lancaster, Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville, Sean Cuttance, David Hewett. Reserves: Afato So'oalo, Leon MacDonald, Billy Fulton, Johnny Leo'o, Marty Veale, Con Barrell, Matt Sexton.

Wellington: Shannon Paku, Brad Fleming, Jason O'Halloran, Elvis Seveali'i, Norm Broughton, David Holwell, Jason Spice, Filo Tiatia, Kupu Vanisi, Dion Waller, Inoke Afeaki, Jerry Collins, Kevin Yates, Norm Hewitt (captain), Mike Edwards. Reserves: Riki Flutey, Colin Sullivan, Paul Steinmetz, Shane Carter, Morne van der Merwe, Semi Sititi, Opeta Palepoi.