Mytton contender for French call-up

By WYNNE GRAY

LILLE - Former North Harbour midfield back Cliff Mytton has this season been touted as a possible test player for France.

Mytton has been in the national training camps, and with invited lock and former Harbour colleague Ian Jones, will play today for the French Barbarians against the New Zealand Commemorative XV.

That selection is seen as another pointer to Mytton's becoming a test player in the Six Nations, though his Stade Francais club and former Queensland coach John Connolly thinks that unlikely.

"Cliff has been playing solidly in the championship, but he has a lot of good players round him," Connolly said. "I'm not so sure they want to pick him for France.

"He is in his early 30s and might get in the third national side. Besides, he has a bit of a crook knee at the moment."

Mytton has been in France for four years, considering the opportunity to play there much better than waiting in the queue behind Walter Little, Frank Bunce and others in the Harbour midfield.

With eight of his club side in the French squad who lost the first test to the Wallabies, Connolly is in a solid position to rate the Tricolors' prospects against the All Blacks. At least as much as anyone can predict how the French will perform.

"There is some talent in this country, it is staggering, but sports science is non-existent," he said.

"There is little coaching. All they do is to play each other in an inordinate number of games, and that cycle is not going to allow them to improve.

"Sometimes their talent comes through in the tests, in spite of their lack of structure. They possess great natural skills and size. If they ever got their act together ... "

Connolly pointed out that while some New Zealand players felt weary after a long season of rugby, a top Franch player might be involved in 45 games for his club in the championship, European Cup, regional club competition and then internationals.

France and and Australia were ordinary in their test last weekend. The French, several times, got themselves into position to make strong plays, but made mistakes. The Wallabies made few forays and were lucky to come out on the right side of the ledger.

"But the All Blacks will be very different," Connolly said.

"They will use the ball out wide, they will have looked at what the French have to offer, and I don't think France have many other players to make changes."