3000 At Airport Greet Lions

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 1

3000 At Airport Greet Lions

A crowd of 3000 was at Christchurch Airport yesterday afternoon to welcome a cheerful British Isles side fresh from its triumphs in Australia and eager to embark on the New Zealand section of its Rugby tour.

The party, at full strength after the arrival of C. H. Gibson and B. Bresnehan, was met by Mr H. C. Blazey, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the Union’s council. After the enthusiastic welcome by the crowd the team sang two songs on the tarmac before leaving for Invercargill. The captain (M. J. Camp-bell-Lamerton) officially began the tour of New Zealand with an address in Maori. In an interview on his arrival, Mr D. J. O’Brien, the manager, said his side was looking forward to the New Zealand section of the tour. Asked whether he considered the tour was too long, he said: “I love it. I think the team will agree with me that this is a wonderful experience. I think big tours happen to a player only once in a lifetime and are here to stay.” The margin of 31-0 in the second test in Australia was a little bit flattering, he said. “Things just went right for us in the last 20 minutes. Big factors in our win were very good running with the ball and good switches of play and direction.”

Mr O’Brien said he did not think a new replacement rule for international matches was strictly necessary. “One of the most interesting things in Rugby is to see who is injured after 10 minutes and then see which team has the guts. I think the law is satisfactory as it stands.”

Mr O’Brien said that K. Savage was the only unfit member of the party, and Gibson and Bresnehan would be ready to play in about 10 days. Savage had an injured back, but M. P. Weston had not been as badly injured in the test as was supposed Campbell-Lamerton said that the emphasis in training would be on soft-ground forward tactics. “In your climatic conditions the ball bounces as it does in Scotland, and our training will be directed towards meeting this. The immense forward skill of your New Zealand teams will make us

look closer at how our own forwards are going. “We are not satisfied with our forward standard,” he said. “We have got to learn the art of running with the ball on your heavy grounds. “Our improvement in the last few matches is a result of general planning. John Robins’s determination has helped us to get fit, but all the players have contributed. We had quite a bit of luck in Australia but we hope to go on winning, and will not just concentrate on the tests.” Campbell-Lamerton said that every match had Its own merits, and the Lions would play the type of game suitable for the conditions. “We will not decide 0“ the pattern before the match.

“It is every Rugger player’s dream to come to New Zealand. I know it has always been mine. Another thing I am looking forward to is some sleep." The Lions chugged into Invercargill last night in a 1924 Garret steam-waggon and a fleet of vintage cars, according to the Press Association. The chartered flight arrived 25 minutes late. Although the weather was overcast and cold, the welcome was steaming. As Mr O’Brien stepped from the aircraft he was greeted by two City of Invercargill pipers—Sergeant C. E. Hays and Corporal N. McMillan. The next off the aircraft was Campbell-Lamerton. As he and the manager entered the terminal foyer they were challenged by a Maori warrior,

Manu Tamaka, leader of the Murihiku Maori concert party. The Lions stood fascinated as the Maori party performed a haka and an action song.

Manu Tamaka then laid a gift—a hand-carved mere—at the feet of Mr O’ Brien.

In accepting the gift, Mr O’Brien rubbed noses with the Maori leader and Camp-beli-Lamerton led his side in return songs—one of them a Maori number, greatly appreciated by the huge crowd which packed the foyer. Hundreds followed the Lions to their vintage transport and a long line of traffic chased them into Invercargill. They were besieged at their hotel door, and before they went into dinner appeared on the second storey balcony to wave to the crowd.