Lions Choose Strong XV To Start N.Z. Tour

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31082, 10 June 1966, Page 13

Lions Choose Strong XV To Start N.Z. Tour

[From Our Rugby Reporter] INVERCARGILL. Recognising the importance of their opening game of the New Zealand tour, the British Lions have included 10 of the team that beat Australia, 31-0, in the side to play Southland tomorrow.

C. M. H. Gibson and B. Bresnihan, who have recently joined the team, were not considered and the Welsh wing, S. J. Watkins, who was in the original fifteen, withdrew when he

njured a hamstring at training yesterda The team is:* S. J. Wilson; D. E. I. Bebb, C. W. McFadyen, D. K. Jones, A. J. Hinshelwood; D. Watkins, A. R. Lewis; W. J. Mcßride; G. Prothero, M. J. Campbell-Lamerton, D. Thomas, N. A. A. Murphy; C. H. Norris, F. A. L. Laidlaw, R. J. McLoughlin.

Once again the Lions’ selectors have preferred to play three locks by placing the Irishman, Mcßride, at the back of the scrum. The pack averages 15st 31b, but at training yesterday it looked very mobile.

The coach (Mr J. D. Robins) concentrated on the forwards, perfecting their short-passing

rushes and spending a lot of time in practising line-outs. The 6ft 3in Thomas impressed as a good jumper at No. 5 and Campbell - Lamberton’s 17st 91b did not prevent him from showing some agility when jumping. BARGING SUSPECTED

One part of the line-outs that was intriguing was the

form of blocking used by McLougiin, at No. 4. He faced away from the touch-line and into the lineout and once the ball was thrown he tried to bind with the forward jumping. However, his methods looked suspiciously like barging and might bring some attention from New Zealand referees. The backs tried scissors, reverse passes, cut-out passes and looked quite impressive, except for some rough passes thrown by Lewis. D. Watkins and Jones moved well and their choppy sidesteps are obviously going to cause opponents some bother.

S. J. Watkins, the 6ft 2in Welsh wing, stood out for his speed and long stride but soon after training began he injured a leg muscle and left the field.

Although it may be a bit early to compare the Lions with the Springboks, the Lions certainly looked far better and more purposeful in their training, particularly in their line-out play and rucking.

Asked if the selected team was a strong one, the manager, Mr D. J. O’Brien, said that at present the Lions did not have a strong and a weak side.

“You could say that at present we have a very even strength—almost, in fact, two shadow test sides.” BEAZLEY INJURED

One of the most dangerous attacking backs in the Southland fifteen, J. T. Beazley, has had to withdraw because of a badly bruised leg. He will be replaced by D. 0. Thompson, who played against the Springboks for Southland last year. Thompson will play at second fiveeights and R. R. Welsh will move to centre.

Rugby Park is in good order—as there has not been much rain in Invercargill during the last two weeks. If there is no rain by Saturad the ground should be soft on top but nowhere near the smelly mud-heap it was for the Springboks’ game there last year.