PASK TAKING OVER AS LIONS CAPTAIN?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 13

PASK TAKING OVER AS LIONS CAPTAIN?

(From

I.J.D. HALL)

WELLINGTON. It has not taken long for the “night of the long knives” to appear in the British Lions Rugby team. The touring captain, M. J. Campbell-Lamerton, has been dropped both from his position as captain and his place at lock, for the game against Wellington tomorrow.

The Welsh captain, A. E. I. Pask, will captain the side and another Welshman, D. W. Thomas, will lock the scrum with W. J. Mcßride.

The team is: M. P. Weston; C. W. McFadyean, B. Bresnihan, D. K. Jones, D. I. Bebb; C. M. H. Gibson, R. M. Young; A. E. L Pask; J. W. Telfer, W. J. McBride, W. D. Thomas, D. Grant; C. II- Norris, K. W. Kennedy, D. Williams. Although Pask made a good job of captaining the Lions against Universities, it is felt that the dropping of Camp-bell-Lamerton is rather precipitate. Pask’s captaincy on Wednesday was by no means conclusive that he is the man to lead the Lions out of their Daniel’s den.

He had a relatively easy task against an ineffectual Universities pack, whereas Campbell-Lamerton had the tough games against Southland and Otago. For a while on Wednesday, Pask lost control when the Universities drove and rucked: these were the same problems Campbell-Lamerton was unable to solve at Invercargill and Dunedin. The Lions’ team is not quite the one that was expected to be fielded against the powerful Wellington side. The defection of D. Watkins, who has influenza, and the need to rest D. Rutherford at full-back, caused . some thought to be given to the selection. W’eston, the sound utility back, will play at full-back and Young will pair with his Irish team-mate, Gibson, at half-back.

chosen for the left wing but< he injured a leg at training I yesterday and Bresnihan was brought in as centre and McFadyean moved to the wing. Immediately, this gave the team a far better look. The forwards comprise the best pack that can be fielded at present, with the possible exception of R. J. McLoughlin in one prop position. It is powerful and mobile and should not be overshadowed by Wellington’s forwards. R. Lamont, B. Price, D. and S. J. Watkins and G. Wilson were not considered for the team because of injury.

Originally, K. F. Savage was