Lions Not Making Full Use Of Coach

Press, Issue 31095, 25 June 1966, Page 11

Lions Not Making Full Use Of Coach

(~)NE of the most intriguing aspects of the Lions tour of New Zealand has been the position that Mr J. D. Robins, the assistant manager, has in the touring party. The appointment of Mr Robins, officially as assistant manager but more probably as coach, broke new ground in British Rugby. It was the first time that a coach has accompanied a Lions team. According to reports from Australia it appeared that Mr Robins was playing quite an important part for the team at training and in the

selection of the side, but in New Zealand his efforts at coaching and training do not compare with those of New Zealand coaches.

It seems that while Mr Robins is still the coach of the side, he might not be playing as big a part in training and coaching as he would like.

The Home Unions have decided that the captain of the day should be responsible for tactics and training but even then it was most surprising on the day before the Universities match to see Mr Robins spend most of his time on the side-line while the captain, A, E. I. Pask, controlled the training.

It appears that while Mr Robins is still responsible for over-all policy in conjunction with the touring captain, he is not able to specifically train and coach the match team.

Mr Robins is a keen student of Rugby and it must be rather galling to him that he cannot take a larger part in training the match team for obviously faulty tactics have contributed to the defeats of the Lions.

Perhaps if the Lions decided that Mr Robins should have a far greater say on coaching and training before a match, the results might also show an improvement.