In Christchurch, Britain Is Rugby Underdog

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 17

In Christchurch, Britain Is Rugby Underdog

(By

I. J. D. HALL)

If all form, past and present, is taken into account the British Lions must start today’s game against Canterbury as the rankest outsider of any international team to have played at Lancaster Park in recent years.

Since their first game, when they lost to Southland, the Lions have had their problems. They have not been very successful in Saturday matches nor very assertive in Wednesday' games.

The great attacking potential of their backs has not been fully realised and the forwards, individually good, have never managed to become a cohesive unit.

Tanner is big and powerful. In the line-outs, Francis is an accomplished jumper at No. 3, and Banks quite effective at No. 5.

In the tight-loose play, too, Canterbury is most effective. With Wyllie, Penrose and Cornelius the team is served with men who not only get to the loose ball quickly, but also make use of it when they arrive.

Today, they play a Canterbury side which, with its five All Black backs, probably has the best back-line outside the test team, and a thoroughly well-drilled pack which outplayed the Wellington eight who had earlier eliminated the Lions when Wellington beat the tourists, 20-6. TURNING POINT? But there is the feeling that today’s game might be the turning point of the tour—and an upward turn, not downward for the Lions. The playing of D. Watkins at inside centre creates all sorts of exciting possibilities. Watkins, with a little room to move in would be the quickest back seen in New Zealand for many years. He has with him McFadyean. an aggressive runner, S. J. Watkins, who was most impressive at Westport, and Bebb, a man who will match the Canterbury wings for speed. The choice of Weston to pair with Young probably has been made because of Weston’s soundness. He has a reputation of being the best “kicking” player in the Home Unions. No doubt that asset will be used today but if the Lions decide to use this indirect method of attack they could be in trouble, for Canterbury’s defence is well geared to that form of Rugby assault. Also, it would be criminal if the other British backs were starved because of lack of opportunity. INTO PRACTICE It was at Christchurch, for the Universities match, the manager (Mr D. J. O’Brien) said that the Lions had become over-obsessed with forward play. A month later, and on the same ground, might be the opportune time to put theory into practice. But, as has been the case

Behin4 them they have a back-line which fits in perfectly with the pack. Davis and Watt are a smooth combination; Cottrell an unassuming but very effective second five-eighths, and the threequarter line of Birthwisle, Arnold and Steel would be the most dangerous attacking combination in New Zealand Rugby. McCORMICK’S 100TH And, as a last line of defence, they have the indomitable McCormick, who will celebrate his one hundredth game for Canterbury by leading the team on to the field. The aggregation of all these factors should mean a win for Canterbury, but with the Lions knowing that this game is such a vital one—and also knowing that they are the under-dogs there could be a resolution in the Lions camp to disprove the criticism that has attended their tour. This is an intangible factor but one that cannot be overlooked. Lancaster Park will be soft today and, if anything, should help the forward play of Canterbury. However, these are not foreign conditions for the Lions and it was at Whangarei on a very wet surface that they showed their best form of the tour.

in other games, the outcome will be decided in- the forwards. Individually, the Lions pack is a good one but it remains to be seen whether Telfer, the new captain, can rouse his pack to the concerted effort needed to match the Canterbury forwards. Mcßride and Price should win the line-outs; Lamont, Telfer and Prothero will match the Canterbury loose forwards for speed; Norris, Kennedy and Powell are a determined front row. But will they be able to match Canterbury for forward technique and application? Even at this stage of the tour that cannot be predicted confidently. There are still flaws, by New Zealand standards, in the Lions line-out play and they have yet to show they can out-ruck a good provincial pack. BIG, POWERFUL The Canterbury pack is a very good one. Cornelius has proved himself a most effective captain; the front row of Hopkinson, Creighton and