IN SYDNEY, BRITAIN 6-4 TO WIN TEST

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

IN SYDNEY, BRITAIN 6-4 TO WIN TEST

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY. Britain is 6 to 4 favourite to win the rubber by beating Australia in the third and final Rugby League test at Sydney today.

Sydney is at fever pitch for the crucial game, which is expected to be attended by about 70,000 people. Britain will be at full strength while the Australian side is weakened by the absence of R. Gasnier, J. Raper, G. Langlands and K. Barnes. Britain has only two changes from the side that played in the rought, battling second test at Brisbane last week—K. Gowers for A. Keegan at full-back, and A. Buckley for F. Myler, at leftcentre.

Australia has made three changes—L. Johns for Barnes at full-back, P. Dimond for Langlands at right-centre, and A. Beetson for R. Thornett, in the second row. Britain won the first test, 17-13, and Australia took a

narrow, 64, verdict in the second. Both sides expect another very tough battle, but the referee, Mr C. Pearce, made it clear during the week that he will not allow the game to degenerate into the brawl that broke out at Brisbane. FITTER AND BETTER The British skipper, B. Edgar, yesterday tipped his team to win and said he thought his players were fitter and better than the Aus-

tralians. “They could not cross our line when we had a man short all through the second half last week,” he Said. “So I can’t see them doing it with our full 13 there.” His Australian counterpart, I. Walsh, said: “We have a 50-50 chance of winning, and I am confident—but not over confident.” Since the war, Australia has won three of the five final tests played in Sydney.