MR O’BRIEN: ‘WE’RE SICK OF IT’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 1

MR O’BRIEN: ‘WE’RE SICK OF IT’

“Back home we play Rugby as a game to enjoy. Here we find obstruction, short-arm tackling and other illegal tactics. We’re sick of it,” said the manager of the British Isles Rugby team (Mr D. J. O’Brien) after the match against Canterbury on Saturday. “Take my word, we’ve had enough,” said Mr O’Brien.

“We have enjoyed New Zealand’s wonderful hospitality and great friendliness. It is often said the least enjoyable part of it is the 90 minutes on the field. I say 90 minutes advisedly—there are always 10 minutes taken up . by injuries in our J matches. ' “We went out today to counter all this. This is the way we are going from now on.” Mr O’Brien said.

The captain of the Lions team on Saturday, J. W. Telfer, said referees allowed play to go on in a way which led to fighting.

I “I’m not going to say today’s game was dirty, because every game played in New Zealand has been dirty,” said Telfer. “We hear a lot of talk about | open Rugby, but the All Blacks in Britain were 20 points up and still playing their stereotyped sort of game.” Mr O’Brien later said he thought the referee on Saturday (Mr C. J. McAuley, of Otago) had controlled the game well. “I think Mr O’Brien’s comments are quite unjustified. I cannot understand his reference to shortarm tackles. I have seen the Lions play nine games, including one in Australia and I have yet to see a stiff-arm tackle in any of the games I have watched,” said the

president of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr H. C. Blazey) when Mr O’Brien’s statement was referred to him. “It seems to me that before accusing his opponents of illegal play he should look at some of the illegalities the Lions are practising, such as consistently coming into rucks on the wrong side, failing to roll clear of the ball, and obstructing in the line-outs. These are persistent illegalities 1 and possibly lead to some of the accusations from 1 his side about rough 1 play.

“I deplore foul play of any type,” said Mr Blazey. “Many of these incidents arise from provocation which may not be obvious.”

The speech made by the Lions’ captain against Canterbury, J. W. Telfer, was a peevish and illmannered attack on the referee and on refereeing in New Zealand, said Mr Blazey.

“The standard of refereeing in New Zealand is as high, or higher, than in the home countries,” he said. “We have been told this by players from overseas, by everyone. The Lions have the best referees available.” The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union Council (Mr T. C. Morrison) said he had seen six of the Lions’ matches. “There have been incidents, but Mr O’Brien is treating them as the rule rather than the exception,” he said.