All Blacks sink Lions to clinch series

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 21

All Blacks sink Lions to clinch series

From

JOHN BROOKS

in Dunedin

A swampy south-eastern corner of Carisbrook will always be remembered by the 1983 Lions as the graveyard of their hopes of salvaging the test series against the All Blacks.

It was largely in this particularly waterlogged piece of turf that the British rugby tourists were held in bondage for most of the final quarter of the third rugby test on Saturday. And so despite scoring two tries to one, the Lions succumbed, 15-8, to put them three down in the series with only the Eden Park test remaining, on July 16. When John Rutherford, the best of the Lions’ backs, scored a try to cap a superb movement 2min after halftime, it seemed that the British side had at last discovered the path to success. The Lions led, 8-6, at that point, and with the All Blacks playingg indifferently, it seemed that the fate of the series would be postponed until the Auckland encounter. However, to the vast disappointment of their many supporters in the crowd of 30,000, and themselves, the Lions were unable to cement their lead. The All Blacks, inspired by a typically bold try by Stu Wilson midway through the half, took control in the last 20min, confirming the growing suspicion that their rivals did not possess the technique to match their spirit. The most remarkable fact to emerge from the game was that in two tests — at Wellington and Dunedin — the All Blacks did not give the accomplished Lions’ scorer Ollie Campbell, the opportunity for one kick at goal from penalties. This exceptional discipline was in stark contrast to the Lions’ performance. Overeagerness on the part of Roy Laidlaw, Peter Winterbottom, and Jim Calder, gave away three penalties for off-side play. Allan Hewson, who had a faultless match at full-back for New Zealand, knocked all three kicks between the posts to set the death knell ringing for the Lions. There were mixed fortunes for the forwards, for the Lions were vastly outdistanced in the second half set play by a purposeful All Black pack. It won the second half line-outs, 11-5,

and the scrums, 11-6, to provide a platfrom for the heady Dave Loveridge to dictate tactics from halfback. Surprisingly, the Lions had the better of the second half rucks and mauls, 10-3, but after the spectacular attack which brought Rutherford’s try, their second phase play became undistinguished. Laidlaw played without much confidence or certainty at half-back, and Campbell fell from grace with a muddled display which he compounded by kicking the ball unerringly to Hewson. The lanky fullback returned it with interest, driving the Lions back with raking kicks with both feet. Rutherford played exceptionally well, no mean feat in a side so often in retreat. Campbell had such a wretched time that it was a wonder Ciaran Fitzgerald, the Lions’ captain, did not switch Rutherford to the inside position, to bring some order to the side’s efforts. New Zealand had a change of players in this position when Wayne Smith was forced off the field with a groin injury, sustained in a hard tackle by Calder 3min before half-time. Steven Pokere moved in from centre to take over from Smith, with a replacement, Arthur Stone, taking up station at centre. Smith is to rest for 10 days, but is expected to be fit for the final test. • Pokere, who plays club football at first five-eighths, took a little time to settle into the demands of the position. But after one unfortunate misunderstanding with Stone, he joined Warwick Taylor in kicking unerringly for the spaces in the Lions’ formation. Their efforts helped keep the tourists off balance, and were vastly superior to Campbell’s tactical kicking. Hewson gave probably his most convincing test match display, but he was made to look even better by Campbell's contribution. In addition, the Irishman missed two difficult conversion at-

tempts, but Hewson succeeded with all his four kicks at goal, making light of the watery run-up. Since his great year, 1981, Wilson has been a relatively unspectacular figure on the right wing for New Zealand. All that changed at Carisbrook on Saturday. Wilson produced an outstanding game, showing soundness when going back on defence and aggression in moving ahead for the tackle. He kept chipping away at the Lions with short, sharp bursts, and finally broke their resistence with an excellent try, gained through running off Loveridge on a diagonal path to the line. Wilson ran between Gwyn Evans and Staff Jones with such ease that his face bore a look of incredulity as he arrived, untouched, in the goal area. The All Black pack had difficulty in controlling the ball, and its slippery surface resulted in some loose possession being left lying invitingly for the Lions. Fortunately, their rustic speculators were confidently dealt with by Wilson and Hewson. The slippery ball also prevented the All Blacks from driving, as they had done so well in the second half of the second test, with the wind howling into their faces. But their persistence in searching for a way to

contain the Lions’ pack eventually bore fruit. Andy Dalton again led the side well, his leadership and personal dedication putting him in a class above Fitzgerald. Jock Hobbs and John Ashworth showed the Lions the benefits of setting up the ball properly, and Gary Whetton was a vigorous performer in all phases.

At the back of the scrum, Murray Mexted and Loveridge demonstrated the assured control which was sadly lacking in the Lions’ performance. Rutherford’s try, scored after the ball had been moved through the line to Roger Baird, and back infield to Evans and then the scorer, was one of the best efforts of the tour. That it failed to spark a rousing revival in the Lions’ approach was an indication that the side lacked the calibre to take the series.

Maurice Colclough and Winterbottom played particularly well up front, but collectively the pack had to bend the knee to the All Blacks yet again. As one Otago official said afterwards, “the 1977 Lions were a great side, but lacked character. This team has character, but wants for greatness.” For New Zealand: try by Wilson; conversion and three penalty goals by Hewson. For British Isles: tries by Baird and Rutherford.