N.Z. LEADS POST-WAR LEAGUE TESTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 3

N.Z. LEADS POST-WAR LEAGUE TESTS

JUST four years ago today the last New Zealand Rugby League team to tour Australia played the first test. Today the two countries will meet again in the first of a series of three tests, on the Sydney Cricket Ground. The present tour is running very much on the lines of the previous one. In 1952 the tourists won their first game, against Western N.S.W., quite comfortably, and then went on in fine style to outplay the New South Wales side by 26-15. Then came-the reverse, against the side the present Kiwis lost to, Newcastle. However, the 1952 team did play one extra game before the test when it beat Monaro by 21-8. Nevertheless, the pattern is very similar. Moreover, it is one that has also been woven by touring teams from other countries, England and France.

Newcastle has a remarkable record of upsetting visiting teams from overseas. It is the fifth time it has

achieved this feat since the war, and the present £iwis side is the eighth to tour in this period. Newcastle is a very strong League centre, and is very difficult to beat in its own district, but Australian critics rarely place much significance in. these wins in relation to test match prospects. Even so. after showing fine form in their match with New South Wales. New Zealand went down to Australia in the first test four years ago, after going on to the field very hot favourites.

Four of the present team played in that match, the score of which was 25-13. D. White played at full-back and kicked two goals. T. Baxter scored a try, and C. Eastlake and F. Mulcare also played. Only two of the Australian team on that day remain, K. Holman, half-back, and B. Davies, second row forward C. Churchill, former Australian captain, would no doubt have played in this test, but he broke an arm several weeks ago. After the defeat of New South Wales by the Kiwis several prospective test players have been cast aside, allowing the selectors to choose rather a larger proportion of Queensland men than usual. Of the actual playing 13, seven come from New South Wales and six from Queensland, who also supply the two reserves.

It will be Ken Kearney’s first game as an Australian captain, although he has been a regular member of Australian sides since the 1952-53 tour of England and France. In the following season he toured New Zealand. He has also played tests against France and England in Australia. Although the Kiwis gained such a decisive win over New South Wales the Australian test side will command a lot of respect. Since the war the two countries have met 11 times, with the Kiwis winning six times to Australia’s five. In two seasons when only two games were played each country won a match but in 1952 and 1953, when three tests were played each season, New Zealand won the series each time by two to one. The following are the results of the 11 games played since the war:— 1948—Sydney: N.Z. 21, Aust. 19. 1948 Brisbane: N.Z. 4, Aust. 13. 1949 Wellington: N.Z. 26, Aust. 21. 1949t—Auckland: N.Z. 10, Aust. 13. 1952—Sydney. N.Z. 13, Aust. 25. 1952 —Brisbane: N.Z. 49, Aust. 25. 1952 Sydney: N.Z. 19, Aust. 9. 1953 Christchurch: N.Z. 25, Aust. 5. 1953—Wellington: N.Z. 12, Aust. 11. 1953 Auckland: N.Z. 16, Aust. 18. 1954 Marseilles: N.Z. 15, Aust. 34 (World Cup game).