RUGBY Rough Play Reports Discounted By Lions

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 17

RUGBY Rough Play Reports Discounted By Lions

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 2. Members of the British Isles Rugby team were reunited with their families at London Airport vesteiday, where they also discounted reports of rough play in New Zealand, the “Daily Mail” reported.

The captain, A. R Dawson, said: “It is difficult to speak of roughness. Rugby is a man’s game and we also played hard. Rugby players don’t complain,” he said.

The principal lesson of the tour, Dawson was quoted as saying, was the wonderful way New Zealand teams played in the loose. “Their quick heeling from the loose is one measure we could adopt over here. I would not wish to adopt any other of their tactics, because they do take some of the fun out of the game.” The team’s manager, Mr A. W. Wilson, said at the airport that he hoped the New Zealanders would now stop wearing protective padding, the newspaper said. Reports in Britain had probably been exaggerated, he thought, but “I raised the matter

because the international laws were being contravened.

There was never any malice intended. It certainly didn’t cause any of our injuries,” he said. tean ? manager (Mr A. W. Wilson) said: “It was a memorable tour. I do not feel strongly aoout any of the differences between the way the game is plaved in New Zealand and in this country.” ~,P awson sa id padding made little difference in scrums “but in tackling and blocking it was an obvious advantage. It is really a measure to give players confidence.” Dawson said padding was worn by their opponents in all six tests in Australia and New Zealand. The only member of the Lions to use padding was the scrum half, R. E. G. Jeeps, who wore a light harness in two provincial games just after the start of the New Zealand section of the tour because he had a seriouslyinjured collarbone. Power of Forwards

Dawson said the main thing the Lions had to counter in New Zealand was the tremendous power used by the opposing forwards to get demination. “The centres and wings are perhaps a little unenterprising because of this policy,” he said. “Our policy was to play attacking football.” Dawson said he had decided on continual attack both fore and aft but without anything silly or deliberately spectacular and his team had backed him marvellously. One thing he thought could be learned from the New Zealand game was the way the forwards scrummaged to get possession of the loose ball. Chances in South Africa Concerning the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa next year, Dawson said: “Unless they change their style of play I think they are going to have an awfully hard job in South Africa.” He thought the All Blacks would have to put more emphasis on attacking three-quarter play in win in South Africa. Referring to the test series in New Zealand, Mr Willson said: “It would have been the easiest thing in the world for us to have won three tests instead of losing the series.” The treasurer of the Rugby Union (Mr W. C. Ramsay), in a speech of welcome, said: “Your achievements have thrilled us and we admire the manner in which you have stood up to the tour.” Mr Wilson said the team was reasonably glad to be home—which in the circumstances was a nice way of saying that a good time had been had by all.