RUGBY ALL BLACKS FIRM TEST FAVOURITES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 22

RUGBY ALL BLACKS FIRM TEST FAVOURITES

Best Record To Date 01 Any Tourists In S.A.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.Aj

PRETORIA, June 23.

The All Blacks moved to Johannesburg from Pretoria this morning as firm favourites to take the first test match of the series at Ellis Park on Saturday. Unbeaten to date, the All Blacks are going into the test with a record that no other touring team in the last 40 years has equalled. All of them, ranging from the 1923 British team through both the Australian sides and both the New Zealand teams to date, the 1955 British Lions and the French, had at least one loss before the first test.

The present side has played seven matches, won six and drawn one, scoring 156 points for and having 30 scored against. Shortly after their arrival in Johannesburg today the All Blacks had a brief final run with D. B. Clarke concentrating on his goal kicking. Final Line-up Undecided

The final composition of the New Zealand side has not yet been decided. In the forwards it is undecided between M. W. Irwin and I. J. Clarke, and in the backs between the team vicecaptain S. G. Bremner and T. P. O’Sullivan.

Decisions in both cases are likely to be made later today. Irwin, who has three stitches in a scalp wound, showed no signs that the injury is worrying him as he charged into a hard workout yesterday and it now seems likely he will play. Both Bremner and O’Sullivan ran well yesterday and the decision on who to play seems to hinge on the plan of campaign. If the All Blacks decide to play it close to the scrum then Bremner is the likely man, with O’Sullivan being brought in if

the decision is to favour open play. O’Sullivan is the only one in the 17 named not to have played in a test Springbok Plan

According to the “Rand Daily Mail” today the Springbok plan of attack in the match will be to use short kicks over the heads of the shallow-lying New Zealand backs. The team, under the control of the former Springbok No. 8 forward, Hennie Muller, tried these