RUGBY Availability Of Lineen Still In Doubt

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29264, 23 July 1960, Page 6

RUGBY Availability Of Lineen Still In Doubt

(From GRASMS JENKINS. Staff Correspondent)

CAPE TOWN, July 21. Apart from making six changes, the greatest surprise the New Zealand Rugby selectors have created is by the transfer of C. E. Meads to number eight for the second test at Cape Town on Saturday. When the team was originally announced Meads wason the flank, with D. J. Graham at the back of the scrum. The change was made at a later training session. Meads has not played on the side of the scrum for an All Black side since the match against Canterbury on the 1957 team's return from Australia. Graham, too, has been in excellent form in recent matches and after his performance in the match against the Junior Springboks a place had to be found for him. Changes from the side which lost the first test at Johannesburg are R. F. McMullen, K. F. Laidlaw, and S. R. Nesbit in the backs, I. J, Clarke, R. H. Horsley and Graham in the scrum. Laidlaw, Nesbit and Horsley will be playing in their first test, with I. J. Clarke at the other end of the scale playing in his fifteenth test and his fifth against South Africa, 3 feat that only one New Zealander, K. L. Skinner, has bettered in matches between the two countries. Skinner played in all four tests In South Africa in 1949 and two in New Zealand four years ago. I. J. Clarke played in all four in 1958. All three newcomers to tests fully deserve their selection. In the match against the Junior Springboks, Laidlaw gave the best display of the tour by a centre, while Nesbit, who seemed to lose favour with the selectors at one stage, is once again playing to the standard he showed before the team was selected Horsley, another wfio had few games for a start, has become a rugged lock of the best quality. One of the clouds hanging over the team is the fact that the second five-eighths, T. R. Lineen, the key man of the entire back line, may not oe able to take the field, although he has been selected. His shoulder, which he injured at Port Elisabeth, has

improved enormously, but he was given only a partial clearance by a specialist today. A final decision on whether be is able to play may oe made as late as lunch time on Saturday. Another who has yet to get a full medical clearance, but who will certainly play is the captain, W. J. whineray. who reverts this time to the front row after playing his most recent matches at number eight R. W Caulton may play if it is decided to replace Lineen. Alternatives facing the selectors are:

First to move McMullen from the wing to centre and Laidlaw from centre to second five-eighths, thus leaving the wing position open for Caulton or Second, to bring the team's vicecaptain, S. G. Bremner, in at second five-eighths. It is believed that the second course is the more probable. The team is: D. B. Clarke; R. F. McMullen, K. F. Laidlaw, J R. Watt; T. R. Lineen, S. R. Nesbit; K. C. Briscoe; C. E. Meads; K. R. Tremain. R. H. Horsley, I. N. Mac Ewan. D. J. Graham; W. J Whineray. D. Young and I, J. Clarke.