Wolfe An All Black Prospect

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 5

Wolfe An All Black Prospect

THE sudden rise to prora-j inence of T. N. Wolfe, the Wellington first five-j eighths, now a definite pros-: pect for a place in the New Zealand team, has been one of the most heartening features of the Rugby season so far Outstanding Only 19 Wolfe was an outstanding schoolboy footballer at New Plymouth Boys’ High School. From school he went straight into the Victoria University senior team last year and was chosen to tour Australia with the New Zealand Universities team. There! he displayed great potential as an attacking back. On his return to club Rugby in Wellington, Wolfe came up against what many young five-eighths have had to suffer—close marking and heavy tackling from spoiling loose forwards. His play fell

away so badly that he was regraded to junior to help him regain his confidence. This he did to such an effect that he came back to senior Rugby and was chosen for the Wellington team to play Taranaki. In early matches of the club season this year, Wolfe was |quite outstanding on attack, but such is the attitude of selectors and the public towards attacking five-eighths that there was considerable discussion in Wellington Rugby circles whether Wolfe should be preferred to C. J. Stewart, a five-eighths of the accepted school, good hands, (clever kicking and sound de- ] fence. That Wolfe finally received ■ recognition may be regarded as a straw in the wind that (attacking five-eighths are i now back in favour. The .same happened in the South (Island with the selection of B. A. Watt ahead of W. R. | Archer.