Auckland Rugby Team Will Be Hard To Beat

Press, Volume C, Issue 29608, 2 September 1961, Page 9

Auckland Rugby Team Will Be Hard To Beat

'THE Canterbury Rugby A team, whose armour in recent games has shown a few cracks, will be thoroughly tested when it meats the Ranfurty Shield holder, Auckland, at Lancaster Park today. Auckland has an unbeaten record in defence of the shield this season and its form suggests that Canterbury will have to be on ids toes to maintain its excellent record of victories at the Oval in recent years.

Canterbury has not lost a match this season, but its victories have not been as convincing as those of last year and the match against West Coast last Saturday showed some inadequacies in the backs.

Tlie playing of D. C. Leary as wing in four games this season has not been justified in view of his performances in that position and it is a pity that B. Weenik, who has displaced Leary for today’s game, has not been given a few more games to gain some confidence.

It is to be hoped, too, that A. F Orme will play at first

five-eighths today and not outside B. A. Watt, who is better equipped for the second five-eighths position. M. F. Whitta. the half-back, ran too much last week, especially in the early stages when W'est Coast was tottering. and he could be a little more judicious and unselfish in varying his play today. Canterbury will also need more aggression at centre than it showed in recent games. S. K. Henderson, although a player of real worth, has, not unexpectedly, lost some of his speed, but provided he sets his mind to it he is capable of looking after the All Black centre, P. F. Little. Confidence The Canterbury forwards inspire more confidence, for the pack is big and strong. The eight will average about 14st 71b and with D. Young hooking and A. J. Stewart, R. Abel. K. R. Tremain, end M. W. Allen in the line-outs Canterbury must expect a fair share of the ball. From Canterbury's point of view Mr F. R. Alien’s decision to send his best team to Christchurch will be deeply appreciated, if only to give spectators a chance to see the stde which beat Canterbury in such a thrilling struggle for the shield at Auckland last year. Auckland has only two All Black forwards, W. J. Whineray and H. L. White, but the pack is a hardy and knowledgeable one, lacking perhaps the height of Canterbury but thoroughly experienced in the wiles and strategems of lineout play. Auckland’s half-back, D. M. Connor, is a grand attacking player and with A. H. Clarke and M. Herewini outside him Canterbury must have its inside line well fortified. The speed of the Auckland three-quarters, J. Sibun, Little, R. M. King and D W McKay has "ary

problems for shield challengers this season and it will be interesting to see the Auckland and Canterbury wings match speed. If Canterbury beats Auckland today it will be the province’s 16th consecutive win at Lancaster Park. In those 15 victories. Canterbury scored 300 points more than its opponents. The rival captains, D. J. Graham (Canterbury) and R. H. Graham (Auckland) are brothers. The teams will be:— Canterbury.—W. F. McCormick; P. J. Morrissey, S. K. Henderson. B. Weenink; B. A. Watt. A. F. Orme; M. F. Whitta; T. Moynihan; D. J. Graham, R. Abel, A. J. Stewart, K. R. Tremain; J Le Lievre, D. Young, M. W. Allen. Auckland. —M. C. Cormack; J. H. Sibun. P. F. Little, R. King, or D W. McKay; M. H. Herewinii. A. H. Clarke; D. M. Connor; L, W. Fell; W. J. Nathan, B. Thornes, K. E. Barry. R. H. Graham; H. L White. J. Murphy, W. J. Whineray.