COUNTIES HAVE HARD TASK AT OVAL TODAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29620, 16 September 1961, Page 9

COUNTIES HAVE HARD TASK AT OVAL TODAY

'T’HE Canterbury Rugby team will face the Counties fixture today with justifiable optimism—it is one of only two unbeaten unions in the country—but this feeling win be tempered by the outcome of its test two games, against Manawatu (won, 11-3) and Mid-Canterbury (won, 11-0). Neither victory was wholly convincing and it may be that in today’s game the Counties XV will belie the vividly contrasting match records of the two sides this season.

Membership of the Canterbury team, however, has been more static than that of Counties thia year and the combination achieved by the Canterbury players will give the home side an initial advantage. The fruits of this policy were evident in the Auckland game and, to a lesser extent, in the Manawatu and Mid-Canterbury matches.

The forwards are as powerful and well-drilled a vanguard as could be seen anywhere in New Zealand and there are signs that the backs are being welded into a more efficient unit. Whitta performed extremely well

notwithstanding the close attention of the opposing forwards at Ashburton and “found” Watt with passes of commendable length and accuracy. There were signs, too, that greater thrust will be achieved in the midfield with an increase in the number of opportunities afforded the inside becks. With McCormick in his his present form, Canterbury needs have no fears about the

soundness of its last line of defence. The inspiration his recent displays must give the

team should lead to a performance full of spirit by Canterbury today. Counties, with culy one win and two draws to show for its nine representative games this season, will have everything to gain and nothing to lose by adopting a bold front in today’s fixture. At the moment the team’s qualities are inhibited by an affection tor the defensive type of play which burdened New Zealand so heavily in the 1950'5, and, perhaps, there is not enough speed in midfield to justify any other policy. Still, the side has fine players capable of extending the strong Canterbury team. S. F. Hill needs no introduction whatever to Christchurch and his steill seems no less now than when he was at his greatest O. N. Campbell, a young redheaded loose forward, has possibilities, and I. Rasmussen, a prop, who played for Auckland a few years ago, is always worth looking at, even for a sight of the eccentric approach run which so often and so baffiingly produces a penalty goat

There is talent behind the scrum, too. A T. Edgar might well have justified selection as the second-string

half-track for South Africa last year; R. R. Cossey won an AU Black cap as a wing in 1958 and if fate had been kind enough to keep E. H. Whatarau in Auckland in his formative years as a fiveeighths—he is now a fine full-back—he might well have won a national reputation.

Today’s game is a significant one for Counties. IS marks the start of its first major tour. Matches against North Otago, Otago and Southland will follow before the team returns to its home territory to round off the season with a game against North Auckland.