RUGBY Wallabies Will Be Stronger In N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29841, 6 June 1962, Page 6

RUGBY Wallabies Will Be Stronger In N.Z.

(Special Correspondent N Z.P.A.) SYDNEY. June 5. When the Australian Rugby team tours New Zealand in August and September the tests could be as hard fought as any since the war. This is the opinion of the manager and assistant manager of the touring All Blacks, Messrs J. D. King and R. G. Bush.

The Wallabies will have more forward strength then they bad been able to muster on recent -tours, while their backs will also be first class, .hey said. Of the AU Blacks play on the present tour, the managers said they were more than satisfied, although there were some disappointing phases. “I think our forwards have played wonderfully well." said Mr King, "but the back play under pressure has been disappointing." Mr Bush, the coach and one of the trio of national selectors. said he considered the side had in some ways considerably advanced the style of play the 1961 team had shown against the French, but there was still plenty of room for improvement. Opposition Firmer “There could be no complaint with the standard of our forward play but there is some tidying up to be done in our back play The main difference between the games against France and those over here is that we beat France playing the open game but in Australia the opposition has been much firmer and has stopped us from playing that game to a large extent."

In their seven matches so far. the All Blacks have scored 47 tries, 28 conversions, ten penalties and two dropped goals (233 points) to three tries, two conversions

and nine penalties <4O) oy opposition sides. Top scorer is D. B. Clarke with 72 points. T. R Heeps. 10. has scored most tries Leading scorer in the forwards is W. J Nathan, with six tries.

The only match in which Nathan has failed to score was in the first test at Brisbane. The remaining three matches of the tour are in Canberra. Adelaide and Melbourne.