RUGBY First Match Could Be Vital For Wallabies

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29898, 11 August 1962, Page 5

RUGBY First Match Could Be Vital For Wallabies

(N.Z. Press Association ) GISBORNE, August 10. The youngest and possibly the least experienced Rugby team Australia has sent to New Zealand since the war begins its 13-match New Zealand tour at Rugby Park, Gisborne, tomorrow, full of hope—and trepidation.

The old hands in the side know what to expect when a New Zealand provincial team is going at fuli bore, but tor most it will be a new experience.

Poverty Bay the Wallabies’ first opponent is not the strongest side in the country but it will give the tourists a searching test If the Wallabies win. and win well, the team could develop into a test winning side as did their 1953 predecessors A loss at this stage, though, might have a disheartening effect on such a young side Still largely an unknown quantity, although all played at some stage against the All Blacks in Australia the backs have nevertheless settled down solidly in training The half-back K V McMullen. the centre. B J Ellwood. and the full-back. J K Lenehan. al) played for the victorious New South Wales side against New Zealand

P Hawthorne, regarded by Australian critics as poten-

tially the finest first fiveeighths in years, played far Newcastle, as did also the left-wing. K Walsham The other two backs. B Harland • outside centre) and J Douglas (right-wing* played against the All Blacks at Bathurst and Melbourne respectively

The game will probably be decided by the forwards. If the Australian forwards can win a fair share of the ball against a lighter Bay pack, the odds would favour the tourists as their back-line is potentially irst class

The Wallaby forwards, too, have gone well at training but they could be in for a shock when they hit their first real New Zealand ruck. They have plenty of speed and their

handling also has been of a high standard.

Gisborne has hardly been worked into a lather oi excitement over the match and a crowd of about 10.000 is expected Tiie ground was still on the sottish side when the Wallabies trained this morning. The teams are:— Australia.—J. K. Lenehan; K. P. Walsham B. Harland, B. J. Ellwood; J A Douglas. P. Hawthorne. K V. MeMullan; G. A. Chapman; D. J. O'Neill, .7 E. Thomett i captain 1. R. N. Thornett. C. P. Crittl. J. P. White. A. A Laurie J E. Freeman. Poverty Bay.—A. M. Hollis; P. S. Ransley, B. P. Johnson. J. A. Mackenzie: H. Rutene, M. English; D A. Alley: V. C. Rickard; H. K. Lardell D. Kirkpatrick. H. Nyenhuis. M. Taylor; A. G. Rowlands. R. D. Stein, G. Thompson.