TEAM CHANGES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29909, 24 August 1962, Page 17

TEAM CHANGES

Experiments Will Afford Interest

The Southland Rugby team has not had a good record this season, but its opponents at Lancaster Park tomorrow, Canterbury, have not been much better. In its last game, against Buller on Tuesday. Canterbury gave a most languid performance—one which most of the team preferred to forget.

Supporters have been inclined, to think that this bad form is but a flash in the pan: but there have been too many mediocre performances this season. But Canterbury has some of the best players in New Zealand and it is difficult to explain the incons stent form of a team which should be winning its games a lot more comfortably than it has.

better by leaving Allen in the front row and C. R. Hockley at lock with R. S. Abel. Allen is more likely to make his mark as a prop; and should be retained in that position.

T. Moynihan will fill the unaccustomed position of flanker, but if he does as well there as he has done at No. 8 he will contribute much to Canterbury’s attack. Altogether the new positions will afford a great deal of interest. Chance for Watt The replacement of A F. Orme by B. A. Watt at first five-eighths has been done to give Watt a chance to play in his usual position; on present form Orme could not have been justifiably dropped. The five-eighths, Watt and D. A. Arnold, are a very good pair who have an excellent understanding through club football.

The forward selector <Mr P. K. Rhind> has made one or two interesting changes.

notably the playing of A. J Stewart as No. 8 and M. W Allen as lock. Allen has been at lock before, so his performance will not arouse as much interest as Stewart’s at the back of the scrum.

Mr Rhind might have done

The University player, D. C. Leary, has been brought back on the wing, possibly to assist in the goal kicking, a department where W. F. McCormick has had scant success in recent games.