Some Changes Likely In N.Z. Rugby Side

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 11

Some Changes Likely In N.Z. Rugby Side

'THOSE who saw the Can- r terbury Rugby team play Buller last week will have some idea of how New Zealand played against the Australians in the first test at Wellington on Saturday. New Zealand looked the better side, but against a tidy and stern defence the attack broke down time f and again The backs had plenty of the ball from set movements, and as the side was determined upon at- * tacking play there was plenty of movement, but alas, much of it was without result.

In criticising New Zealand's inability to achieve any success through its backs there has been a tendency to heap blame on the attackers and to disregard the excellent defensive qualities of the Australians. The superior tactical skill of the All Blacks, the superior weight and maturity in the scrums, the skill of D. M. Connor at halfback, and D. B. Clarke, at full-back, were countered bv the aggressive optimism of the Australians, who

treated reputations very lightly indeed. Much of the trouble in the New Zealand backs stemmed from the cross-field running of T. N. Wolfe, at first five-eighths. There is no denying Wolfe's excellence in attack, his effervescence and lively attitude to the game; but he unfortun a t e 1 y combines these qualities with a strong tendency to crowd his outside backs. On Saturday he did this too much and often played into the hands of the defence. R. C. Moreton deserves another chance at second five-eighths, for he possesses some excellent attacking qualities. He was content for much of the game to feed his very good centre. P. F. Little, but when he cut infield in the dying stages he went 25 yards before he lost the ball. If there was a disquieting feaiture of his play it was his overeagerness in creeping up too far on defence. Two or three times when the All Blacks secured tight heads and gave the ball to the backs Moreton was

ahead of Wolfe, who was thus placed in a most unenviable position. Canterbury's other back, P. J. Morrissey, would probably want to forget the two passes he dropped at crucial stages, but he can take some comfort in the knowledge that his over-all play was superior to that of T. R. Heeps on the other wing. Heeps was disappointing. He has- plenty of speed, but on the day he had little else. It was unfortunate that some sections of the crowd seemed determined to jeer D. B. Clarke out of the ground when he was goalkicking. The spectators were certainly on the side of the Australians at times, but Clarke was chosen as the target for their abuse. After the game the Australian captain, J. Thomett, who, like his team mates, was most modest in success, commented on this attitude of the crowd. He said he found it hard to understand why Clarke, who had given his country such magnificent service in the past, should be singled out for ridicule.

The Australian forwards, with the Thornetts at lock providing a tough core, revealed much promise, and if the pack continues to improve New Zealand will have to invest in more spirit and determination for the remaining two tests. Some of the All Black forwards played well below themselves, and it would not be surprising if there were two or three changes for the Otago test. The Otago lock, K. Nelson, is a strong contender for the flank position, and J. M. Le Lievre could replace I. J. Clarke as a prop. A few changes might remind the players that their positions are not held by divine right.