THREE TEST CHANGES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 8

THREE TEST CHANGES

English Team

Announced

Three changes have been made in the England Rugby team to play New Zealand in the second test at Lancaster Park tomorrow.

F. D. Sykes replaces J. M. Dee on the wing, and J. E. Owen and R. J. Wightman replace T. A. Pargetter and V. R. Marriott in the forwards.

The< team is: R. W. Hosen; F. D. Sykes, M. P. Phillips. M. P. Weston, J. M. Ranson; J. P. Honrocks-Taykxr; S. J S. Clarke; D. G. Perry; D. P. Rogers, A. M. Davis, J. E. Owen. B. •J. Wightman: P. E. Judd, H. Godwin, C. R. Jacobs. The English manager (Mr J. T. W. Berry) said yesterday that ift was the strongest side England could field. Owen would have played in the first test but a knee injury suffered against Otago kept him out of the team. Sykes, a determined and tricky runner, will play his first game for England since 1955, when he toured South Africa with the British Isles

Wightman, a tall and vigorous flanker, played very well against Hawke’s Bay and earned his selection on that match.

Injured Players

However, it is not certain yet that the team announced will be the team that will be fielded. Owen is still receiving treatment for bis injury, Rogers has been suffering from a back complaint, an<! Clarke damaged a muscle at training yesterday. He left immediately to see a doctor and did not return to the practice. Yesterday afternoon, Clarke was reported as being fit, but was limping slightly. The English team had a serious air ait its training run, particularly in comparison with the All Blacks who. after a long team talk by Mr N. J. McPhail, had a fairly lighthearted work-out.

Sykes, a physical education specialist, took the team for

three-quarters of an hour’s strenuous exercises. Players also practised running and passing, but there was little emphasis on scrum or lineout work.

After Mr McPhail’s rather direct team talk, the All Blacks had 25 minutes of touch Rugby and then settled down to rucking and line-out work which was given some serious treatment. Later, the forwards went to Boys’ High School and packed against the school scrum.