Canterbury And Otago Players May Dominate South Island Selection

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 9

Canterbury And Otago Players May Dominate South Island Selection

tpHE South Island Rugby A team which will be selected today may earn tihe appelation of “OtagoCanterbury,” for it is expected that these provinces will provide almost all of the players to meet the North Island at Lancaster Park on August 10. If this expected dominance in the team materialises, it will be a further commentary on the generally low standard of most Southern unions, but it will not mean that the South Island team will be weak.

In three positions, wing and centre, and second five-eighths. the South Island may be relatively weaker titan the North Island, but generally the team should be stronger than the side which snatched a victory with a thrilling last-minute try last year. W. F. McCormick should be a certain choice for full-back, even though the All Black. W. A. Davies

has been nominated for that position as well as for second five-eighths. Although his club form has been indifferent, McCormick has played very well in the major matches this season.

Eight players have been nominated as wings and five of them—W. F. Birtwistle, B. E. McPhail, D. H. Montgomery, P. J. Morrissey and D. J. Davison—have the basic qualifications of speed, but only Morrissey could be regarded as a good defensive player.

However, the national selectors of late have shown an encouraging propensity to choose wings who can score tries rather than the steadier but more defen-sively-minded players, which could mean that Birtwistle may be given his first opportunity in higher Rugby. Montgomery is regarded in Dunedin as a far better wing than Morrissey but he was injured last Wednesday and is not expected to be available for the match.

I. S. Coe, North Otago, played in the All Black trials earlier this season, but it is unlikely that he or G. A Townsend, who has been dropped from the Southland team, will gain selection.

D. A. Arnold should be assured of the centre’s position. He has been in grand form this season and possibly has been the most impressive back in Christchurch Rugby. The only other player who could be considered would be Townsend. but if Townsend is not considered good enough for a weak Southland team he hardly could be selected ahead of Arnold. The second five-eighths position should be decided between R. C. Moreton and Davies. Neither has played particularly well so far, and Davies at present has an ankle injury which stopped him playing for Otago last Wednesday. Moreton obviously has ability but he has only produced it fitfully and the selectors may prefer the steadier Davies, who also is a good goal-kicker.

The first five-eighths and half-back will be automatic choices—C. R. Laidlaw at half-back and B. A Watt outside him. Two years ago

Mr C. K. Saxton prophesied that Laidlaw would play for New Zealand. His magnificent display for New Zealand Universities against Wellington convinced many Wellington spectators that Mr Saxton’s prophecy may soon be realised.

The composition of the South Island scrum mainly will depend on where K A. Nelson will be placed at lock or as a loose forward. If Nelson, who has been nominated by Otago as a lock or No. 8, is played as loose forward then M C. Meikle of Otago should partner A. J. Stewart in the locks. But if Nelson is chosen as a lock then D Kennedy of South Canterbury could be included in the side.

However, Meikle made such a good impression when he played for the Universities against Wellington that his inclusion was almost guaranteed. For on that game he impressed more than the All Black Stewart

Furthermore, if Meikle is included it will give the South Island a strong hand in the line-outs for he will be able to give Stewart support in the jumping and also allow Nelson to act as a jumoer at No. 6. If Meikle is one of the locks, Nelson and D. J. Graham probably will be on the flank and D. W. Clark (Otago) at No. 8. Other players who could be considered are the loose forwards Kennedy and R. Vercoe from South Canterbury. and the West Coast lock, T. E. Rogen. An automatic choice for toe front row will be J. M.

Le Lievre. The other prop position is open. Possibilities are J. Shaw (Buller) E. J. Hazlett and K. L. Borland (Southland), and J. Anderson (Otago). Shaw played for the South Island last year and could play this year, if only because he is s solid scrummager and preference often is given to a player from a relatively minor union when other matters are equal. The selectors will be faced with a familiar problem in choosing the hooker —either D. Young or J. N. Creighton. Young played in both tests against England but twice this year he has been outhooked by H. O. Godwin in the first test and C. Currie in the Can-terbury-Wellington match. Young’s greatest asset always has been the speed of his hooking—if that is

diminishing, Creighton, because of his superior forward play could replace Young. The team could be:—W. F. McCormick (Canterbury); P. J. Morrissey (Otago), D. A. Arnold (Canterbury), W. F. Birtwistle (Canterbury); W. A. Davies (Otago), B. A. Watt (Canterbury); C. R. Laidlaw (Otago); D. W. Clark (Otago); K. A. Nelson (Otago), A. J. Stewart (Canterbury), M. C. Miekle (Otago), D. J. Graham (Canterbury); J. M. Le Lievre (Canterbury), J. N. Creighton (Canterbury), J. B. Shaw (Buller). Emergencies—backs: K. McGregor (North Otago), R. C. Moreton (Canterbury); tor wards: D. Young (Canterbury); T. E. Rogers (West Coast).