RUGBY Crucial Last Test For Wallabies

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30230, 7 September 1963, Page 14

RUGBY Crucial Last Test For Wallabies

(Special Correspondent NXPA)

PORT ELIZABETH, September 6. Australia Rugby faced its most crucial match in the fourth and final test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth tomorrow. Victory would give the Wallabies a 3-1 series win, a draw would enable them to keep their 2-1 lead, but defeat would mean the series being shared.

A win would be the greatest Australian Rugby achievement in history, better than the 1929 3-0 victory over the All Blacks in Australia and better than the 1947-48 3-2 triumph against the British Home unions and France.

The Wallabies will be relying on tremendous team spirit, combins'tion, thrusr. and strong defence to pull off a series victory. But final tests have not proved happy occasions tor visiting teams The 1955 British Lions led. but the Springboks fought back to level the series.

The All Blacks were tied one-all with one test drawn before the final test at Port Elizabeth, and South Africa again won.

Last year the Springboks led. 2-0. with one test drawn, and completely crushed the British Lions in the fourth test. Now it is the Wallabies’ turn, but they feel they cam pull tiiis match off.

There is no real concern that the centres. B. Ellwood and R. Marks, will not be fit to play. Ellwood ran impressively at training and his right hip injury appears to be responding to treatment. Marks, who has a head cold, stayed indoors today, and I. Moutray trained in his place.

N.Z. MARIST SIDE (N.Z. Press Association) MASTERTON. Sept. 6 The first New Zealand Ma net Rugby teain tnay be formed this year, the organiser of the Masterton Golden Games <Mr J. L. Bergman) said yesterday. Mr Bergman has opened negotiations for the team to be formed to replace a Centurions Chib side In playing a New Zealand Maori XV* on Masterton's Solway Show Grounds on October 26