All Blacks Tensed To Meet A Tough Side

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 16

All Blacks Tensed To Meet A Tough Side

tl'rom A. R. VEYSEY, N ZP.A. Special Correspondent) PORTHGAWL, October 28. Four Welsh internationals oppose the All Blacks in their first big trial of the tour against Newport on Wednesday. Apart from these four, Newport has strength in most sectors —as is inevitable with leading Welsh clubs.

The four are the number eight forward, G. Davidge, who has won nine caps and who played for the British Isles in South Africa; B. J. Jones, an experienced and sound centre; B. E. V. Price, captain of the side, a 6ft 4in lock and lineout man, who was in the Barbarians team witich inflicted the only defeat on the last Springbok tourists; and I. Ford, Price’s Oft 3in locking partner. Add to those the longest place-kicker in Wales at fullback, R. Cheney, some outstanding young prospects in both backs and forwards, plus all the Welsh fervour imaginable and the All Blacks have a task on their hands.

At centre is a young player named Tom Uzzell, who is likely to play for Wales this year.

At first five-eighths is D. Watkins young, fast and elusive, who will receive the ball from R. Prosser, a halfback who has the double blessing of being steady and quick. Newport has in G. Bevan the best young hooker in Wales. The brilliant international flanker, B. Creswell, was injured in Newport’s winning match against Wasps on Saturday and is almost certain not to play. A replacement has not been named. The Newport team is:—R. Cheney; S. Watkins, J. Uzzell, B. J. Jones; D. Perrot, D. Watkins; W. R. Prosser; G. Davidge, A. Thomas, I. Ford, B. E. V. Price, one to be named; N. Johnson, G. Bevan, D. Jons.

CARBUNCLE AFFLICTION

S.T. Meads Yet To Play [From A. R. VEYSEY, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) PORTHCAWL, Oct. 27. After the match against Newport on Wednesday only S. T. Meads will not have played a match tor the All Blacks on this tour, but that is only because he is still recovering from a carbuncle operation. The Otago University fiveeighths, E. W. Kirton, will have his first run. It should be memorable: an All Black debut in Wales.

The two young Hawke’s Bay three-quarters, I. R. Macßae and W, L. Davies, have their second run in succession and it seems that the selectors may be pleased to get as many games into Macßae as possible. The forward selection is a marrying of the two packs used so far.

Perhaps the most interesting selection is that of J. Major, the 22-year-old Taranaki hooker.

Major, although dropping two scrums against Southern Counties, played a splendid all-round game. The team is:— D. B. Clarke, W. L. Davies, I. R. Macßae, R. W. Caulton, P. Walsh, E. W. Kirton, K. Briscoe, W. J. Whineray (captain), J. Major, I. J. Clarke, C. Meads, R. H. Horsley, K. R. Tremain, W. J. Nathan, B. J. Lodhore. Compared with the team which beat Southern Counties at Hove on Saturday, there are nine changes. D. B. Clarke, Davies, MacRae, Major, Horsley, and Nathan keep their places.