League EMPHASIS ON DEFENCE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 18

League EMPHASIS ON DEFENCE

British Team For Test

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) UHLEY. October 29.

The recall of M. Sullivan, England'* 29-year-old wing, for the vital second Rugby League teat at Swinton on November 9 was the main talking point in the North of England yesterday. Bath Australian and English supporter* see it as a confession of weakness by th* British selectors.

Sullivan, now playing as a centre with York, a second division club, ha* been named for the right wing. Lacking his old speed and sharpness, Sullivan may have difficulty in fulfilling the task obviously allotted to him—to try to stop R. Gasnier. Undoubtedly the Australians will be warned before they take the field against allowing Sullivans notorious, head-high tackles to stir them into foolish retaliation.

The general view of th* British team, with it* eight changes from the side beaten at Wembley, is that this time defence rather than attack ha* been the aim.

The English league secretary, Mr W. Fallowfield, who will manage the side, said: "We need more than defence to win, but it is as good as we can pick.” The team is: K. Gowers; M. Sullivan. E. Ashton (captain), N. Fox, J. Stopforth, F. Myler. A. Murphy, V. Ka rail us. D. Turner (vice-captain), R. Huddart, B. Edgar, L. Mclntyre, C. Watson.