Decision By Irish "Astounding"

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 6

Decision By Irish "Astounding"

[From A. R. VEYSEY, N Z.P.A. Special Correspondent] LYONS, February 12. Overriding to some extent interest in the announcement of the New Zealand team to play against the Barbarians on Saturday was the astounding decision taken over the Barbarians’ fly-half, C. M. H. Gibson.

Because he has a test match to play one week after the game, Gibson, at the behest of the Irish selectors, asked to be relieved of Barbarian duty. This request granted, Gibson was replaced by R. A. W. Sharp, the forgotten man of Rugby. It is surprising, to say the least, that such a course should have been taken. The Barbarian fixture is a firstclass one and regarded as a “plum” of the season.

To take a man out of it because he has a test match seven days later seems to be carrying caution to unbelievable lengths. Why did Ire-

land not ask for the relief, too, of its centre, Mi K. Flynn, its loose forward, E. Culliton, and hooker, A. R. Dawson? To remove Gibson at a time when he can most readily and valuably absorb every bit of experience he can get in this form of Rugby is to his detriment. It tends, perhaps unfairly, to cast some reflection too on the outspokenly-fated policy of the Barbarans to make this game some form of romp. The New Zealand team is:—D. B. Clarke; M. J. Dick, P. F. Little, R. W. Caulton; D. A. Arnold, B. A. Watt; C. Laidlaw; K. R. Tremain; D. J. Graham, C, E. Meads, A. J. Stewart, W. J. Nathan; W. J. Whineray (captain), D. Young, K. F. Gray.