Australians Will Spin Ball At All Costs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 13

Australians Will Spin Ball At All Costs

(By Our Rugby Correspondent! To be regarded as an under dog can be an advantage but on present form that would be about the only factor that the Australian Universities team has in its favour when it plays New Zealand Universities at Lancaster Park tomorrow.

However, Australian teams are always resilient and even in their worst moments should never be under-rated. And tomorrow the Australian team will go into the match prepared to “spin the ball at all costs,” according to the manager (Dr. R. M. Tooth). If that does happen, and the Australian team is determined to try and salvage something from the tour, then irrespective of the result it could be an entertaining game. The display by the Australians against the combined Canterbury University-Lincoln College team on Wednesday was so bad that there could be no possibility that it will be repeated. Not True Form The performance of the team apparently was in no way comparable with its play in the other matches when, even in defeat, it had played good Rugby. The Australian players were dismayed and disgusted with their form and yesterday there was an air of determination among the team as the players trained rigorously under the directions of Dr. Tooth and the captain, C. P. Crittle. It would be gilding the lily too much to suggest that Australia could win tomorrow, but it can confidently be expected that the team will play well.

The New Zealand team has been weakened by the departure of the All Blacks, C. R. Laidlaw and R. C. More-) ton, to Australia with the, under-23 team, and R. H. Graham, captain in the first l two “tests,” is not available.' In contrast, the Australian team has been improved by the inclusion of W. Bursell and W. Caisley in the backs. They have the attribute of I

speed, something which has been the greatest lack in the back-line. However, New Zealand will have the All Blacks, E. W. Kirton, W. A. Davies, «nd J. N. Creighton, and such seasoned players as M. W. Williment and M. C. Meikle: it would be more than a match for most provincial teams.