WELL DISPERSED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30829, 14 August 1965, Page 13

WELL DISPERSED

Canterbury’s Rugby strength will be rather well spread today. At Southland the A team plays its annual match against Southland at Invercargill; the B team meets West Coast at Lancaster Park and the Colts play Nelson at Nelson. The close win against Otago on Wednesday cannot have produced any feeling of complacency in the Canterbury team for its match against Southland. Last Saturday Southland beat Otago 12-3 and matchhardened by that game and I the match against South Africa, Southland will be a tough proposition. Canterbury will have the advantage of the faster backline but it is problematical whether the Canterbury 7 forwards will be able to dominate the rugged Southland pack I who quite convincingly outplaved the Otago forwards recently. The return of W. A. Archer to the Southland side has been a steadying influence and his tactical ability played a large part in the defeat of Otago. However, if Canterbury is prepared to attack through its three-quarters it should win the match. W. M. Birtwistle is such a dangerous scoring man that given a reasonable number of opportunities he can sway any match. Canterbury B should be able to defeat West Coast, if Canterbury’s form against Buller is a reliable guide. The B team is not particularly well endowed with big forwards but the backs are

skilful and enthusiastic. The West Coast team can be depended on to have bustling forwards but lack of speed in the backs could be a decisive factor. However, one intangib’e factor that could have a bearing on the game and certainly will spur the West Coast is the rather anti-Can-terbury feeling that exists

among West Coast Rugby officials at present. The decision of the Canterbury Union not to tour the West Coast for the annua! Queen’s Birthday matches still rankles with West Coast officials and it is quite likely that some of this feeling may be transmitted to the players. If so, it could be quite a lively game.