AUSTRALIA'S PRESTIGE RUGBY POSTS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S PRESTIGE RUGBY POSTS

A MAJOR off-season preoccupation of senior Australian Rugby Union officials in the next few months is behind-the-scenes discussion to ensure that Australia is properly managed and coached on its five months tour of the British Isles, France and the United States in 1966-67. The appointments by the annual meeting of the Australian Rugby Football Union in Sydney next February 25 of the managers for the 1966-67 Wallabies are of great Importance. Eleven men five from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania will first interview the applicants and later vote to elect the two men who will be given the responsibility. At this stage there Is a strong possibility that the 1966-67 managers will be the Sydney men, Mr R. E. M. McLaughlin and coach Mr A. Roper, who combined successfully during the 1963 tour of South Africa. But one view is that, capable and successful though Mr McLaughlin and Mr Roper may be, a change would do no harm because there are other talented officials available. However, with other top men such as the Australian IMPRESSIVE rpHE astonishing high jumping of Miss L. Anderson (Technical) during the last two weeks has become the main feature of a so far rather lack-lustre season. Three weeks ago, Miss Anderson shared with Miss J. Horton (New Brighton) the under-15 girls’ record of 4ft 9}in. In two weeks she has added three inches to this record and, as she will remain in the grade until next March, should take the record even higher. Miss Anderson has the self-confidence of a born competitor. On Saturday she declined to jump at 4ft Ilin, which would have broken her old record, and came in at sft When she had missed her first two jumps, the small band of spectators thought she had wasted her chance; but she easily cleared the bar on third jump. Miss Anderson has natural spring as she jumps with the largely discredited scissors style. She looks to have a great future in this event as she is tall for her age and, for a 14-year-old, is a good tactician.

Union President Mr W. Ramsden of Victoria, and Mr C. Blunt not available, it seems certain Mr McLaughlin will get the job. Feeling is much more divided on Mr Roper’s possibilities, even with his strong credentials. There could be a reaction against him (if he is available next year) because he already has had three successive tours as assistant manager. These were to New Zealand in 1962, South Africa in 1963 and New Zealand in 1964. This year he successfully coached Australia to victory over South Africa in Australia.

Another favoured combination is Mr McLaughlin and the Queensland coach, Mr R. Templeton. Mr Templeton, in his early 30’s, and therefore some 10 years younger than Mr Roper, has a strong background of playing and coaching and his Queensland team, although it flopped this year against the Springboks, has had a good deal of success. The former International winger, Mr C. Eastes, who recently became first president of the New Sydney Rugby Union, has been mentioned as a possibility, while another of the 194748 Wallabies Mr T. Mcßride, an Australian selector, also would have strong claims, if available.