SHARPER BACKS ‘MUST’ TO BEAT LIONS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31023, 31 March 1966, Page 15

SHARPER BACKS ‘MUST’ TO BEAT LIONS

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. The All Blacks will have to maintain their progress in the forwards and correct several weaknesses in the backs before they will be ready to meet the Lions in the test series this season, said Mr F. R. Allen, chairman of the All Black selection panel.

‘•Personally, I would like to see more play from our backs.

“There were weaknesses against the Springboks last year and we have got to improve our back play to get to the basic fundamentals.

‘There was nut enough hard tackling in our backs last year. Our players were a little suspect in that aspect of play,” said Mr Allen. “We must have a higher standard in our tackling. By land large there has been a general tendency among our backs to attempt to hipIthrow an opponent in a sort ’of merry-go-round tackle. No Substitute I “That, to my mi , was one of the weaknesses last year. There is no substitute for a tackler going in hard and low and putting the man on the ground with a good, oldfashioned dump. “1 do not feel that there will be any radical changes in the All Black team plan. 1 would like to see more back play and to get this we will have to brush up the finer points of positional play and general aspects of back play. “As one case, the wings will have to be able to throw the ball in straight and exactly where .it is wanted. There is a general tendency to blame the line-out forwards even if the throwing-in is bad and ill-directed. “Throwing-in cannot be stressed strongly enough. “If there are any weak-

nesses in our back play I am certain that this Lions side will be good enough to exploit these weaknesses,” said Mr Allen.

I Commenting on the Lions team, Mr Allen said that his i personal opinion was that it 1 would be a very strong side. “I have talked to Wilson Whineray and several other players who have played over there and they have i -uch the same impression. Their backs have always been pretty good straight and hard-running types.

“I attach great sifinificance to the fact that this time the Lions have appointed an assistant-manager who is, to all intents and purposes, a coach—something that previous Lions sides haven’t recognised as such. “With the earlier games in Australia he will have a chance to mould the side into a strong unit by the time they get here and to build up the team spirit where, naturally, all touring sides have ;the advantage." For some unknown reason, said Mr Allen, New Zealanders tend to regard matches against the Springboks as much more vital than against other touring teams. Complacency “We must be very careful that the All Blacks do not develop a complacent attitude. “Such a thing can develop, as we saw in the third test against the Springboks last year and in the last test against the ’Wallabies in 1964.” Regarding the All Blacks’ preparations for the test, Mr Allen said that, as well as sharpening up the backs, there would also be the need to keep the forwards up to scratch.

Last year there had been a marked improvement in tightening-up the forward play—previously there were signs that the forward play was getting loose—and this improvement would have to be maintained and. in fact, increased. Mental Approach “Naturally, physical fitness will become an important part of the test preparation. Our players were pretty fit last year, but we will have to keep an eye on that and on the mental approach to the game. “Thus players must present themselves in a high state of readiness at the trials so that the AU Blacks can go straight into top gear as soon as they assemble for the tests. We will mould our team round physically fit players. “The retirement of Whineray will naturally leave a big gap in our team for there is no doubt that he has been one of our greatest captains and leaders on the field," said Mr Allen. Discuss Plans “However, 1 feel that New Zealand can always produce footballers who would, with a little experience, be able to fill the gap.” The selectors, himself and Messrs D. L. Christian and V L. George, would have to wait until the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union next month before they could meet, discuss plans and map out itineraries, said Mr Allen. The selectors would endeavour to cover as much ground as possible. The selection of the New Zealand team to play the Rest on May 31 would follow the same policy as last season, with the selectors placing the nucleus of the test side in the New Zealand fifteen. “The selectors will naturally see as many Lions games as possible before picking the All Black team.” said Mr Allen. “That is only common sense, to get an idea of the Lions general pattern of play. “It will also give us a chance of assessing their strengths and weaknesses—if they have any.”