“N.Z. RUGBY NOT DIRTY” Lions Captain To Attack Critics

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 16

“N.Z. RUGBY NOT DIRTY” Lions Captain To Attack Critics

(From Our Own Reporter)

AUCKLAND.

“New Zealand Rugby is not dirty. People who say that don’t know what goes on in other countries,” said the captain of the British Lions, M. J. CampbellLamerton.

In the south of France it’s murder. In Britain in the Yorkshire cup matches between Huddersfield and Halifax you will get hacked to ribbons.

“Your Rugby is hard because you are a robust people. You play to win, and why shouldn't you?

“I don’t mind your rucking. If a player goes down on the ball it is his job to get off it and it’s also his job to come in on the right side of the ruck.”

Asked for his general impressions of the tour, Camp-bell-Lamerton said that it was a pity the Lions had not played as well as had been hoped. “New Zealand Rugby deserved more than we had to offer.

“When I get back to Britain and hear any criticism of New Zealand Rugby there will be no support from me. In fact, any critics will have myself and most of the Lions to contend with.”

Campbell-Lamerton described the Lions tour as one of potential that failed to materialise.

“Why this should have been so is hard to define. There are so many factors that come into it, but basically one must say that we did not have the all-round ability. “The Southland match did upset us, as did the losses to Otago and Wellington, and perhaps the team, particularly in the backs, never quite regained the confidence shown on the Australian part of the tour.

“Perhaps we were too conscious of New Zealand forward play but then the form of our backs hardly warranted us placing full faith in them.

“Different tactical appreciations also made it hard to reach the cohesion necessary to win games well.” Discussing his team generally, Campbell-Lamerton

thought that perhaps it was about two years too young. “There were not enough old sweats, the donkeys who play consistently and steadily throughout a tour.” Campbell-Lamerton agreed that the responsibilities of captaincy had affected his own play. “It has been a worry, particularly when things were not going right with the side. I have lost nearly two stone on tours.

“I played 21 of the 25 matches as a lock and loved every moment of it. Here I have found the mental strain of looking after 30 players more exhausting than the physical side of playing.” LONELY TASK

Questioned about his reaction to the criticism in the press on his appointment as captain and his abilities as a player, Campbell-Lamerton said that he had been made a target by some newspapers and this had not helped.

“There is a book called The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.’ I could almost write one with the title of The Loneliness of the 1966 Lions Captain’.” Campbell-Lamerton denied any suggestion that there had been internal dissension in the team.

“It has been a happy party and there has been very little evidence of the nationalism

that could be rife with players from four different countries.”

Asked if he felt that the Lions training had been too lax and that the lack of discipline, especially among the backs at training, may have been one of the reasons for many basic errors being made on the field, CampbellLamerton agreed. DIFFICULT POSITION

“But as you know the coaching position is a difficult one as the Home unions have not really supported the idea of having a coach.” he added.

“New Zealand referees, by and large, have been impartial but different interpretations from other countries we have played in did cause some concern.

“The line-outs were the main problem and I think too much obstruction and barging is allowed to go unchecked. Also, too many referees always stood on the Lions side of the line-out.” Campbell-Lamerton said he was greatly disappointed at not playing in the fourth test at Auckland today. “I was not available because of injury and I am very saddened by it. “But it has been a great tour. You have a wonderful country here. I only wish—l am almost certain we will—we win the fourth test and finish the tour off properly.”