Kiwis Face Strong State Side

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 11

Kiwis Face Strong State Side

(From

J. O. COFFEY, N.Z.P.A.

i. Spjecial correspondent)

SYDNEY. The New South Wales Rugby League selectors have been guided by current form in naming their team to play New Zealand at Sydney tomorrow.

R. Saddler, K. Junee, D. Shearer J and G. Taylforth have won selection in i preference to seasoned test players—G. | F. Langlands, W. J. Smith, J. Kingand i R. N. Thornett. f

Throughout this season the state selectors have named their teams with the coming tour of Britain and France in mind. Only the centre, Saddler, was selected for the two interstate matches against Queensland and the game against the Kiwis. Junee, who played for the state last year, capitalised on Smith’s series of injuries this season. Although Smith was voted as Australia’s best player against the 1966 British tourists, he has not matched Junee’s consistency this season. Chequered, Season Langlands has had a chequered season. He was the outstanding back for Sydney against Country early last month but failed to gain selection for the first inter-state game. R W. Gasnier and Saddler were the original centres chosen for this game, and R. Hagan was preferred as the replacement when Gasnier withdrew.

In the second inter-state game, Langlands played fullback but, although he was the senior member of Hie team, Saddler was awarded the cap-tain-coach honour. A Northern New South Wales player, Shearer withdrew from the second interstate game because of the death of his father. King has played well this season and Shearer appears to be on trial for the tour of Britain and France. He will be the first choice goal-kicker, even though Taylforth has scored 107 points in premiership matches this season. Players Injured

Taylforth won selection in the absence of the likely test second row forward, R. Lynch, who, along with the full-back, L. Johns, and the centre, J. Greaves, was not considered because of injury. Gasnier will be playing in his first representative match since 1965. A serious knee injury kept him on the sideline for virtually all of last season and he has withdrawn

from the Sydney and state teams because of a' 1 nagging series of minor leg -injuries. He will renew His tussle with the Kiwi centre, R. W. Bailey, who did not extend himself in his first tour match, against Western New South Wales at Lithgow on Wednesday. Apart from his test debut against the 1959 Kiwis, Gasnier has seldom shown his best form against New Zealand and his great .reputation has largely been built upon two outstanding tours of Britain and France aqd his tremendous success with the champion St. George club. The Kiwis gave ia vastly more convincing ' 1 display against Western New South

Wales. There is some complacency amongst New South Wales officials and there could be a surprise if the Kiwi forwards can repeat their fine backing up and passing. A New Zealand victory would certainly not create a precedent. In spite of New South Wales’ traditional strength, its only post-war victory against a touring Kiwi team was in 1948 when the state won, 23-17. New Zealand hag won the other four meetings—26-15 in 1952, 26-17 in 1956, 23-22 in 1959 and 5-2 in 1963. The centre, W. White, and the front row forwards. O. Danielson and H. Tatana, will play in their first major match. White played soundly against Newcastle and made a few fine breaks against Wetern New South Wales to beat P. F. Schultz as the centre partner to E. Baker. Tatana, assisted by his goalkicking successes on Wednesday, and Danielson won selection ahead of R. I. Orchard, who has played only one game because of an injury received in New Zealand. The teams are: NEW ZEALAND.—R. B. Tait; E. Baker, w. White. R. W. Bailey, F. R. Christian; J. D. BUwood; R. S. J. Irvine; B. E. Caatle (captain); H. R. Slnel, 3. K. Dixon; a Danielson, C. E .O’Neil, H. Tatana. NEW SOUTH WALES.—K. C. Thornett; K. J. Irvine, R. W. Gasnier (captain), R. Saddler, D. Shearer; A. Braneon, K. Junee: J. W. Raper; B. F. Beath, G. Taylforth; IL D. Velvets, R. Warner, J. Walker.