South Will Be Underdog In Inter-Island Match

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 17

South Will Be Underdog In Inter-Island Match

(From

I. J. D. HALL)

The chances of the South Island beating the North Island appear so remote when the relative merits of the teams are compared, that paradoxically South must stand a good chance of providing another upset at Garisbrook today.

A North Island captain of recent years admitted that three times he had to redraft a winning speech when the South Island won against all predictions.

The North Island team contains the players with reputations. Except for S. Straham, it has an All Black pack and four of the backs have played for New Zealand.

The South Island backs are, on paper, anyway, none the less inferior, in reputation or performance. However, it is in the forwards that the match will be won, and with Carisbrook likely to be soft after heavy rain in Dunedin yesterday, the powerful, well-drilled North Island pack will be a potent factor. Even Up Front The South Island, with its formidable front row of Hopkinson, Booth and Hazlett, will match the North’s, and in the loose Wyllie, Sutherland' and Townsend should not be far behind Lochore, Nathan and Tremain. But it is the North Island locks, Meads and Strahan, who will give their side an advantage, particularly In the

Une-outs. Banks and Dickson, although tall men, do not impress as likely to win much possession. Over all, the North Island pack, with its greater experience and soUdity, should be able to provide its backs with sufficient chances.

Backs On Trial There will bp some keen tussles in the back-line which could take on the aspect of a minor All-Black trial. Davis and Going, the half-backs, are the main contenders as C. R. Laidlaw's deputy. Watt and Herewini are favoured fof the first five-eighths position, and Kember and Cottrell are the two most promising young second five-eighths in the country.

On the wing for the North Island, Birtwistle and Dick, although very fine players, are in the position of trying to play their way back into New Zealand teams. Steel has four tests behind him and Stack is a very tenacious player. Determined South At full-back. South Island could have a trump card in McCormick, who already this season has decisively outplayed Laurie. Without Willirnent, the goal kicking becomes very even. Already, the North Island selectors have been emphasising td their players the need not to be over-confident. On the other hand, the South Island selectors have managed to instil a grim determination into their team. It could well be that reputations will topple again today.

NORTH.—A. D. Laurie: M. J. Dick, I. R. Macßae, W. M. Birtwistle; G. F. Kember. M. A. Herewini; S. T. Going; B. J. Lochore! K. R. Tremain, C. E. Meads. S. C. Strahan, W. J. Nathan; K. F. Gray, J. Maior, B. L. Muller.

SOUTH.—W. F. McCormick; A. G. Steel, P. K. Hatchwell, B. Stack; W. D. Cottrell. B. A Watt; L. J. Davis; A. R. Suther land; W. W. Townsend, A. J. Banks, R. P. Dickson, A. J. Wylie; E. J. Hazlett, G. P. Booth, A. E. Hopklnson.