New-Look English XV To Play N.Z.

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 14

New-Look English XV To Play N.Z.

(From T. P. McLKAN) MONTREAL. If Canadian experience means anything, the All Blacks during their forthcoming tour of the British Isles will be faced by opponents better trained and more resolutely minded than any of more recent times.

The Canadian experience was the recent visit of the English te4m which is to play the All Blacks In the international at Twickenham on November 4.

The Englishmen won all five matches and in their best performance, the defeat of British Columbia, the most experienced provincial team in the country, they were in masterful form in winning by 29 points to nil. One who was impressed by the English team’s play was Mr Graham Budge, prop forward- in K. Mullens British Lions in New Zealand in 1950. Mr Budge, now president of the British Columbia Rugby Union, settled to Vancouver in 1951. Discussing the English tour, he said: “I would not have believed it. For the first time the British' have really got down to Rugby. “In essence they have tossed out of the window the good old British notion of playing the game for the game’s soke. They made it plain to us, both in conversation and on the field, that they are out to win. “The Englishmen trained harder than any British team

I have seen. Every session was 80 minutes flat out. They played with absolute concentration and determination.

“Their forwards -were good and they had some brilliant backs. But the great thing about their play was their control and movement of the ball. At this they looked to me to be a dangerous side. “It will be a great match between' England and the All Blacks. The English are absolutely concentrated on the game. They see it as their great chance to rehabilitate their reputation in Rugby.