All Blacks Expected To Overrun Scottish XV

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 19

All Blacks Expected To Overrun Scottish XV

(From

GRAEME JENKINS,

N.Z.P.A. special correspondent)

EDINBURGH. The team to play the All Blacks at Melrose today is known as the Scottish Districts XV; in reality it is Scotland B.

Over the week-end the districts team, which includes one of this year’s Wellington representatives, T. C. McDonald, who is now playing for London Scottish, was soundly beaten by the team which will represent Scotland in the international with New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Those who have seen the All Blacks play and who also saw the trial match say that the Districts side will be no match for the New Zealanders. The game is being played in the Borders, but there are few men from the area in the team —they are in the national side. This is the first New Zealand team to play at Melrose, a farming centre about 30 miles to the south of Edinburgh. Back To Heavy Ground For the AU Blacks it will mean a readjustment to the heavier grounds that they were becoming accustomed to before they went to France.

Their arrival in Scotland has also meant a readjustment to the weather. At the start of last week the weather at Biarritz was fine enough to tempt a number of the players into the surf. At Melrose attempts are being made to keep the frost out of the ground. The New Zealand team includes seven who have played in the internationals to date— W. F. McCormick, W. M. Birtwistle, M. J. Dick, C. R. Laidlaw, K. R. Tremain, B. J. Lochore, and E. J. Hazlett—and two who played against Australia —W. J. Nathan and J. Major. Playing For Test

Tremain and Laidlaw felt the blow of being dropped for

the test with France and today will be striving to retrieve their places. Tremain appears a strong possibility to re-enter the test arena, with both flankers in Paris, I. A. Kirkpatrick and G. C. Williams, injured. Nathan is bursting with eagerness to get back into the game, the first since his injury in the match at Leicester five weeks ago. Because of his Injury, Nathan has played in only three matches and it could be too much.to expect him to be ready for the Murrayfield test. Three of the All Blacks are playing in positions for the first time on the tour: Dick on the left wing, G. F. Kember at second five-eighths, and W. D. Cottrell at first five-eighths. The line has gone particularly well in training and looked to be one of the speediest ballmoving combinations so far selected. Teams: ALL BLACKS.—W F. McCormick: M. J. Dick. G. S. Thorne. W M. Birtwistle; G. F. Kent-

her. W. D Cottrell; C. R. Laid law (vice-captain): M. C. Wills: K. R. Tremain, B. J. Lochore (captain), A. E. Smith, W. J. Nathan: E. J. Hazlett, J. Major, A. E. Hopkinson. SCOTTISH DISTRICTS.— C. F. Blaikie; D. J. Whyte, R. B. Welsh, I. Davidson, G, J. Keith: B. M. Simmers (captain), P. C. Allan; R. J. Arneil: C. W. Thorbum, W. J. Hunter, A. F. MeHarg, T. G. Elliot: N. Suddon, D. T. Deans, T. K. McDonald.