Raw Wellington XV At Full Stretch

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 15

Raw Wellington XV At Full Stretch

Injuries, transfers and retirements have wrought great changes in the Wellington Rugby team this season, and Canterbury’ should be assured of favouritism in the first of the home-and-away games at Lancaster Park today.

“Of all the opponents Wellington meets each year, Canterbury is regarded as the hardest to beat.” said the coach of the Wellington team (Mr A. P. Freeman) yesterday.

lian tour, and I. N. Stevens, the half-back. These two withdrew from the team yesterday. Lack of Experience To fill the places, Mr Freeman has chosen men who have played a little above average in club matches but •who are largely inexperienced in representative Rugby. Apart from G. C. Williams, W. J. Nicholls, and, perhaps, Gray, the forwards’ aggregate of first-class matches does not equal Williams’s individual total for Wellington. Of the backs, only I. N. Uttley and 0. G. Stephens can match their markers in experience. Compared with a Canterbury side containing eight All Blacks and seven others of proven ability, Wellington will look a little raw. “We are not short on individual ability, but we have not yet moulded the players into a cohesive unit like Canterbury,” said Mr Freeman. Led By Williams

lor, a former Auckland player. Canterbury has a strong, reliable pack and a back-line which is capable of great deeds. The side which beat South Canterbury convincingly last week has been reinforced by the All Blacks who have returned from the Australian tour, to give the team a formidable appearance. Lost to Manawatu Canterbury has won both its games this season, while Wellington, although losing to Manawatu, beat a below form Taranaki side earlier this week. “Today’s match constitutes a terrific challenge to Wellington, but sometimes a challenge brings out the best in a team,” said Mr Freeman. Wellington, however, will have to play an inspired game if it is to master Can. terbury on its home ground The experience of the Canterbury players and their cohesiveness as a unit constitutes a very high hurdle for the visitors.

"Canterbury seems to bring out the best in Wellington teams and I hope that our relative Inexperience can be overcome through a bonus effort by our players.” Wellington has lost the services of 12 members of last year’s team, including the All Black prop, K. F. Gray, who broke a thumb on the Austra-

Wellington will be led by the All Black flanker, Williams, and the former Canterbury University player, J. Kirkby, is on the other side of the scrum. Nicholls, last year’s No. 8, has moved forward to lock with the 17st B. V. Guy. M. Blackbum, the regular first five-eighths, has also been injured and his place has been filled by R. J. Tay-