Lacaze Test Captain

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 19

Lacaze Test Captain

The 28 - year - old utility back, C. Lacaze, will captain France against New Zealand on Saturday.

C. Carrere, who was named as captain when the test team was announced in Invercargill yesterday morning, was later unable to complete a light training run. He twisted his ankle in the game against Southland, and although it appeared to be all right after the game, it was badly swollen in the morning. He may not be able to play again for seven or eight days. REPLACED BY GREFFE His replacement on the flank will be M. Greffe, a hard tackler and good handler. A. Plantefol, a line-out specialist, has been brought into the reserves. The vice-captain will be the half-back, M. Puget The revised team is:—P.

Villepreux; A. Campaes, J. Trillo, J. Maso, A. Piazza; Lacaze: Puget; W. Spanghero, J. Salut, Greffe: E. Cester, B. Dauga: J. Iracabal, J. P. Baux, J. M. Esponda. Reserves. Forwards: M. Lasserre, Plantefol; backs: J. L. Berot, J. M. Bonal.

CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE Lacaze’s selection in the test team as fly-half was a controversial one in the first place and his appointment now as captain seems likely to provoke considerable criticism from the team's supporters. He came to New Zealand with a splendid reputation, but in the two games he has so far played he has been disappointing. His mistakes while playing at fuHback against Marlborough contributed much to France’s loss and his poor goal .and linekicking against Southland on Wednesday made his team’s task much harder than it I might have been. However, it is clear that the selection panel are expecting better things of him in the test He has been placed at fly-half ahead of the two specialists travelling with the team, C. Boujet and J. Andrieu, possibly on the score of experience. THREE NEWCOMERS

There are only three new to test Rugby—lracabal, Baux and Piazza—but they have earned their places with promising performances. Iracabal was one of the surprise choices for the touring party, although the wisdom of his selection is now.

becoming obvious. He is only sft 7in, relatively short for a prop, but he weighs only slightly less than 16st and is extremely strong.

Baux is 22. He played with distinction for France B against the All Blacks at Toulouse last season. He is a hooker of considerable ability and is unlikely to give anything away on Saturday. The third newcomer. Piazza, will play on the wing He is a fast and determined runner. TWO CASUALTIES Two players, the prop, J. C. Noble, and the wing. P. Besson, were not considered for the test team. Noble has an injured calf muscle and Besson has not yet recovered from the strained thigh muscle he suffered against Southland.

One aspect of play in the first three matches which has concerned Mr Garrigue is the weak goal kicking of his players. He is determined that the standard will be improved in the test. Between now and Saturday, the team's two kickers, Lacaze and Villepreux, will undergo intensive practice. “We cannot afford to throw away chances with poor goal kicking,” Mr Garrigue said.