"FEAR UNPREDICTABILITY" First Win Sought Over Frenchmen

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 15

"FEAR UNPREDICTABILITY" First Win Sought Over Frenchmen

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY. “Brisbane was no flash in the pan,” the Wallaby coach and former All Black, Mr D. M. Connor, vowed yesterday, on the eve of Australia’s only Rugby test against the touring Frenchmen.

The Australian team is on the crest of a wave after going so close to beating the All Blacks in the second test at Brisbane, and has high hopes of a memorable victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

Australia has not beaten France in four Rugby tests, and there is a great prestige attached to the result for both sides.

A win for Australia would give the Wallabies a big boost for their coming short tour of Ireland and Scotland, and could demonstrate that Australia is on the way back as a Rugby power. The Frenchmen, as Northern Hemisphere champion, have a reputation to uphold and will be anxious to win a test after their three defeats in New Zealand.

“It’s going to be hard, and the factor I fear most is the Frenchmen's unpredictability,” Mr Connor said. “But I feel our men will lift themselves to the occasion. They nearly did it against the All Blacks in Brisbane, and with a little more effort they can be successful tomorrow.”

The French manager, Mr J. C. Bourrier, promised a good match. “It is most important that we win, and we will,” he added. Mr Connor, who caused a controversy when he introduced short line-out tactics in a bid to baffle the All Blacks during the first test in Syd-

ney, said he had some new “tricks up his sleeve” for the Frenchmen.

“They will be difficult to contain once they get going,” he said, “but we are hoping to get enough possession to impose our game on them, rather than let them have the initiative."

Australian Rugby writers

said yesterday that the Wallaby backs would have to tackle as they never have before to beat France.

“Rarely has this country seen as gifted a set of backs as these French wizards of speed and finesse,” said Dick Tucker, in the Sydney “Daily Mirror.”

“If they are allowed to run, Australia will present the test to the Frenchmen on a plate.” J. Brass and P. Smith, the centres from the Sydney club, Randwick, who are both returning after a long lay-off because of injury, will have a heavy responsibility to hold their opposite numbers, J. Trillo and J. Lux. France has a formidable team, 12 of whom played in last Saturday’s test against New Zealand. There are two changes in the backs. The right-wing A. Campaes. returns after injury for J. M. Bonal, and A. Piazza, is on the other wing, Lux switching to outside centre as substitute for the suspended C. Dourthe.

The breakaway, B. Dutin, replaces M. Billiere. The teams are:

Australia: A. McGill: J. Cole, P. Smith. J. Brass. B. Honan: J. Ballesty. J. Hipwell: G Davis; D. Taylor, H. Rose. P Reilly, S. Gregory; R. Prosser. P Johnson (captain), J. Roxburgh.

France: P. VHlepreux: A, Campaes, J. Lux, J. Trillo, A. Piazza: J. Maso. J. Berot; C Carrere (captain); W. Spang hero. B. Dutin. D. Dauga, E Cester; J. Noble, M. Yachvili. M. Lasserre.