Magazine’s “Five Of The Year"

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 15

Magazine’s “Five Of The Year"

(MX Preu Association) WELLINGTON. Two Frenchmen, one Japanese, and two New Zealanders have been named as the “Five Players of the Year” by the “Rugby Almanac,” which was published yesterday. The players are J. Naso and W. Spanghero (France), Y. Sakata (Japan), W. D. Cottrell (Canterbury), and S. M. Going (North Auckland). The creditors of the “Almanac,” Messrs A. C. Swan and A. H. Carman, said they agreed with the general assessment that Spanghero was the best forward In the French , touring team. “A Mg man, Spanghero in addition had hll the attributes which make a good player a great one,” 4

Maae had lived up to his pretour billing as the “most talented of all French backs,” they said. The tour by the All-Japan team had demonstrated the high potential of the Japanese as Rugby players. “In fact, several of them already possess that quality which places them in the top grade. Not the least is Yoshihiro Sakata, whose performances in New Zealand entitle him to be considered as one of the best wing threequarters to play on our fields.” Cottrell earned selection in the “big five” by showing just how valuable the “sound” player could be to a side, said the “Almanac.”

The Canterbury player, H. T. Joseph, is Included among the “Almanac’s” live promising players, with N. M. Avery (Marlborough), P. J. Strange (King Country), G. T. Wiig (Hawke’s Bay), and R. B. W. Gilt (Welling, ton). Ito “New Zealand XV” is: K. T. Going; O. G. Stephens, G. S. Thome, M. W. O’Callaghan; W. D. Cottrell, E. W. Kirton; S. M. Going; B. J. Lochore (captain); T. N. Lister, S. C. Strahan, C. E. Meads, K. R. • Tremain; K. F. Gray, F. J. Colthurst, B. L. Muller. Reserves: M. G. Duncan, T. W. M. Tataurangi, C. R. Laidlaw, R. S. Abel, I. A. Kirkpatrick, N. W. Thlrnbleby.