Welsh Coach Sets No. 1 Target- Possession Of Ball

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32005, 4 June 1969, Page 15

Welsh Coach Sets No. 1 TargetPossession Of Ball

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. The whole purpose of future Welsh training sessions in New Zealand would be dedicated to possession by all means within the limits of the law.

This was stated last night by the team’s coach, Mr C. Rowlands, when he confirmed that Wales would use short line-outs against Otago today.

He said the tourists would use four-man and possibly shorter lineouts.

Wales was beaten in the line-outs in the Taranaki match and overwhelmed in this phase of play in the first test. Discussing the tourists’ rucking problems at a press conference, Mr Rowlands said a team must get over the advantage line before it got a ruck. “And we must get our house in order by getting possession to take us over the advantage line," he added. Needed In N.Z. On line-outs, Mr Rowlands said Wales had not tried short line-outs in a match for many months because it had gained a lot of ball from eight-man line-outs in Britain. In view of Wales’ pressing need for greater forward power, the former British Lion, W. D. Thomas, might play his way into the second test pack by his performance against Otago. The tour selectors are being forced to take a deeper look at their forward resources. First Tour Game In the search for an improvement in the nicking and line-out play, Thomas appeals as one of the few players the selectors might be able to turn to. He was in the Welsh squad for the 1969 five-nations’ matches, but had only one game, when the captain, B. E. V. Price, was unavailable. But he became familiar with the New Zealand style of play, when he toured with the Lions here in 1966, playing in the tests at Wellington and Christchurch.

He is versatile and equally useful at lock or prop. Thomas has the handicap of a long break from match play, being the odd man out in the party—the only one not to have had a game so far. In their search for new talent the selectors will also

take a close look at the young prop, D. B. Llewellyn. He was most impressive in the Taranaki match and after the developments of the first test, his case for an international cap must be reoponed. The Welsh have no illusions about today’s match against a well-balanced Otago and will be striving for the win so necessary to maintain team morale and peak interest in the tour. Fine 1968 Record Otago, with few noted players but with a fine application of the 15-man game, had an excellent record last winter, losing only to France and Canterbury. The nucleus of the side which got to within six points of France has been retained,

with players like A. J. Kreft, R. W. House, W. W. Townsend and S. H. 0. Reaney in the forwards, and E. W. Kirton, D. J. Robertson, S. R. Inglis and L. Colling in the backs. Colling and Kirton might give Otago the edge behind the scrum against R. Hopkins and B. John. The Otago pack is a lightweight one, with two of the loose men only just topping 13st. The Welsh forwards also will have a height advantage but even so indications were at training that they will make fairly liberal use of the short line-out. The teams are: Wales.—J. R. P. Williams; S. Watkins, S. J. Dawes, K. S. Jarrett, M. R. Richards; B. John, R. Hopkinson; T. M. Davies; J. Taylor, W. D. Thomas, B. Price (captain), D. Hughes; D. B. Llewelyn, N. R. Gale, D. Williams. Otago.—L. W. Mains; G. Hunter, S. G. Inglis, M. P. Collins; D. J. Robertson, E. W. Kirton (captain): L. Colling; P. C. Hadfield; S. H. 0. Reaney. A. J. Banks, R. W. House, W. W. Townsend; A. J. Kreft, D. A. Pescini, L. A. Clark.