All Blacks Suffer More Injuries

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32335, 29 June 1970, Page 12

All Blacks Suffer More Injuries

(From T. P. McLEAN) KIMBERLEY. Injuries are taking some heavy tolls of the touring All Blacks. Playing on Saturday, B. G. Williams suffered a broken blood vessel of his already injured left leg. The leg swelled several inches.

1. R. Macßae sustained a sprain of the upper right groin. Both players will be: unable to train for at least three days. R. A. Urlich's right ear was torn by a sprig in a ruck in the last minute of play. There were allegations that a boot was used against him in an aimed shot. Urlicb has had 12 stitches put in the wound. It is not expected be will be out of action for too long. As some compensation, he was given a free telephone call to his wife in Auckland Players Recovering B. A. Hunter is ready to tplay, H. P. Milner is almost ready, but it is team policy not to play an injured man until one match beyond the time that he is said to be fit. The captain, B. J. Lochore, had the plaster on his arm removed on Saturday and another one substituted. The swelling at the back of his hand has gone down and he can now move hand and ■ wrist comfortably. Another examination will be made inj a week. Mr Johan Claassen, the coach or the Springbok team which will play the All Blacks in the looming test series, said on Saturday after watching the New Zealanders beat Grlqualand ■West: “It will take a very good team to beat these All Blacks." Mr Claassen was one of three 'Springbok selectors at the [match. Another selector. Milan Kirkpatrick, was equally! ■ impressed by the New Zealand performance. "Finest Team" . The referee of the match. Mr Bert Woolley, an experienced man who also refereed the 196ri All Blacks, said: “This is the finest national team I have ever seen. They won the ball even more than the 1955 British Lions. ■'Further, they are a delight to referee. Unlike the British. Australian and French teams, thev do not question decisions." The All Blacks are to be vac-

cinated against Asian flu sweep ing South Africa, the N Z.P A correspondent reported. The manager (Mr R. L. Burk) said yesterday the vaccination would be on a voluntary basis. He decided on the measure after the coach (Mr I M. H. Vodanovich) and Lochore had [tested the inoculation for any side effects.