Britain Picks Winning XIII

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 15

Britain Picks Winning XIII

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Provided K. Hepworth, the scrumhalf, has recovered from an arm injury, Great Britain will field the same team against New Zealand in the first test at Carlaw Park tomorrow as the one which won the Ashes Cup from Australia at Sydney last Saturday.

Hepworth is expected to play. He had his arm I examined yesterday, but' no bones were broken. The final decision will be left to Hepworth today. If he decides to withdraw. B Seabourne will take his place. Commenting on the players’ fitness, the British coach (Mr J. Whiteley) said: “We are pretty well blessed here. Noone is seriously injured. By next week we should have nearly all the party fit.” HIBBS TO PLAY There was a late change in the Kiwi side. J. D. Hibbs, who was flpwn to Auckland on Wednesday, was named to replace a fellow West Coaster, K. Dixon, who has lost about half a tone through an attack of influenza. Mr Mountford, the Kiwi manager, said last night it was felt that Dixon, in his weakened £tate might not be able to last an 80-minute test. R. Walker, the Canterbury forward named as a reserve, who has also had a bout of influenza, was considered fit if called upon. Mr Mountford said the Kiwis had trained very well in their last practice at Cornwall Park yesterday afternoon, and if they reproduced this standard in the test they might do very well.

The teams are:— Britain: M. Shoebottom; J. lAtkinson, F. Myler (captain), S. Hynes. A. Smith; R. Millward, K. Hepworth; C. Watson. D. Hartley, A. Fisher, J. Thompson, D. Laughton, M. Reilly. Reserves: A. Hardisty, R. Irving. New Zealand: D. Ladner (West Coast); P. Orchard (Bay of Plenty). K. R Christian (Auckland). M. Brereton (Canterbury); B. Lowther (Auckland), R. Bailey (Auckland). T. Patrick (Otago): R. Orchard (Auckland), D. Gailey (Auckland), C. O’Neil (Wellington. captain), Hibbs, W. Deacon (Waikato). A. Kriletich (Auckland). Reserves: F. Shuster (Auckland), Walker.