Vacancy Left By Meads Worrying All Blacks

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 14

Vacancy Left By Meads Worrying All Blacks

(From T. P. McLEAN) BLOEMFONTEIN. Who will be No. 3 in the line-out? That is the most urgent question faced by the All Blacks as they now begin the physical and mental preparation for their first test with the Springboks next week.

The decision not to' seek a replacement fori C. E. Meads reduced the contestants for the position to J. F. Burns and A. E. Smith, of the recognised locks, A. R. Sutherland and B. Holmes, of the loose forwards, and, as very long shots, I. A. Kirkpatrick and B. J. Lochore.

However, the tour committee is determined not to play Lochore at lock. He himself, believes It is impossible to captain the team from this position. Would Weaken Team [ Nor is there any likelihood I of the committee approving i Kirkpatrick’s appointment to 'lock and No. 3 in the Ine-out. I He is so sensationally good

at flank, where he is winning! a reputation as one of the finest to visit South Africa, that his transfer to lock would seriously weaken the forward attacking strength Holmes has not had many games, and in his last match against Western Transvaal last Monday was climbing into the later rucks with a good deal of power. But in that game he showed no special talents at No. 3 and that is the point of major concern. Burns has been a solid and useful player, very happy to battle away in the tight and to leave the gallivanting in the loose to others, but he has not, as yet, looked a man capable of dominating the No. 3 position. Smith, too, has not filled the bill, nor has he looked likely to drive with the ball in the open field in the “Willie away” which Meads performed almost with the expertise of W. J. Whineray. Sutherland Best Choice

The All Blacks attacking plans consider this manoeuvre either as a variation or as a principal form of attack and put it very high on their list. So it looks as if the team, by prayer, will-power or some other course, will have to drag out of Sutherland in

tomorrow’s match against Orange Free State the kind of performance it must have. A. E. Hopkinson and S. C. Strahan, at Nos 2 and 5, respectively, and Lochore at No. 7, have all been going well, but a line-out based on these three positions is not a true line-out in the All Biack conception. The man at No. 3 is as important as the player at No. 5. Sutherland jumped extremely well in the final New Zealand trial. He is strong, quick and athle ic. He can run the “willie away” well, but it is questionable whether he can take the scrapping and battling that always goes on at No. 3.

This is the vexing question for the All Blacks. If within the next week neither Sutherland nor any other candidate shapes as a shadow of Meads, it is not at all improbable that the tour committee will have to chuck in its hand and ask for a replacement. Furlong Has Flu

Yesterday, B. D. M. Furlong was confined to bed suffering from Asian influenza amid fears that the flu could spread. Not all the All Blacks have been vaccinated against it, the N.Z.P.A. special correspondent reported. A doctor advised Furlong to stay in bed several days and he may not be able to go with the team when it leaves for Salisbury on Sunday. Some of the All Blacks were vaccinated against flu in Kimberley but those who played a few days later, at Upington, were not vaccinated then. It is understood they were not subsequently given injections. Furlong, however, was vaccinated against flu before he left New Zealand.