BUILD-UP FOR FIRSTTEST TEAM Lions to try different player groupings

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 22

BUILD-UP FOR FIRSTTEST TEAM Lions to try different player groupings

(From J. K. BROOKS)

AUCKLAND.

The British Lions’ leaders will deliberately avoid forming “Saturday” and “Wednesday” teams from their 30 players during the three*month tour of New Zealand.

This pledge was made yesterday by the manager (Dr D. W. C. Smith) and the coach (Mr C. James), and they were true to their word in their choice of players for the opening game at Pukekohe tomorrow.

The side represents a good mixture of youth and experience. "We regard the touring party as a squad rather than two teams,” Dr Smith said. "All our early matches will be a build-up towards finding the best team for the first test That is the game we are totally determined to win.” Mr James said that different groupings of players would be tried in an effort to determine the best combination. There were ten games in which to develop the test team.

“There is not an A team nor a B team, and you won’t see this on tour," he said, but he added after a moment’s reflection, “I can promise you that we will play our A side in the test” Mr James said the tactics would be under constant discussion and development throughout the tour. The Lions were not approaching the tour with a set tactical formula.

Newest ground Yesterday the Lions had ’ their first view of Pukekohe ' Stadium, which was fashioned out of a barren gully to become the country's newest . first-class Rugby ground. It : was opened earlier this year, and the red volcanic soil typical of the “food bowl of New Zealand" forms a bright ring of colour round the peri- ; meter. The Lions were impressed with the firmness of the turf • and the height of the goal- . posts—62ft 9in—but there ' are some taller ones await- . ing them at Whangarei. The English full-back, R. Hiller, observed that with posts of that height there was no chance of any disputed decisions over the fate of kicks at goal.

Hard training The training session was supposed to represent a tapering of effort as the first match drew near, but the game between Saturday’s team and the rest was as hard as the previous day’s encounter. Once again the Irish lock, W. J. Mcßride, gave the impression he was playing in a test, and J. S. Spencer, re-

membering his painful experience of Wednesday, wisely let Mcßride gallop past him for a try. The big Irishman’s vigour won an approving nod from A. J. Stewart, the former Canterbury and All Black lock, who is now based in the area.

The Lions backs adopted the left and right centre formation, and C. M. H. Gibson, who will captain the side tomorrow, was particularly impressive at right centre. G. O. Edwards was back in action after a day in 'bed, but took things easily. The other backs, however, ran with a will, and B. John displayed his drop-kicking skill. G. L. Brown was impressive in the line-outs, but after one abortive attempt at operating a four-man line-out, the forwards reverted to the standard formation.

No cover

There was a glimmering of hope for the Counties-Thames Valley side from developments in the practice game. The rest had only two backs, in addition to eight forwards,

yet it was able to score twice against a full fifteen. No effort was made to form a cover for the first line of defence.

A crowd of about 500 came to the stadium to watch the training session.

“That is the sort of crowd we get in Britain to watch the game,” Dr Smith said.

In the afternoon the Lions had their one and only civic reception for the tour—in the Pukekohe War Memorial Hall.

The Mayor of Pukekohe (Mr C. Lawry) and the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr W. S. Bramwell) made the chief speeches of welcome. The Lions responded with a mellow rendering of the Welsh song, “Sospan Fach." Fire alarm

Some members of the touring party, chiefly members of the British press, were feeling drowsy by early afternoon because they had been roused from their slumbers by a false fire alarm in their hotel at 4 a.m.

Gibson, obviously taking his appointment as captain for the first match very seriously was as diligent as a fire warden in trying to get players to leave the building. However, about two-thirds of the party slept through .the commotion.