A mammoth task

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 22

A mammoth task

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

More than 50 years ago the British Rugby league club, Huddersfield, was bestowed with the title of “team of all talents” because of its dominance of major trophy contests during that era. At Carlaw Park tomorrow Canterbury will oppose an Auckland side that is enjoying a “year of all triumphs.”

Auckland has, in turn, huihbled Waikato, The Rest of New Zealand, Wellington, and West Coast, and achieved a narrow, but even more memorable, success at the expense of the World Cup holder, Australia.

Canterbury, conceding marked advantages in strength, speed, combination, and experience, will field a very thin red, line of defence in challenging the imperious reign of Auckland, which has found, and adopted an exceptional standard of Rugby league. Eight of its players shared in the splendour of New Zealand’s test defeat of Australia three weeks ago, and the wing, R. C. McGinn, was forced to withdraw because of injury. The team is completed by the New Zealand second XIII representatives, D. A. Williams (centre), and M. Eade (second-row), and the front-row forwards, G. Woolsey and D. Mann, who played .for the province against the Kangaroos.

Woolsey has succeeded the 1970 Kiwi hooker, W. J.- E. Burgoyne, and Mann again takes the place of R. I. Orchard, the test prop who is still recovering from a broken toe. Like Eade and Wil

Hams, they have become leading candidates for the tour of Britain and France which begins late next month. It is typical of the early development of Auckland footballers that the 17-year-dld Williams has a .background of more first-class experience than either of his centre rivals, M. W. J. O’Donnell and W. Wright. Similarly, Eade, aged 21, and the Canterbury secondrow partners, I. J. Dalzell

and P. T. Tainui, are in their initial year above club for-1 ward level; but Eade has already reached the verge of international selection and Tainui and Dalzell are still encountering problems of adjustment. POWERFUL PACK The Auckland pack is extremely well balanced, and appears far too powerful for Canterbury to contain for any length of time. The rugged props, Mann and H. Tatana, subdued their seasoned Australian opponents, allowing the positive running of A P. Kriietich and E. Heatley to be brought into the pattern of play regularly. Eade is another fine supporting forward, having gained three tries in two meetings with the Kangaroos. G. Ji Woollard and F. R. Christian provide the steadying influence to complement the attacking flair of M. McClennan, McGuinn, Williams, B. R. Lowther, and K. Stirling among the backs. Stirling and Woolland have joined Kriietich and Heatley to establish a vbry solid covering screen. On occasions in the past, other provinces have been able to trouble Auckland teams that have tended to rely too much on individuality. However, the Auckland coach (Mr N. L. Denton) has moulded his team of champions into a champion team this season, pooling their singular talents to obtain the best results.

Canterbury’s tackling was vastly improved in the return match with West Coast at Greymouth, but will need to be even more decisive to restrain Auckland. Some assistance in this requirement may 'be expected if Carlaw Park Is again muddy. The Canterbury hooker, 3. H. Fisher, and his forwards •have a difficult assignment in attempting to wrench an equal share of possession from the scrums. Any ball that does come Canterbury’s way must not be wasted; conversely, full advantage must be taken of any looseness in Auckland’s handling. The most that Canterbury supporters can hope,for is a comparatively modest Auck-

land winning margin. The Kiwis’ triumph over Australia has been regarded as something of a sporting miracle: such occurrences arei not frequent happenings. |