FLANKERS AND PROP UNDER SCRUTINY Test trial today for several Lions

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 42

FLANKERS AND PROP UNDER SCRUTINY Test trial today for several Lions

(From J. K. BROOKS)

NAPIER.

While there is widespread sympathy in Napier for the former All Black centre, W. L. Davis, who has been prevented by injury from making his hundredth appearance for Hawke’s Bay this afternoon, the Lions have a sneaking suspicion that the provincial team might be a little stronger because of the change.

The younger, tougher M. G. Duncan has been switched from the right wing to take Davis’s position, and the new wing is the highly promising 19-year-old R. Hunter.

Before breaking his jaw in a provincial match early last month, Duncan had made a good [ impression as a centre in . the national trials. The defection of Davis means that Duncan will now team up in midfield with the All Blacks’ “Ironside” for the last five years, I. R. Macßae, who has been playing better than ever since he renounced football at international level. Only in the Canterbury match, in which they were opposed by W. D. Cottrell and H. T. Joseph, have the Lions’ test centres. S. J. Dawes and C. M. H. Gibson, encountered such a strong provincial midfield combination. Hunter, who will mark the rugged Welsh left wing, J. C. Bevan, is in his first year out of school, and played in only three representative matches last season. He captained the Wanganui Collegiate first XV and scored three tries against Christ’s College. He is a mature lad for his years, however, and makes up what he lacks in experience with speed and enterprise. Davis strained a hamstring at training earlier in the week and voluntarily withdrew from the side yesterday when he found he could not run freely. Similar attack One eager young man who sought to acquaint the Lions manager (Dr D. W. C. Smith) with the news of Davis’s withdrawal struck the amiable doctor in one of his playful moods. "Davis is out of the game,” said the eager young man. “So?” replied Dr Smith, staring impassivelv. "WeU, er . . . that’s Billy Davis I mean.” "Don’t know him—who does he play for?” said the doctor with a twinkle in his ey !L The eager young man retired in confusion. The reputation of the Lions’ loose forwards on defence took a battering in the second test at Christchurch because of the licence granted to S. M. Going and R. E. Burgess on the blind side. To-

day, the tourists are likely to be subjected to a similar form of attack by H. J. Paewai and B. D. M. Furlong, two clever backs who have developed a high degree of understanding. It is significant that the second test flankers, J. Taylor and P. J. Dixon, have given way to R. J. Ameil and J. F. Slattery, and this might be a straw in the wind with the third test in mind. G. L. Brown, the athletic young Scot who jumps higher than any other Lion in the line-out, will also be on trial for a test place this afternoon. The massive

Hawke’s Bay prop, K. Crawford, will provide a reliable yardstick for Brown’s progress. Elsewhere in the forwards, there will be a keen hooking duel between J. V. Pullin and the former All Black, B. E. McLeod, now in good form after a late start to the season. But the most strenuous confrontation will be between the "Mighty Mouse” of the Lions—J. McLauchlan—and Hawke’s Bay’s “Pocket Battleship,” the nuggety AU

Black prop, N. W. Thimbleby, who will be making his one hundred and fiftieth appearance for his side. "At last I will be packing against someone my own size,’’ the sft 9in McLauchlan said yesterday. McLauchlan, a physical education instructor, is superbly fit and strong, but Thimbleby is as tough as a slab of concrete from the Napier breakwater. It might be a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. The tactical kicking of Furlong and B. John will probably play an important part in the game. The Lions have been making heavy use of John’s valuable services, but the former Wales and British Isles fly-half, C. L. Morgan, is one who does not believe that all the activity will erode John’s form. "There is nothing like plenty of games to keep a player at his best,” he said. "Look at Nepia in 1924 —he played 30 games on the trot.” Hawke’s Bay supporters do not give their side much chance of beating the Lions, but the outstanding All Black flanker of recent years, K. Tremain, who is coaching Hawke’s Bay, believes that the team’s fitness and wealth of experience will stand it in good stead. Heavy rain has fallen in Napier during the week, but the sky cleared yesterday and the weather should be fair for the game. McLean Park, has a justifiable reputation for drying quickly, so the surface should be firm. The teams are: British Isles.—J. P. R. Williams; Bevan, Dawes (captain), Gibson, T. G. R. Davies, John G. O. Edwards; T. M. Davies; Slattery, Brown, W. J. Mcßride. Ameil, McLauchlan, Pullin, M. G. Roberts. Hawke's Bay.—l. R. Bishop, D. G. Curtis, Duncan, Hunter, Macrae, Furlong (captain), Paewai, J. Wilson, T. Thornton, Crawford, G. T. Wiig, G. A. Condon, Thimbleby, McLeod, H. Meecb.