Team chosen for Kiwis’ first official match

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 24

Team chosen for Kiwis’ first official match

(By JOHN COFFEY, N.Z.P.A. special correspondent) WARRINGTON (Lancashire).

D. Williams, the 17-year-old Auckland centre, will become the youngest Rugby league player to represent New Zealand when he makes his international debut against Rochdale Hornets at Rochdale on Saturday. The coach (Mr D. L. Blanchard) has also included the two most experienced backs, G. Woollard and R. Christian, for the first official match of the tour.

Their presence should assist Williams considerably. The other new cap is a loose forward, R. Williams, the only member of the pack who has not previously played in Britain. The team is:— M. McLennan; P. Orchard. R. Christian. D. Williams; J. Whittaker, G. Woollard; K. Stirling; J. Greengrass; W. Burgoyne. R. Orchard; W. Deacon, A. Kriletich. R. Williams Reserves: M. Brereton, J. Fisher. Christian was declared fit to lead the team after receiving treatment for a knee injury suffered in a practice match in London. Apart from the substitutions of P. Orchard and Williams for Brereton and B. Lowther in the threequarters, the backs are the same as those who played so well against Australia two months ago. British observers do not

expect Rochdale Hornets to provide strong opposition, even though it recently signed last year’s British captain, F. Myler, as"'playercoach. A former international, W. Aspinall, will play at stand-off half. Although the margin of victory has only once been greater than six points, New Zealand has an unbeaten record in four matches against Rochdale Hornets on other tours.

The Kiwis travelled from London to Warrington yesterday afternoon, and trained soon after their arrival. The initial target is a win in at least two of the first three fixtures. After playing Rochdale Hornets, the team will meet much harder opposition from St Helens and Hull., At least four of the most prominent players during Britain’s triumphant 1970

tour of Australia and New Zealand have been dropped from consideration for the first test team against the Kiwis at Salford on September 25. The captain, F. Myler, retired from international football after the World Cup tournament in England in October. C. Watson and M. Reilly are contracted to a club in Australia, and D. Hartley has failed to reproduce his overseas form and is undergoing a four-match suspension. Myler, who will lead Rochdale Hornets against New Zealand on Saturday, is an astute tactition and a very consistent centre. Watson and Reilly were outstanding forwards in Britain’s test wins over the Kangaroos and Kiwis, Watson, A. Fisher and Hartley comprising a particularly srtrong front row. The problems facing Britain’s selectors has been further extended by doubts concerning the availability of two other tourists, S. Hynes and D. Laughton. A six-match suspension was imposed after Hynes became the first player to be ordered from the field in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley. He does not have sufficient time to regain full match fitness before the test side is announced on September 8.