Kiwis make 2 test changes

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32966, 12 July 1972, Page 34

Kiwis make 2 test changes

(NZ P.t. StaJ Corrcspondcm

SOUTHPORT. Only two changes—both necessary because of injuries—have been made from the side beaten 36-11 by Australia last Saturday, in the New Zealand Rugby league team for the second test in Brisbane this Saturday.

The changes—both in the backs—are W. A. Collicoat for the injured J. A. Whittaker at full-back, and the introduction of J. P. O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan will play in the centres, with D. A. Williams —named as centre for the first test—moving to standoff half. The Auckland replacement, R. Wilson, will thus not take the field initially for the test, but he is expected to be named as the back reserve,; when the emergencies are announced later in the week. There was some degree of confusion over the Wilson re-; placement in the team yes-' terday. In spite of an announcement by the New Zealand Rugby League from Auckland that Wilson would join the

’ team in Brisbane today, the team manager (Mr J. Wil--1 liams), unaware of the announcement, said the official i position was: "We are not bringing anyone in yet.” N.Z. TEAM I The New Zealand team for I the second test is: Collicoat. IM. P Brcreton, F. R. Christian, O'Sullivan. P. C. Orchard, ■ Williams. K. R. Stirling. A IP. Kriletich. M. K. F.ade, J. Greengrass, R. I. Orchard. J. H. Fisher, and D. J. Gailey. The team went through another solid work-out yesterday under the coach (Mr L. Blanchard). It was one of the (most impressive by the team .in Australia so far. i Mr Blanchard drilled his i players in a torrid 150 minutes Gold Coast spell and i later claimed a 100 per cent improvement in sharpness and appearance. He expects a big improvement on last week's showing, in the Lang Park test, in Brisbane. He said: “Our morale is quite good—a lot better than it was in Sydney. The hoys seem to be more at home in Queensland, and their training is reflecting this. They went really well.” Mr Blanchard said that yesterday’s work-out was by far the toughest the Kiwis have had since arriving in Australia. The team had a second training spell in the afternoon. INJURIES STILL Injuries continue to be a problem. There was an addition to the list of walking wounded when the test hooker, Fisher, missed the second run. He had a swollen left knee and was unable to run on it but he is under treatment from the team’s medical adviser. Dr L. Cooney, and an improvement was noticeable within a few hours.

Fisher took a knock on the knee in the first test and it has been aggravated bv training on the rock-hard Queensland grounds. Fisher is an enthusiastic trainer, always working hard and throwing in the odd piece of yoga to work off his tensions. The Orchard brothers. Phillip and Robert, both had brief spells from the afternoon run with leg troubles, and several others were feeling the effects of the hard grounds.

Peninsula gelt—Final round results In the Banks Peninsula section of the Patterson Cup were:—Kaltuna SJ, Tai Tapu U 2J; Tai Tapu A 5, Akaroa 3; Charterls Bay 6, Richmond Hill 2. Final points: Kaituna 41, Charteris Bay 31, Tai Tapu B 2’, Akaroa 2, Tai Tapu A 1. Roger Sisson (Tai Tapu) had a hole-in-ane at the ninth in his match against D. Wright (Akaroa).