KIRKPATRICK'S PLAY INSPIRATION TO SIDE All Blacks’ splendid win jolt for British Rugby

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 26

KIRKPATRICK'S PLAY INSPIRATION TO SIDE All Blacks’ splendid win jolt for British Rugby

(From

J. K. BROOKS,

N.Z.P.A. special correspondent)

GLOUCESTER.

The complacency in British Rugby after the Lions’ test«series win in New Zealand last year was jolted to the core when the All Blacks trounced a strong Western Counties side, 39-12. at the Kingsholm ground in Gloucester on Saturday.

It was a splendid start to the touring team’s campaign in Britain and France, and the excellence of the All Black effort must have sent the Welsh planners from Llanelli and Cardiff scurrying back to their drawing boards.

The All Blacks* impressive victory stemmed chiefly from the magnificent nicking and running of the forwards, who were constantly inspired by the quality of the play of their captain, I. A. Kirkpatrick. Counties had no answer to the surging breaks by Kirkpatrick, A. R. Sutherland, and A. I. Scown, who used the back of the line-out as a profitable platform for their attacks. But it was equally pleasing from New Zealand’s point of view that the backs were partners in this triumph. With R. E. Burgess and B. G. Williams in outstanding form and the others lending valuable support, the All Black back-play shone with an unaccustomed lustre.

Counties, with six English internationals in the pack, offered strenuous opposition in the set pieces. But as the game wore on, it became increasingly evident that the All Blacks’ strength and superior technique on the drive, and the

crashing runs started by Kirkpatrick and Sutherland, were barbs which had penetrated deeply into Counties’ flesh.

The home side was jaded at the finish after an exhausting struggle against unequal odds. The New Zealand victory was achieved in spite of the loss of two key players — T. J. Morris and S. M. Going — because of leg injuries. But there was never any hint that the enforced changes had unsettled the side. G. L. Colling gave his fel-low-backs an admirable service, and the youthful fullback, J. F. Karam, played with so much assurance that he rapidly became one of the successes of the match. Seven tries The All Blacks scored seven tries to one, with Williams — who scored three and made two others — revelling in the feast of chances provided for him by his inside backs. He shattered the reputation of the English wing, P. M. Knight, with his speed and swerving. Burgess penetrated the inside defences six times with convincing dummies, and R.

M. Parkinson picked up where he left off in New York with some eager attacking from his mid-field position.

The day in Gloucester was fine and mild, the crowd of 16,000 was in good humour, and the well-grassed field was in such splendid order that to New Zealanders it seemed almost a crime to play on it. There were some keen tests of strength in the initial stages as a bright young prop from Gloucester, R. C. Cowling, sought to unsettle the massive All Black tight-head prop, K. Murdoch. But after much bucking and struggling, the All Black front row of Murdoch, R. A. Urlich, and J. D. Matheson came out on top. Murdoch revealed his exceptional powers as a tight forward, Matheson set up the rucks in true Otago fashion, and Urlich had the satisfaction of taking three tight heads to none against the English and Lions’ hooker, J. V. Pullin. Fine service Well-timed jumping by P. J. Whiting, H. H. Macdonald, and Sutherland gave New Zealand a 20-9 advantage in line-out possession, and Colling cleared the ball so smartly that the All Blacks were able to score three of their tries from this source. Kirkpatrick must have convinced every man, woman and child at the ground that he was the best flanker in the world. His ability to make capital of the loose ball was exceeded only by the excellence of his powerful breaks from the end of the line-out and the back of the maul. Throughout the game he was a shining example to his men.

Sutherland, too, played very well and with Whiting, Macdonald, Matheson, and Murdoch showing surprising mobility, the New Zealand pack was always better placed to take command of the rucks. The All Blacks

gained a 15-5 advantage in this phase of play.

Scown’s speed enabled him to harry the Counties' backs, but the home side showed reluctance to move the ball through the chain in spite of the fact that in J. Bayliss, at centre, and A. J. Morley, on the right wing, it had two strong and resourceful attackers.

Instead it placed its trust in the punting of J, R. Gabitass at fly-half. But this local stalwart was so unnerved at missing Burgess so regularly that his kicking quickly lost its accuracy. Counties’ only moment of satisfaction came when M. A. Burton scored a clever try after the All Blacks were penalised near their own goal-line. The side’s only effective forward in all phases was J. A. Watkins, a flanker in the never-say-die mould. Karam success Karam was the surprise packet in the New Zealand side. In the first half he kicked four goals from four attempts—three from wide angles—and added punch to the attack with his welltimed entrances into the back-line. Later one or two flaws crept into his play, but his general performance was most encouraging.

The All Blacks’ effort lost a little of its gloss because of some loose passes behind the advantage line, some lapses of concentration on defence, and the regularity with which the side gave away penalties. But G. B. Batty and Parkinson both showed reassuring form on attack and defence, and Robertson, although closely marked by Bayliss, again demonstrated his admirable passing ability.

Only incident The only incident which marred a fine game was the action of an All Black forward, who trod on Bayliss’s back during a drive in the final minute.

The unfortunate Bayliss, who had been injured twice earlier in the game, was engulfed by the enthusiastic crowd which swarmed on to the field at the final whistle.