ALL BLACKS TO PLAY CAMBRIDGE Hurst’s chance to gain place in test team

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 40

ALL BLACKS TO PLAY CAMBRIDGE Hurst’s chance to gain place in test team

(From J. K. BROOKS, N.Z.P.A. special correspondent) CAMBRIDGE. The find of the All Black trials in Wellington, I. A. Hurst, the 21-year-old agricultural student at Lincoln College, has been kept in wraps by the New Zealand team selectors since his fine debut in New York.

But now, with the unexpected loss of the services of the test centre, B. J. Robertson, who broke the thumb on his right hand in the Cardiff match, the blond Canterbury mid-field back will be thrust into the limelight.

Hurst will make his first appearance in Britain in the match against Cambridge University tomorrow, and is almost certain to retain his place at centre for the game against London Counties at Twickenham on Saturday.

With Robertson likely to be out of action for three to four weeks, Hurst has a golden chance of gaining a place in the test team against Wales on December 2 at Cardiff.

Hurst, who played for North Otago as a teen-ager for one season, has had a meteoric rise in Rugby. Chosen for Canterbury midway through this season, Hurst retained the centre position and deservedly won a place in the national trials, and his constructive, energetic play in the early game at Athletic Park resulted in his sudden elevation in Rugby status. Exceptionally mature for his age, Hurst has prospects of becoming a top-class player, and this tour could be the making of him. In this instance, Robertson’s misfortune could be to Hurst’s advantage. 11 changes Hurst is one of five players who will make their British debut in the Cambridge match. The others are the prop, K. K. Lambert, recovered from boils on his leg; the flanker, K. W. Stewart, whose ear injury received in New York has mended well; the lock, I. M. Eliason, and the first five-eighths, I. N. Stevens. The expected easy match

will give many players a chance to press their claims for Saturday games. Only five of those who played against Cardiff are chosen. The unfortunate pair, T. Morris and G. R. Skudder, are ptill nursing leg injuries and were not considered and they still have to play on British turf.

The captain, I. A. Kirkpatrick, after his stalwart play in the tough first three games, gets a chance to relax, and the tour vice-captain, S. M. Going, will lead the side at Cambridge. The Canterbury captain, A. J. Wyllie, leads the pack for the second time on tour.

No ‘standbys’

The team is: J. F. Karam; G. B. Batty, Hurst, D. A. Hales; R. M. Parkinson, Stevens; Going; A. R. Sutherland; Wyllie, Eliason, A. M. Haden, Stewart; G. J. Whiting, R. A. Urlich, Lambert. Reserves. —Backs: G. L. Colling, M. Sayers, B. G. Williams. Forwards: A. I. Scown, K. Murdoch, R. W. Norton. Meanwhile, in Wellington, the convener of the national

he and his fellow-selectors (Messrs Duff and J. Gleeson) had agreed on several players who they considered the next best in their positions. “All positions were covered,’’ he said. Nobody had been informed that they were on a short list, said Mr Vodanovich. “It had never been done in the past so we didn’t think it was necessary.” Nor had any players been given instructions to have inoculations in case of a speedy trip to the British Isles at short notice.

selection panel (Mr I. M. H. Vodanovich) said yesterday that no players had specific instructions to keep fit in case they were required as replacements for the All Blacks, the Press Association reported. Although the All Black coach (Mr R. Duff) has yet to contact national Rugby headquarters on the possibility of replacements, concern is being felt about the number of injuries the All Blacks have already suffered. Mr Vodanovich said . that