Dr Stewart called to assist All Blacks

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 36

Dr Stewart called to assist All Blacks

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

The New Zealand Rugby Union has shown an awareness of the need to prepare the All Blacks soundly for their tour of Ireland.

It has invited Dr J. D. Stewart, the former Canterbury coach, to join the panel of experts at a two-day training school in Kilbimie this month. Significantly, Dr Stewart has been asked to bring a

scrum machine with him to Wellington. It was Dr Stewart’s coaching which made Canterbury such a strong scrummaging force last season. He will join Mr R. H. Duff, coach of the 1972-73 All Blacks, and Mr W. J. Whineray, the celebrated former New Zealand captain who

now coaches a Wellington club side, in assisting the All Blacks with their preparation. All three men — and especially Mr Duff. — have seen Irish Rugby at first hand, and they will have a wealth of information and ideas to pass on to the team. The All Blacks will also be lectured by an expert on injury prevention. The union would have been well advised to arrange a further lecture, on penalty prevention. Mr J. P. G. Pring (Auckland), Mr H. Innes (Whangarei) and Mr B. E. Powell (Christchurch), all of whom refereed matches in Britain while the All Blacks were there in 1972-73, would be able to highlight specific areas of the game in which interpretations differ. Press campaign Thirteen members of the team toured Britain two years ago, and they will be aware of the need to treat the provocative insinuations of some British Rugby writers with equanimity. J. B. G. Thomas, of the "Western Mail,” has already started his campaign by musing on the type of reception G. B. Batty and S. M. Going will receive if they play at Cardiff Arms Park. The All Blacks do not need to lose any sleep over these veiled thrusts. Most of their matches will be in Ireland, where they will meet people who are warmly appreciative of solid Rugby endeavour.