INCENTIVE FOR KIWIS No complacency among Kangaroos

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33959, 27 September 1975, Page 48

INCENTIVE FOR KIWIS No complacency among Kangaroos

M (From JOHN COFFEY)

AUCKLAND.

It has long been annoying that Australian sportsmen and administrators — cricket especially, Rugby union excepted — have tended to regard the capabilities of their New Zealand opponents too lightly.

Such an accusation cannot he levelled at the Australian Rugby league team and its officials. Ihe Kangaroos have made full use of their time in Auckland in readying themselves for this afternoon’s test against the Kiwis <>n Carlaw Park.

Indeed, the Australian;! nianagrer (Mr Bob Ab-i--bott'i echoed the of his New Zealand!, counterpart. Mr Brianji Watson, by saying that this would be fhe most vital of the nine .remain-!' ir<r matches in the first'! home-and-avvay international championship. A victory to the Kangaroos!: would place them in a com- . Handing position to justify!: heir pre-series position as! favourites. They would move), three points clear of England!, and four in front of New! Zealand with three games (, each to be played. j On the other hand, then Kiwis have a double incen-j, Live to become the first side!, to beat Australia. Such a re-1, suit would enable New Zea-|. land to draw level at the topjj of the table, and would be aj suitable rep'v to the decisive!, loss suffered in the opening: 'hampionship match at Bris-' >ane four months ago. In spite of the absence of I uch seasoned internationals! 1 ■s Arthur Beetson. Ron : ’oote. Bob Fulton, and. Traeme Lanelands, who is'

now a non-playing coach,! [Australia proved in its final! I training run yesterday after-[ noon that it has considerable! [size and pace and should' [relish the firm ground. Apart from the strapping 18-year-old wing, lan SchuIbert, and the prop, lan Macikay, the Australian players are no tyros, even though (their number of test appearances is less than that [expected of a Kangaroo comi dination. Most have had long careers in Sydney or Brisbane, earning upwards of ' >Aust2oo a game because [they are capable of consistently high standards. ' It must be remembered [that New Zealand, too, will he fielding a younger team I than it did at Brisbane—'(when Beetson was also (absent— and the centre-wing partnership of Paul Matete land Fred Ah Kuoi is untried [in this class of football. Mr Abbott said that there i was no complacency in the I Australian camp, the irn- ! pressive displays by the Kiwis in their home tests ' tnd Auckland in the Amco Cup tournament had reviewed a healthy respect for New Zealand Rugby league i across the Tasman and, Aus-

traha having taken the unprecedented step of sending two national selectors on the tour, the individual players are on trial for the later matches in England, France, and Wales. Australia has reiied to a large extent on club understanding. .John Mayes, John Peard, and John Brass moving straight from their roles as the inside backs for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney to representing their country. Similary, in the forwards, John Quayle and Ray Higgs have played together many times for Parramatta, and Higgs (before he transferred to Sydney), Greg Veivers, and Lou Platz have been major figures in Queensland’s recent revival.

The Kiwis trained yesterday morning, and Mr Watson said that they came away very . satisfied that their tactical manoeuvres were working smoothly and that there would be no repetition of the debacle at Brisbane.

New Zealand’s progress up the international ladder in June began with outstanding tackling and back-ing-up against France; it, was carried a step further when Dennis Williams laid on the tries in the draw with England by means of incredibly accurate kicking, the third stage was highlighted by swift movement of the ball on attack to outflank Wales. Whether New Zealand is! capable of reaching the top: flight has yet to be proved.! Mr Watson said that the in-, tention is to play team football, of the open style that is also traditionally favoured by Australia. The Kiwis have a mobile pack, a champion leader in. Ken Stirling, and a set of backs with varied skills.

But it will take a mighty effort by the Kiwis to deprive Australia of a win that it is dearly keen to achieve. The Kangaroos are also decisive defenders, completely versed in supporting the ball-carrier, crisp in their passing and they have spent quite some time peppering each other with high up-and-unders in case Williams reverts to this ploy today.