First casualty for Irish

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34151, 12 May 1976, Page 42

First casualty for Irish

(Prom PAUL CAVANAGH. N.Z.P.A. Staff correspondent.)

TIMARU. A solid, 90-minute workout by the Irish rugby team produced the tour’s first casualty at Timaru yesterday. The lock forward Emmet O’Rafferty, one of the team’s two uncapped players, had to cry off after pulling a back muscle. O’Rafferty was given immediate attention by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union’s masseur, Mr Doc Murdoch, but it was decided the young, bearded lock needed professional physiotherapy treatment. O’Rafferty injured his back when the Irish coach (Mr Roly Meates) was putting the forwards through a series of scrummaging practices. Mr Meates had originally intended to give the players only a 30-minute workout, but in the end it lasted 90 minutes. The Irishmen impressed yesterday with the keeness and exuberance of their work, particularly as it took place only the day after their tiring flight from Hong

Kong. There were the odd blemishes, particularly in the taking of high balls by the backs, but there appeared a confident air about the team. Mr Meates said afterwards he had been extremely happy with the workout. He said the players had not seemed worried by jet lag. “A few of them complained of dizziness early on, but this seemed to pass fairly quickly,” he said. Certainly, by the way the players kept up their strong work right till the end of training, they were not too inconvenienced. Apart from O’Rafferty, Mr Meates said all players were fit. The team for the tourists’ first* match against South Canterbury at Fraser Park on Saturday will be announced this morning before training. South Canterbury officials are hoping the Irishmen name the star centre Mike Gibson in Saturday’s team. He will be a big attraction if he does play and a crowd of up to 15,000 is expected for the match.