Rugby’s ‘depth’

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 32

Rugby’s ‘depth’

New Zealand rugby had great depth at present, said the All Black manager, Mr Ron Don, on the team’s return from France on Saturday evening. “We now have a great fund of players to draw on. For me, the most significant fact to come out of this tour and the series against the British Lions is the large number of players used,” he said. It showed New Zealand rugby at present had great depth. Mr Don added that the All Blacks 1977 results reflected great credit on the coach, Mr Jack Gleeson. “The tactics Jack thought up to win the second test against the French proved that he is a deep thinker on rugby ■ — an extremely clever tactician,” he said.

Team spirit, according to Mr Don, was the other vital ingredient in the All Blacks’ success. “I stressed team spirit in my talk with the All Blacks before we left New Zealand and it was just tremendous throughout,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a finer group to manage.” Mr Don’s No. I recommendation from the tour will be that any future All Black side playing in a foreign-speaking country must be accompanied by a liaison officer who could speak fluent English. “As a manager, this was where almost all my problems came,” he said. “Communications with the French were hopeless at times — it made the tour so much more difficult for all concerned.”