Flu scare hits Kiwi camp

Press, 22 June 1978, Page 24

Flu scare hits Kiwi camp

NZPA special correspondent Sydney

The New Zealand rugby league team yesterday covered up against a suspected influenza epidemic. The first victim was the test winger, Fred Ah Kuoi, and yesterday the coach, Mr Ron Ackland, cautioned the [players against taking unl necessary risks. * Ah Kuoi has been a regu- ■ lar visitor to the doctor and was told yesterday that he will be fit to play against Australia in the first test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. At least two other players have complained of chills land Mr Ackland has advised [them to go to bed and take [antibiotics. | With the test so close, [New Zealand cannot afford to have its team decimated because players will not take reasonable precautions. The problem has been caused by the fluctuation in the local weather. Sydney has been hit by fierce squalls over the last two days and while this may suit the Kiwis on Saturday, it is not doing their health any good. “Some players have been working up a sweat at training and then walking around later in T-shirts,” said Mr Ackland. “They have to be more conscious about the risks they are taking.”

The Australian coach, Mr Frank Stanton, is concerned about the wet weather but for a different reason.

With every drop of rain that falls he gets more worried.

“I have said it before an I am likely to repeat it one hundred times before the week is out — the more it j rains the more Australia has ' to be worried about," he said. “The New Zealand players are like the race horses bred in their country. They seem Ito improve by many lengths when the track is heavy." i Yesterday the Sydney iCricket Ground was reasonably firm but the forecast is not good and the ground could cut up on Saturday.