Backs to the fore

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 12

Backs to the fore

The appearance of the celebrated Welsh rugby full-back J. P. R. Williams, as a flanker in the second test against Australia at Sydney last week-enid recalls George Gillett’s feat of playing both at bullhack and wing forward at test level for the 1905 All Blacks.

Giltetl was the first string full-back in the team, and played in that position in the tests against Scotland, England and Wales. But the wing forward and captain, Dave Gallaher, was out of action for the Irish test, and Gillett played in his place — as he did on other occasions on the tour when Gallaher needed a rest.

The coach of the 1905 team, Jimmy Duncan, also had experience as a back and forward. He was a five-eighths in New Zealand's first true international, against Australia in 1903, as he had been in the inter-colonial test against New South Wales in 1897. Between those appearances he was wing forward and captain of the New Zeaand side against New South Wales in 1901. One of the most famous back-forwards was Jim Parker, the Canterbury winj. forw- rd who displaced the captain, Cliff

Porter, from the “Invincibles” test team of 1924. Parker was tremendously fast — he had been an army sprint champion — and for the match against North Midlands at Birmingham he was placed on the wing. He responded by scoring five tries. A big Bay of Plenty man. Les McLean, was a second row forward against the Springboks in the second and third tests of 1921, anti reappeared as full-back for the All Blacks against New South Wales at Athletic Park in 1923. A New Zealander who played as a back and a forward in a series was Lc.J Hook, who filled in for an injured Cliff Porter at wing forward in the first test against the 1929 Australians. He was at

J. P. R. WILLIAMS: “You wouldn’t like me to play hooker, too, would you?” centre in the second test, 1 and on the wing in the third. One of the most prominent of overseas players to demonstrate his versatility against New Zealand teams was John Fault. A big, goal-kicking centre whose two penalty goals enabled Swansea to draw with the 1953-54 All Blacks, Faull toured New ■ Zealand in 1959 with the Lions, as a No. 8 forward.