Williams to lead Auckland

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 24

Williams to lead Auckland

Dennis Williams, once the “golden boy” of New Zealand rugby league and still only 27 years of age, will return to first-class football as Auckland’s captain against South Island at Auckland on MavlO. A brilliant youngster who made his test debut at the age of 18 years one day in Britain in 1971, Williams went on to appear in a record 29 tests in succession over the next seven years. But he has played only one test since 1978 and was not available for, the Kiwi tour to Britain and France late last year. Williams has also often placed business and

personal commitments ahead of Auckland representation, while remaining fully loyal only to the national Maori side. It is a moot point that’ Williams should return to the Auckland back-line now that Tom Newton, the long-serv-ing New Zealand Maoris mentor, has been appointed sole- selector-coach of the f provincial squad. It was Wiliams and Newton who schemed the tactics which enabled the Maoris to draw, 10-10, with Australia last winter. The inclusion of Williams should be adequate compen-

sation to Auckland for the loss of the present test standoff half, Fred Ah Kupi, who has transferred to North Sydney. Another notable comeback to the Auckland squad is that of the former Kiwi prop, Lyndsay Proctor, who played the last of his 13 tests on the 1978 tour to Papua New Guinea and Australia. Auckland has a potentially powerful line-up in its bid to win the national inter-dis-tricts competition for the first time. It could field a full Kiwi back-line, comprising Nick Wright, Gary Kemble, k Dane O’Hara, James

Leuluai, Steve McGregor, Williams and Shane Varley. Proctor is one of four forwards with international experience. The others are the versatile Gary Prohm, who was used as a wing in four tests overseas last year, lan Bell, and the 1975 world championship hooker, Les Beehre. Auckland’s strength, though, again appears to lie with its backs. The Auckland squad to meet South Island is:— N. Wright, G. E. Kemble, A. J. Leuluai. S. McGregor, D. B. O'Hara, D. A. Williams (captain), R.’ O'Regan, M. Pouesi. S. Varley. L. J. Proctor, L. J. Beehre, B. Jolley, M. Gillespie, I. Bell, O. Wright, G. J. Prohm, P. Poasa. .