All Blacks set to whitewash British Lions

Press, 16 July 1983, Page 64

All Blacks set to whitewash British Lions

From JOHN BROOKS, in Auckland

The All Blacks are in danger of being upstaged by Chris Lewis, Lorraine Downes and the Kiwi rugby league team if they fail to beat the British Lions in the fourth and final rugby test at Eden Park this afternoon.

But most of the signs point to Andy Dalton and his hardened men swelling the list of successful New Zealand competitors of the last week or two.

The All Blacks are poised to become only the second New Zealand rugby side to gain a clean sweep of a four-match home international series. The 1966 side, led by Brian Lochore, now an All Black selector, attained the 100 per cent record against a Lions team which included Willie John Mcßride and Jim Telfer, the manager and coach of the present touring party. Messrs Mcßride and Telfer have spoken often of the character and pride which permeates the Lions ranks, and they hope these qualities will propel the side to victory in the anticipated fine weather today. As students of rugby history, they are aware that the 1959 Lions, the 1978 Wallabies, and the 1979 French team, not to mention the English side in its sole test of 1973, all upset their All Black rivals of the time at Eden Park by scoring tries and winning spectacularly. Whether the current Lions back-line has the capacity to score more test tries is a moot point, but the two it gained in Dunedin must have done something for this beleaguered team’s confidence. It is also aware that by diligent defence it has restricted the All Blacks

to one try a test. The All Blacks, however, are not short on pride, either. Nine members of the side are in their late twenties or early thirties and some of them might be off the scene by the time the Tricolours tour New Zealand next winter. Judging by the type of rugby turned on by the team to farewell Graham Mourie on the same ground last September, Dalton and his men could be primed to produce yet another vintage display. They owe it to themselves. Evidently rugby followers are expecting a dazzling exhibition of rugby this afternoon, as the demand for seats has been frenzied. The Lions are 0-3 down in the series and have nothing to lose by throwing caution out the window, and the All Blacks have the incentive to show that Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser can do more than model All Black apparel on the wings. The New Zealand- camp is, however, not approaching the test as a footballing circus. The coach, Mr Bryce Rope, said yesterday that the New Zealand back-line would move the ball, but added two provisos — that the weather remained fine and forward control was attained. The All Blacks, he said, were not going to make the match into a picnic. His Lions counterpart, Mr Telfer, said his principal wish was that the British

side would enjoy the game. “I would like the players to realise we have put in a tremendous amount of work on this tour, so let’s all put it together in one game. Run out with confidence and have a real go.” Having come through the last three matches, against Hawke’s Bay, Counties and Waikato, with three wins, an accomplishment many rugby follows said would be beyond this team of limited ability, the Lions have at least restored their own confidence.

The big problem in previous encounters with the All Blacks has been the forwards’ release of the ball from scrums and the pedantic clearances by Roy Laidlaw and Ollie Campbell. With the same men engaged today, this is one facet of the Lions game which must improve dramatically, if the side is to have a chance.

The All Blacks have demonstrated that in such plays as wheeling the scrum and thrusting down the blindside they have the opposition at a disadvantage. Murray Mexted and Dave Loveridge have made capital out of these manoeuvres.

The Lions side has had an average of 14 points a match scored against it on this tour. It will be surprising if the All Blacks do not push that figure a little higher in winning this afternoon.