Unexpected test forecast

Press, 16 July 1983, Page 8

Unexpected test forecast

Staff reporter and PA Auckland The chairman of the antiapartheid group, HART, Mr John Minto, will go on air this morning on Radio Pacific with a prediction that the All Blacks will beat the Lions in the fourth rugby test at Eden Park. Mr Minto was a lowergrade rugby coach a few years ago before opposition to links with South Africa began to claim his attention. Some members and sympathisers of HART plan to march along streets round the park while the test is being played. It will be a protest against a proposed visit by some All Blacks to South Africa, to play in Western Province centenary matches at the end of this month.

But Mr Minto has told his supporters to leave their helmets at home, and bring their relatives and friends instead. HART has made an eleventh-hour appeal to the Government to stop the All Blacks expected to leave for South Africa on Sunday. HART also wants to stop a live telecast to South Africa of the test match. Mr Minto said yesterday that the telecast breached the spirit of Gleneagles and the international boycott of South Africa. A telegram would be sent to the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Templeton, asking the Government to cancel the telecast. A crowd in excess of 50,000 is expected at the test.