Sorry mate, says Lewis

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 40

Sorry mate, says Lewis

A poignant scene under the Carlaw Park grandstand after yesterday’s rugby league test when the New Zealand coach, Graham Lowe, and the Australian captain, Wally Lewis, were suddenly face-to-face during the round of after-match interviews.

Lewis, whose passing skills had largely enabled his team to escape with victory only a few minutes earlier, stopped and put an arm around Mr Lowe’s shoulders.

“Sorry, mate, that it had to happen to you — it could have happened to a lot of worse blokes than you,” said

More than a suspicion of redness was noticed round Mr Lowe’s eyes. No-one asked him if he had been crying, it just did not seem to be the thing to do.

Asked whether the Kiwis were despondent, Mr Lowe replied, “That’s an understatement.” Later, he said: “I can’t tell you what the felling is like in there — after all they are only human.”

How do you feel: “I don’t feel good anyway,” said Mr Lowe. “But they’ll (the Kiwis) be back. That was the most courageous effort

since I’ve been a coach.” Mr Lowe said he had decided to switch Kurt Sorensen from second-row to prop in midweek and was pleased with the results of his change with Owen Wright. He did not wish to comment on the referee, Mr Julian Rascagneres, of France, or Australia’s 9-3 penalty advantage. Both Mr Lowe and his Captain, Mark Graham, said the Kiwis were determined to reverse yesterday’s result in the third test, which is also the first World Cup qualifying encounter for both countries. The Australian coach,

Terry Fearnley, was “disappointed” with his team, and admitted he had virtually conceded defeat. “I felt it was in the balance until about five minutes to go if we could control the ball. But with three minutes left I thought we were shot birds. It proves you should never give up in football or ever consider you have a game won,” said Mr Fearnley. He praised Australia’s cover defence and said he expected another tough match on Sunday. “I doubt if New Zealand will surrender,” said Mr Fearnley.