Norling praises Shelford and XV

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 9

Norling praises Shelford and XV

NZPA staff correspondent The Welsh rugby referee, Mr Clive Norling, is full of praise for the New Zealand Combined Services team and their “superb captain” Wayne Shelford. Mr Norling, regarded by many as the world’s best referee, says the services team helped prove to him that British players are second best in skill, support work and fitness. Shelford’s side had an unbeaten record on an eight-match tour of Britain late last year.

Mr Norling says in a magazine column: “Of all the New Zealand teams I have refereed, none impressed me more than this services side. They had a superb captain in No 8 and All Black, Wayne Shelford. “Their style of play was direct, with a pack of forwards who hunt the ball together, a swift set of halfbacks and three-quarters who run straight and hard. “Having refereed the Australians last season, and now this outstanding New

Zealand team, I have to admit that we in the United Kingdom really are second best in terms of skill, support work and fitness.” Mr Norling said the Southern Hemisphere teams were “not obsessed, like British teams, with scrummaging and mauling. “They prefer to move the ball quickly away from the set piece and stay on their feet to support the ball carrier. This makes playing far more enjoyable, as well as far easier to referee.”