Wales faces ‘tough tour’

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 36

Wales faces ‘tough tour’

By

PETER HALLWRIGHT,

of NZPA, in London Wales, without loose forwards to match the very strong All Black combination, faces a tough tour of New Zealand this I winter, David Kirk says. ' « "New: Zealand rugby' is strong and Wales will find their tour arduous,” the All Black captain wrote in “The Times.”; [ Although the five-nations tournament displayed fine loose forwards, there was not one trio who combined to dominate the matches they played. "That is the real strength in the New Zealand game,” he said. I However, Kirk said, if the Welsh could match New Zealand in the tight, he saw no reason why their backs should not ; "continue : to prosper,” ) "I could not envisage a result such as occurred when last the two sides met — 49-6

I ' ' '1 ■ [ i I i : I to New Zealand in) Brisbane last June;" he said.; [ In England on ,a[ Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, Kirk was giving an outsider’s view) on lithe five nations championship which ended on Saturday.) | Wales, chasing j a grand slam victory; went (town to France 9-10 [at CardjffiArms Park and had to share the championship with their visitors. I .■ 1 1 I England, snapped [into [life by a nasty injury to halfback and skipper) Nigel Melville, ran in six second half [tries beating Ireland 35-3.1 It 1 [was England’s biggest win [over Ireland and [the team! scored as many tries as it had in the last four' seasons. 11l Kirk said I both Wales and England (which tours Australia in May) could; embark on their southern hernisphere visits “with confidence;”) I| "England seem to have| improved with every match and, with Australia in transition,

they shpuld fancy themselves to win the series," Kirk said. Kirk [rated the Welsh pack highly, | saying that without the size [of the English or the ability |of the French; they . had "played better: than them all; ■ stumbling only at the ' la ? t -’’ j '' ) i ! | Blit 1 [the I championship would be best remembered for adyenturous and [ daring back play ; that produced superb [tries. , ' .) • I ‘‘Wales, of course, provided much [but France, [(against Ireland), Scotland (against [Wales and France) and England (against Ireland)'all contributed,"j he said.' Ji |I; ■ 1' 1 I I : 1 I . However, ; Kirk said some of the matches he saw contained too many handling errors, missed; tackles andjinaccurate kicks. | . qTjhi:>''sortl of mistake relieves pressure and provides unexpected bonuses/’ he wrote. “That will not happen in! New Zealand.” ■ I