RUGBY TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 8

RUGBY TOUR

FINAL MATCH TO-DAY INJURIES ALTER TEAM CANTERBURY LOSES ARGUS Special Reporter CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 5. Otago will play the final match of its northern tour to-morrow when it meets Canterbury at Lancaster Park. Although the side is not at full shield strength, it in*eludes nine of those who have played in Ranfurly Shield games this year in Orr, Moore, Tanner, Colquhoun, Mclndoe, Johnstone, McNab, Harvey and O’Connor, and as indications are for fine weather and a dry ground, an attractive game should be witnessed. Although there have been , a number of minor injuries, the Otago team has stood up to its strenuous programme remarkably well and the players generally appear fit and keen, so that to-morrow’s game should serve as an excellent prelude to the return Shield game against Southland. Orr’s shoulder injury has made a good recovery, although it is still a little sore after some strenuous games in the north, where he created a very favourable impression. J. Harvey has had a heavy season, this solid country forward playing in all seven games" to date, while Lynch has played in every game of the tour. Lynch, the youngest member of the team, has been one of the successes of the tour and his inclusion against Canterbury has been well earned. He benefited from the experience of D. Murdoch inside him and, according to northern reports, Murdoch showed a return to his best form, playing sound and constructive football. In view of the Southland match, however, and as Colquhoun is now fit and well, the latter will replace Murdoch to-mor-row, this being Colquhoun’s first appearance since the North Auckland game in which he was injured. Various Injuries Wallace has proved an excellent substitute for A. Foster as hooker, and the match against Canterbury will mark his twenty-third appearance for Otago. Armitage has an injured knee, but is well enough to play. He has improved during the tour and is one of the hardest working members of the pack. In the north Johnstone played outstanding football and was one of the most impressive forwards on the Otago side. F. W. McPherson has a poisoned arm, and K. Skinner has returned home, so that R. D. Cody was brought from Dunedin to be reserve forward, together with C. Todd. Among the spectators at tomorrow’s game will be Lynch’s grandfather, Mr T. W. Lynch, who represented Otago and the South Island against Stoddart’s English team in 1888. The Canterbury team has also been depleted by injury, and among those not playing is W. G. Argus, the All Black and Kiwi wing three-quarter, who received a kick in the eye in the Wellington match recently. It is improbable that he will play again this year. Otago’s Chances Favoured Indications are for a well-contested game to-morrow, although Otago’s chances will be favoured if the forwards reproduce the form they have shown in most of the games this season. In all the matches of, the tour the Otago forwards have excelled in the line-out play, scrums and rucks, and this should be a feature' of their gslme to-morrow. « The team finally announced to represent Otago to-morrow is:— Full-back, R. W. Orr; three-quar-ters—G. J. Moore, J. M. Tanner, M. McKercher; five-eighths, T. Lynch (second), I. A. Colquhoun (first); half-back, A. L. Mclndoe; front row—P. Johnstone, T. Wallace, D. Armitage; middle row—J. McNab, L. Harvey, L. Aitken, A. E. Hellyer; back row, K. J. O’Connor. The Canterbury team is:—Full-back, T. Jackson;, fhree-quarters—A. Cochrane, R. Clarke, J. W. Kelly; fiveeighths, J. Roach, P. B. Kearney; halfback, L. Savage; front row—J. Couling, G. Gordon, G. Bond; middle row —C. Hardie, B. Chandler, R. H. Duff, F. G. Hobbs; back row, R. Stuart.