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Australia, League 'losers'

Australia, like a morgue because of injuries to key players for this international series. From ALAN CLARKSON BRISBANE, Sunday. The Australian Rugby League team which assembled in their dressing room after today's crushing 36-8 win over New. Zealand resembled losers rather than runaway winners. Normally, after an important win, an Australian dressing room has a Mardi Gras atmosphere but today it was • Major worries are over captain - coach Graeme Langlands, vice - captain Ron Coote and winger Chris Anderson. In addition, prop - forward David. Wright was ' replaced half - time, off in the first and winger Terry Fabey, went five-eighth Tim Pickup left the field with concussion 12 minutes from the end. The Australians, under fire and labelled a secondrate Test side, certainly came good with a vengeance, but no great significance should 'be placed on their chances in the series. For the New Zealand team is probably one of the worst international sides to play here and would be beaten by any Sydney first-grade team, Eight minutes from the end, play erupted into a brawl, which was quickly settled by French referee Francis Escande. He was a cool, competent figure and although he cannot speak English, his typical Gallic gestures were clearly understood by a disappointingly small Lang Park crowd of 12,000. M. Escande, the game, was outstanding. Cavalier Dorahy Langlands, desperate prove he was still the fullback in. Australia, scored two tries in superb opening that Australia in command after only 21 minutes. As he went over for second try, however, was kneed in the back later was dazed by a heavy tackle which left him blurred vision. And with reserves Sait and Ray Branighan called on, Langlands to continue. in agony the back injury but wait a day before deciding if he needs an X-ray. League Six injured in rout of Kiwis heavy with ENGLAND STORM IN 40-2 Paul Fahey tore hip muscles New Zealand offered only run he made token resistance. in the game and Wright Their tackling had the pulled a hamstring muscle strength of a spider web, early on but stayed until while their work in attack half-time. was clumsy and featured Coote was in pain from an obsession to turn the a recurrence groin ball back inside in good injury that troubled him attacking positions. for much of last year. Their main "attributes" to Anderson injured his seemed to head-high best shoulder early on and was tackles and kneeing oppoin severe pain from a nents on the ground. a back injury suffered in the Half-back Ken Stirling, put last tackle of the game. who scored a runaway One can guess 60-metre try, and secondhis been if Australia had not 80-minute toiler, were the what the score would have rower Ray Baxendale, an he been so disorganised by only Kiwis worthy of menand injury. tion. PERTH, Sunday. England stormed to a 40- 2 Rugby League win over Western Australia here today in its first lead-up match to the international series. The result confirmed coach Alex Murphy's prediction that his side will be hard to beat. England raced to a 27- 0 lead in the first half Points table in the Rugby League international series: AUSTRALIA ....... ENGLAND FRANCE WALES ... NEW ZEALAND The Kiwis have two top wingers in Phil Orchard and Mocky Brereton but they rarely saw the ball. Australia will certainly make changes for the next series game against France in two weeks' time. A place will be found for Paul Sait after his outstanding second-half showing when he repeatedly split the defence, set up tries and tackled strongly. Randall did exceptionally well at prop-forward, six goals from. eight attempts. England travel to Queensland for their next match, against Toowoomba on June 7, then clash with Wales in Brisbane on June 10. ENGLAND 02 40. (Atkinson Fielding Dyl 2 Waish Gill MIlIward tries; Fairbairn 6. goals, Nash held goal) WESTERN AUS. TRALIA 2 (Gush goal). Crowd: 5,000. W F Pts 36 00 HH-00 20 16 00 36 14 N 27 worked strongly in defence, scored the first try and set up another for Lou Platz. Platz, relishing the looseness of the was a second - was prominent figure. as a rarely sighted when he switched to prop in the second half. Half-back Ross Strudwick was disappointing and the call will probably go out for Tommy Raudonikis. Centre Mick Cronin, toying with the idea of coming to• Sydney next season, scored 18 points from two tries and six goals and showed a lot of polish. John Lang, at hooker, was beaten only 14-13 in the scrums - a strong recommendation for his ability, considering his change of prop-forward partners. AUSTRALIA 36 (Cronin 2 Langlands Fulton Branigham Randall Cronin 6 goals). NEW ZEALAND 8 Collicoat (Stirling Whittaker tries: goal). Crowd: 12,000. and finally finished with nine tries. Captain and five Roger Millward weaved through the defence in the first half to set up three tries. Wingers John Atkinson Keith Fielding and centre Les Dyl headed the try-scoring tries each, while full- back George Fairbairn kicked

Article from 02 Jun 1975The Sydney Morning Herald(Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)

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