Interesting to observe just how unstructured the play was fifty years ago. Tackling mostly ok but no defensive alignment or coordination evident. Brilliant attacking individuals and strong runners(Fulton, Lowe, Goodwin) really stood out. Inside passes really opened the play up in a way we don’t see today. Beetson’s offloads in tackles a feature also. Thank you for posting.
We keep saying bring back International footy because of these memories. Maybe we need a format change like in cricket, look at the T20 world cup at the moment
They did. Still remember watching these games at the time as a fanatical 15-year-old. I could read the game in those days; I can’t read the modern game at all. Soon after this first Test match, a virtually full strength Aussie Test side amazingly lost 11-7 to a magnificent performance by an injury hit Saints team in one of the finest matches I ever saw live. We had players like Frank Taylor, Alan Gwilliam, John Wills and Graham Liptrot playing who were not first choices at this stage and Mel James broke his leg during the match . Frank Wilson scored the Saints try from a break by Billy Benyon who was absolutely tremendous that night. I was rarely allowed to go to night matches with school the next day but fortunately we all had a day off the next day for a royal wedding so I was allowed to go. I know which event of the two was a lot more important to me .
I grew up thinking the same. However going through my collection I find that it wasn't the offload that is always referred to, it was the hard tackles, taking the ball up into the meat of the opposition then his intuitive attack
This is much better to watch...rugby league today is just beefed up guys running into each other. Backs today are bigger than the forwards on show here.
I can imagine him,Bill Ashurst,Cliff Watson,Tommy Bishop,Brian Lockwood,Mike Stephenson and Mal Reilly in the side.The English would have won the Ashes.Also up and coming players like Gary Stephens, Steve Norton,Dave Topliss,Geoff Grayshon and George Fairbairn
