"Chairman's Welcome . . ."
"Today's visit of New South Wales to Rodney Parade, Newport is particularly pleasing as it gives me the chance to reflect on my first and only encounter with the visitors from Australia."
"My first meeting was against New South Wales at the Sydney sports ground on Saturday, 21st May 1966. I was representing the 1966 British Lions on their tour that year of the Antipodes; this was the first real challenge of the tour of Australia after our visit to Perth, Adelaide and Victoria."
"New South Wales has traditionally been a hard nut to crack for touring sides down through the years. Springboks, All Blacks, Lions, Fijians, Pumas and New Zealand Maoris have all, in their time, buckled before the WARATAH challenge."
"Their first appearance, therefore, in Newport and Wales is, and has been, awaited with considerable enthusiasm. Tonight's team is sprinkled with some of the most successful players in Australia's history and none come with bigger reputations than David Campese, Tim Gavin, Willie Ofahengaue, Matthew Burke, to name but four, whose performances on the world stage are testament to that fact."
"The maturity which the state players in New South Wales have developed and the teamwork they have built up over the years have been major factors in the success Australian Rugby down through the years has achieved."
"Tonight's match gives our players at Newport an insight to big-time rugby and a fine incentive to go on to higher things. It should also provide Newport's supporters an answer as to how close our team is to providing worthy opposition to New South Wales or, indeed, how much more we need to continue our progress to oppose the best."
"It is particularly pleasing for me to welcome New South Wales, both its players and its management, and I do so with warm sincerity."
"I sincerley hope you all enjoy yourselves on this visit to Newport and Wales, as much as I enjoyed my visit to Sydney in 1966. My visit with the Lions of '66 ended in a drawn game, albeit in the last minute by a Mike Weston penalty goal against, I may add, some mighty opposition, and I'm sure most, if not all, will forgive me for delving into the past if I was to mention some of the opposition that day."
"They were players, I'm sure, well remembered as being players who represented New South Wales and Australia in World Rugby... Pat Ryan full back, John Bass and Beres Ellwood centres, Greg Davis a marvellous flanker, Peter Johnson hooker and John Thanett a wonderful ambassador of rugby worldwide at prop - and two geniuses at half back, the late Phil Hawthorne and his playing partner Ken Catchpole."
"I hope this game lives up to its billing, and it goes without saying how much the Newport Club, Committee and its supporters welcome New South Wales and its challenge at Rodney Parade tonight."
"Sincerley yours,"
"DAVID WATKINS, M.B.E."
"Chairman, Newport R. F. C."
"Tonight's Guest Writer . . ."
"BRIAN PRICE"
"What a cultural shock! Can you imagine a group of young men leaving behind the world famous beaches of Bondi and Manley to visit the likes of Newcastle and Newport ... in January?"
"It proves how much these particular young men love the game of rugby. In New South Wales they not only have the golden beaches to distract them but also the richest Rugby League clubs in the world. To withstand that sort of pressure you have to be something special."
"During the times I played against Australia I was very fortunate to have played against many of the famous New South Wales players. One of them was Ken Catchpole, who played in the 1967 Australian side which beat Wales at Cardiff. It may seem strange to talk about a scrum half affecting line-out play but I have always attributed to Ken the fact that players started tapping back from the line-out."
"During that particular tour Australia were finding it difficult to win good line-out ball, so Ken decided he would stand on the 5 metre line facing in field, and tell his forwards to hit or tap the ball down anywhere along the line of touch. When they did this he ran up the line of forwards, caught it and passed all in one movement. It was very effective for Australia, but many players since have abused the tactic."
"On my two visits to Australia as a player I played once against New South Wales - that was for the Lions in Sydney in 1966. During that time playing against the state was like playing an extra test match, as there were as many as 12 of them in the Australian side."
"That particular Lions side had a record breaking Australian section of the tour. In fact we did not lose a match, including two tests. It was only New South Wales who stopped us from having a 100% record; they forced a draw with us in a match of outstanding quality."
"The day after that match we were treated to a rugby fun day, "Aussi" style. This consisted of being taken to Manley Beach in a twin-masted schooner, barbecuing the biggest, juiciest steaks you could imagine and taking part in various games. The only one I can mention here was a very serious tug-of-war. The Lions did not win many of the games, but we did drink our share of Fosters and the Welsh contingent ended the day in fine voice."
"I always thought I had a close connection with New South Wales. I was under the impression that my grandfather was born in the Rush Cutters Bay area of Sydney. During each of my visits there in 1966,'69 and in 1987 I even paid homage by visiting the area. Imagine my surprise and embarrassment to find out only last year he was actually born in Sago Hill, Victoria, hundreds of miles away!"
"I intend to put that right this year when I lead a party of supporters to Australia for the Welsh rugby Tour in June. By the way, if any of you want to see what delights our guests of tonight are giving up to come to Wales, contact me on 01291 420672 for the details."
"Despite the game going professional, plus the introduction of new League and Cup competitions, there must still be room for such worthwhile fixtures as this one tonight. I am looking forward to the expertise I am sure our visitors will display and, of course, the traditional play from Newport which is well known everywhere in the world where rugby is played."
"Super Ten . . ."
"by ALUN CARTER"
"From 1986 to 1992 the South Pacific Championship was contested between Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Queensland, New South Wales (N.S.W.) and Fiji. This was the forerunner of the Super Ten series which developed in 1993 when three South African provinces joined the other teams together with a fourth New Zealand province."
"The teams are divided into two pools of five. The winner of each match gets 4 points, 2 points are awarded for a draw, 1 point for a loss by 7 or less points and 0 points for a loss of 8 or more points. They play four matches, two home and two away, and the winners of each pool then play each other in the final. Transvaal have now won the competition twice, in 1993 and 1995, Queensland won it in 1994. The series is played in early season when the grounds are firm and the weather dry and sunny. These conditions produce a fast and fierce game of rugby where points scoring generally is high, together with the entertainment value."
"Our visitors this evening were unlucky not to qualify for last year's final, finishing second in Pool A behind Transvaal. In a crucial opening round match played away to the South African province, N.S.W. went down 21-18. They won both games at home to Otago 31-16 and Western Province 23-21. They drew 6-6 away to North Harbour."
"N.S.W. provide many internationals for their national team together with their great rivals Queensland. Amongst others some of the internationals in their squad are Matt Burke (full-back), Richard Tombs (outside centre), David Knox (outside half), Phil Kearns (hooker), Warwick Waugh (second row), Mike Harthill (prop), Tony Daly (prop), Michael Brial (loose forward), Willie Ofahengaue (loose forward) and Tim Gavin (No. 8), the latter being the current captain of the N.S.W. squad."
"N.S.W. provide a great challenge to the current Newport squad who contain a good mixture of not so young and younger players. Some awe inspiring performances this season have been matched by complacency; tonight's match gives an opportunity to our players to pitch themselves against the best in Australia. It will be a marvellous experience and with the right attitude they will do well."
"In finishing, I would like to welcome N.S.W. to Newport and to the county of Gwent. A tradition of strong, forward play has evolved over recent years linked to the culture of the Eastern and Western Valleys. With contracts now being structured and professionalism taking hold of rugby union it is refreshing to know that there is still one player willing 'to dare' and play rugby to enjoy it to the full. The risks Campese takes, although sometimes measured and sometimes producing catastrophic results, allows for a freedom of expression, the essence of which must be maintained in the professional game."