TO MEET BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 171, 21 July 1924, Page 8

TO MEET BRITAIN.

AT CARLAW PARK ON SATURDAY. t . [ AUCKLAND TEAMS SELECTED. In waiting till .Saturday last to select the Auckland representative team to oppose the Englishmen at Carlaw Park this weekend it cannot be said the selectors. Messrs. McDonald, Asher, and Fox got busy early when it is recognised that the visitors have just concluded a most triumphal tour through Australia. The time at the disposal of the local combination to get together and indulge in solid practice is rather brief, particularly as the men chosen have not been associated together in the positions which they will fill on Satcrday. At first blush the side is a good one, but, as was expected, the selectors have experimented with the backs, and the placing of the rearguard is not likely to witli unanimous approval, and, no doubt, there will be plenty of followers of the game who will contend that the forwards could be improved. With Dufty moved up to the five-eighths line, it was only to be expected that the position of full-back would ho. given to Gregory. A good kick, the possessor of a fine pair of hands, he has been responsible for some taking performances this seasoii. If he is weak at all it is in tackling, and he will get plenty of that to do on Saturday. Had CVewthcr been chosen for the position no surprise would have been occasioned, and it is difficult to see how the selectors came , to leave him out of even the reserves. On the season's form he is certainly entitled to be preferred to Delgrosso. Leaving the full-back and reviewing the three-quarter line, we have something new. and it is evident that prior to the game the euptain will have'to indulge in a little heart-to-heart talk with the players. Wetherall (rentre three-quarter) ana Dufty ffive-eighths) are inclined to be too selfish, and show a desire to essay too much on their own. Not only is this not good football, but it is unfair to the other backs, Davidson, Brisbane and Laing, all of whom can be relied upon to carry on the good work if given the chance. The three-quarter line is something new, and it will be interesting to await the result. Poison has been selected to work behind the scrums, and perhaps be is the best man in the position, although mary woulc have preferred J. Lang. Poison revels in the hard stuff, but Lang is not afraid of it cither. However, both could not be in the team, and it is Land's misfortune. The forwards are a good hefty lot, but they have not been selected on the best form shown during the season, because : McDonald, who is only a reserve, should. I have been the first man chosen, and to ' select A very in preference to him could only have baen brought about by reputation. Then again, Bass has not been showing representative form in the forwards, and perhaps he has been I given a place because he is versatile, and can play in any position. However, I that should not play any part, because i emergency backs have been chosen in the reserves. It is unlikely that the pack selected will meet with unanimous approval, but they may be the best after all, and if they fail on Saturday, there are plenty of others at the disposal of the selectors when considering a team to meet the Englishmen in the second and third games. The team is as follows:— Fullback: Gregory (M.0.8.) Three-quarters: B. Davidson (City), Wethcrall (City), Brisbane (M.0.8.) Five-eighths: Dufty (Athletics), B. Laing (Devonport). Half: Poison (Newton). Forwards: W. Stormont' (M.0.8.), TownsCnd (City/, Herring (Athletic), Gardiner (M.6.8.), Avery (Athletics), Bass "(City). Reserves. — Forwards: McDonald (City), Douglas (Devonport), Somere (Newton). Backs: Delgrosso (Bom sonby), Brown (City), Lang (M.0.8.). All players must attend at League Rooms this evening at 7.30 p.m. The South Auckland Team. The Englishmen arrive at Aucklana to-morrow from Sydney, and will open the New Zealand tour at Hamilton on Wednesday with the match against South Aucklnnd. The latter are the holders of the Northern Union Cup, which is sufficient evidence that the men in the Waikato can Dlav the League code to some purpose. There are some very fine players in and around Hamilton, and the team to meet the tourists is the strongest availaole, and should make a good stand against the strong opposition. The South Auckland team. is as follows: — Full-back: S. Raynor. Three-quarters: B. Johnson, J. Hemmin<rway. B. Paki. Five-eighths: S. Jackson, J. McGerty. Half: A. Cains. Forwards: L. Hupp. R. Stevenson, .T. Dufty, P. Miki, A. Payne, T. Wilsou. Emergencies: G. Raynor, W. C.rogan, SI. Allon, J. Duncan.