N.S.W. PREPARING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1926, Page 12

N.S.W. PREPARING.

FOR N.Z. INVASION. ALL BLACKS' OPPONENTS. STRONG SIDE IN SIGHT. Advice has been received from an authoritative source in Sydney to the effect that since the beginning of the month the New South Wales Rugby Union has been quietly but effectively preparing for the formidable contingent of Maoriland invaders, -which is due to arrive there early in July. At the beginning of June, games between City and Country were started, and are continuing up to the 26th of the present month, when the final trials, New South Wales v. The Rest, and Third Fifteen v. Fourth Fifteen, will be played. After that, the light blue team will be selected, and will go into training quarters up to the day of the first Test, July 10. A warm reception is in store for the New Zealanders in another respect—the social side. Great preparations are being made for the entertainment of the team, and Sydney Rugby circles are all agog to see the members of the famous combination that has established the greatest record in the history of the Rugby game by going through an international tour without a single defeat.

The letter also states that football is very strong in Sydney this year. The attendances and gate takings to date have been the best for many years, and on the financial side the receipts are £200 better than for the corresponding period of last year. Players in the running for international honours against the All Blacks are as follow: Full-back, Ross or Nothling; three-quarters, Wallace, Bowers, Crossman, Reid, Morrisey, and Towers; five-eighth, the one and only Tommy Lawton; half, Meagher or Pratt; forwards, Ford, Thorn, London, Bryant, Gay, Fox, Woods, Blackwood, Windeyer, etc. Great interest will attach to the appearance for New South Wales of Dr. Wallace, the ex-N.S.W., Oxford, and Scottish international representative player, who is described as being at the top of his form. Most of those mentioned here were in New Zealand last year, and the backs in particular were a particularly brilliant combination, although their lustre was somewhat dimmed in bigger games by their forwards being outmatched. This season, it is reckoned that the forwards will average about 13.7, and although they will be conceding a big weight advantage to their massive opponents, they will to a large extent make up for it by speed and dash in the loose. "New South Wales is out tfc give the All Blacks the best go they have had yet," says the letter in conclusion.