LEAGUE TOURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 164, 13 July 1926, Page 15

LEAGUE TOURISTS.

THE TEAM FOR ENGLAND. CHOICE OF THE SELECTORS. It is said that some teams pick themselves, and that other teams "take quite a lot of picking. The New Zealand Rugby League team to tour England might be included in the latter category, and the selectors did not have an enviable task, for the reason that there was not a wealth of international talent in sight. and apart from a few players there was much of a muchness. There is no great element of surprise in the selection that has been made, although it was inevitable in the case of the forwards that there should be some good players left out. In a few words, the team may be summed up as good forwards, and only fair backs. Followers of the code will have no misgivings in regard to the play of the forwards while on tour, but the backs will need to improve considerably to hold their own with the best of the English League teams. In this respect they will fortunately be in the hands of a very capable coach in Mr. E. H. Mair, who has quite a way of his own in getting the best collective results out of a team. In the trial games the team work of the backs was relatively weak, and the play was practically all of an individual character. Even after due allowance is made for some of the players being unused to each other, it was still obvious that there was a wide margin left for improvement. On the other hand, the team is bound to develop combination while on tour, and thus considerable improvement may be expected. It is unfortunate, however, that the revised sailing date from New Zealand will mean that the New Zealanders will have but a few days clear in England before their programme will commence. With players of the calibre of Dufty and Gregory the team should be well served at fullback while on the tour. They differ in method, but both have all the necessary attributes for the position, and. moreover, can be played in other positions closer up to the forwards should the occasion arise. A Surprise Selection. The surprise selection in the threequarter line is Gardiner. The massive Ponsonby three-quarter made a late run in the trial games on Saturday, when his determined attacking work and a run of wonderful goal-kicking turned the scale in his favour. Close to the line, when on scoring bent, fhere is no man harder to stop in the code. The selection of L. Brown is a popular choice. He is possibly the fastest League player in the Dominion at the moment, and in Auckland club games he has certainly been the most brilliant scoring wing this seastjn. If the team play to Brown on tour, as is necessary to get the best results from him, he will probably add the Horder touch to many a scoring movement. Sandera and Parkes are experienced players, who did solid and heavy work, but they did not disclose any better standard than some of the others who were given a trial. The selection of B. Davidson as centrethreequarter was a foregone conclusion. as he has been the outstanding player in that position. Davidson has pace, handling ability and finesse, and is an ideal centre to cater for the men outside of him. Desmond, the young Wellington player, has been picked as the understudy. In the trials he revealed promise, and particular cleverness in attack. It is possible that with the experience he will get on the tour he may develop into a class back. The five-eighths play in the code has not been impressive, and the trials did not disclose a pair oi the class necessary to give the men behind them the chances that they should have had. Cole showed meteoric dash and was outstanding, while Kirwan and Webb played themselves into the team by consistent good work of a solo nature. The surprise selection is Brisbane, although there will be many glad that he has won a place. On the last tour in Australia Brisbane showed np as a Drilliant three-quarter, and in club matches this season he has given some fine displays. Of late his form has been patchy, but in fairness it might be said that he has been on the casualty list.

The selection of Wilson-Hall and Delgrosso as the half-backs will be admitted

as the best choice in the code. WilsonHall in the trial games revealed real class, while Delgrosso made good when shifted from 'wing three-quarter, where obviously he did not; have the necessary speed. Unlucky to Miss. In regard to the selection of the backs, it will be generally conceded that Littlewood has been unfortunate to miss the selectors' eye: In the trial games he blended fine pace with resolute defence, and would have been an invaluable man for the tour. Prentice. the Richmond colt, was also unforun ate to miss selection. He is one oi the most promising inside backt in Auckland, and his best as a player is still before him. The forwards cho-en will make a fast, clever and formidable spearhead, and should be capable of standing up to any opposing vanguard that they will meet. " Carroll, the ex-Rugby Union All Black, is the only hooking specialist that has been chosen, and evidently it is the intention to play one of the others —possibly Herring I —as the reserve hooker. Possession of the ball from the set scrums will be a very important matter on the tour, and thus the exclusion of Townsend. the City hooker, who did so well in the trial games, has caused general comment. Clarke and O'Brien (North Shore' and Hutt (Ponsonby) are three good forwards unlucky to miss selection, but in regard to forwards it must be admitted that the selectors' greatest difficulty was to decide who to leave out. Up to Saturday there was a doubt in regard to Devine's selection. Through no fault of his own he has not been able to jret much practice this season, but although obviously much overweight, he fairly 'and squarely won his place by his display last Saturday. At the moment the team's itinerary is unknown at this end. although it has been indicated that the programme will include matches against all the leadinar English League clubs, a number of international fixtures and possibly several games in France. To Play Two Matches. The decision to stage two games in the Dominion, in which the New Zealand team will take part, before sailing for England, will make pleasant reading to followers of the code. All are anxious to see the elite of League in action, and if the New Zealand Leajjue did the right thing the expenditure of less than £20 may prove good business. The men for England have been chosen. and apparently they can now have a holiday until the date of sailing, but, seeing that they are to play two matches, one in Auckland on Saturday -week and another in Wellington on August 4. it would be a good move to get some of the players together and put them under their coach for a week. We may take it that at the most half a dozen South Island men will be in the team to play Auckland, and ::' the New Zealand League allowed them 10/ a day for a week it would only run into a few pounds. Unless this is done the men from the south will arrive a day before the game, and know absolutely nothing of the style of play of their associates.