THE AFRICAN SIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 9

THE AFRICAN SIDE.

Players Who May Be In First Test. UfKOUIfCEMENT NEXT WEEK. • V 'i (Special to Press Association.) (Received 11 a.m.) MARITZBURG, June 22. For the past week sixty-two players frm all ovef South Africa have been mpfad in trial games at Durban, and to4ay the final trial will be played. The Springbok side will probably be announced in the middle of next week. The full-bad; position is very open •ad will probably be decided after the Natal-New Zealand match to-morrow. Tiadall is the public fancy at present. Usfortunately several of the Union's tat players have been injured in the trial Batches. Two outstanding wings, Vat Niecerk and J. J. Pienaar have been httrt. It appears as if Prinsloo and Slater will be the wingers. Both are fait, tricky players. The centre position is very doubtful for tha moment. Duffy, a fine allrounder, was injured yesterday. Alberts a player of considerable experience, Will probably fill the position. The fly kail will undoubtedly be Bennie Osier, or Stanley Osier. Devine, on his great play in the Transvaal matches, must be serum half. Tfare is hardly likely to be any slteration in the following pack:—Van Dniten, Kruger, Mostert, Pretorius, Van Wyk, Dntoit, Oliver and Dancel. African Win Predicted.

Moat papers in the country agree that the Springbok side will be exceptionally itrong in the forwards, but the backs will not be as good a 9 expected. Several papers have published articles saying the Springboks will win the first Test. Mr. F. M. Howard, in an article in the "Band Daily Mail," says the All Blocks, after seven matches, are not up to expectations, falling short of the famous 1924 side. He says the Springboke will win next Saturday's Test. There is not the slightest doubt that the All Blacks will have to play much better football than they have done so far. Although the backs have played Mme brilliant football, they would not get away with it against a South Afri-nu •ide. It is recognised that, as in most big Bugby battles, the Test match will be chiefly a fierce forward combat. Mostert and Kruger of the probable T«»t side are the only players who toured New Zealand with the 1921 Springboks.