FOUR NEW BACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 9

FOUR NEW BACKS.

RUGBY REP. TEAM. AUCKLAND AGAINST MAORIS. KILLEEN AS CAPTAIN. After the indifferent performance of the Auckland rearguard when Auckland lost the Ranfurly Shield to Canterbury at Eden Park on August 10, the sole selector, Mr. J. 11. M. Muir, has made practically a clean sweep of the backs who played that day and introduced fresh players into the team which will moot the Maoris at Eden Park on Saturday. The new team is: — Full-back: M. Turbott (Technical). Three-quarters: J. Dick (Grafton), A. Fletcher (Grammar), K. Moses (Ponsonby). Five-eighths: B. A. Killeen, captain (Grafton), E. Ncnl (Grafton). Half-back: W. Fraiikham (Ponsonby). Front row: G. Newdick (South Auckland), 11. Bond (Ponsonby), A. Brown (Grammar). Middle row: T. Lockington (Grammar), K. Weber (Technical), J. Butler (Marist), It. Anderson (Grafton). Back row: F. Solomon (Ponsonby). lieserves: T>. Curtayne (Marist), T. Bunting (Grafton), T. Fitzgibbon (Marist i.

Three players, R. G. Bush (University), A. Knight (Grammar, the Auckland captain), and S. Hadley (Marist), were not available through injury. Six new players will appear in the team to play the Maoris, but three of the men who played in the Ranfurly Shield match against Canterbury, Bush, Knight and Hadley, would certainly have found places had" they been available. Apart from B. A. Killeen, who was injured in the Auckland-Taranaki match and who was forced to stand down in • the Ranfurly Shield contest, there are four new players among the backs. Tin hott, the Technical College Old Boys' full-back, has played consistently we'll throughout the season. His linekicking, although not carrying the gr?at length of Bush, is accurate, and he tackles resolutely. J. Dick, who has been a utility man for Grafton during the season, wins a place on the wing for his undoubted all-round ability. He hae plenty of pace. A Minor Surprise. It is mildly surprising to find that K. Moses, the "fast Ponsonby centre, has not been played in his usual position in the representative team, for ho has been the real pivot of the Ponsonby back attack. A. Fletcher, a powerfully built player, who is spasmodically brilliant on attack, will fill the centre position, and if in form should link effectively with his wings. As a combination in club football, Killeen and Neal have worked up a fine understanding, and both are capable of shooting through the defence in brilliant fashion. Taken all round, tho Auckland backs, who should be well served by Frankham, should display plenty of penetration inside. Killeen is reputed to be a fine field captain, unafraid to change his tact ice as the occasion demands.

With Knight and Hadley not available, Xewdiek and Weber are the logical selections for the front and middle rows respectively. There is plenty of height for the line-outs, the scrum should be well-balancsd, and there is weight among tho forwards which should at least equal that of the Maoris. But it is hardly likely that the pace of the Auckland backs will be as great as that of their opponents.