WARATAHS HERE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 9

WARATAHS HERE

FAST, YOUNG SIDE. FULL OF CONFIDENCE. BLEDISLOE CUP AT STAKE. «GREATEST TEAM EVER." Described by Australian critics as the greatest team ever to leave Australian shores, the 193 C Waratah Rugby tourists arrived in Auckland by the Aorangi from Sydney this morning to start a tour of New Zealand. Tliey pi a 3' one match only in Auckland—against the Auckland representatives at Eden Park on Saturday. With backs of remarkable pace and a forward pack that averages 14 stone, the Australians are full of confidence that they will retain the Bledisloe Cup, emblem of Rugby supremacy "between Australia and New Zealand. "We have the cup with us, but its return berth has been booked," remarked Mr. Gordon Sliaw, manager of the team, with a simile. Mr. Shaw was manager of the famous 1927-28 Waratalis on their tour of England. "1 believe that the present team is up to the standard of that great side," continued Mr. Shaw. ■"There is a shrewd blending of youth and experience, and all the players are fighting fit. I believe that they will •delight the New Zealand public with their open style of play. They will all •"be on their toes, for they are anxious to win places in the Australian team against the Springboks next year, and much will depend on their performances during this tour. We are determined to leave New Zealand with the name of a great band of sportsmen both on and off the field." Mr. Shaw revealed himself as confident of success as the members of the team -themselves. He mentioned Kelaher j (New South Wales) and McLean I (Queensland) as star three-quarters and | he believed that there were some Tommy Lawtons in the making. The team -would do its best to play attractive football, Forwards Average 14st lib. For the first time a Queenslander, E. S. Hayes, a centre three-quarter, is captain of an Australian team in New Zealand. The vice-captain is R. J. Walden, a New South Wales forward. The team is" made up of four Queenslanders, three "Victorians and 18 New. South Welshmen. The average age of the team is 22 years, the average weight of the pack 14st lib and the average weight of the team 12st 111b. Four of the Australians have played on New Zealand fields before. J. D. Hammon, a Victorian five-eighth, formerly played in Auckland and was one 01 the wing-tliree-quarters of the 1934 Auckland side which brought the Ranfurly Shield back from Hawke's Bay. The other three, W. H. Cerutti, E. T. Bonis and O. L. Bridle, were three forwards of the 1931 Australians, captained by S. J. Malcolm. When the Aorangi berthed at Prince's wharf this mor/aing the team was welcomed by Mr. R. J..Smith, president of the New Zealand Rug>by Union, and later by Colonel R. J. Roche, who will accompany the team on the tour of the North Island as friend and adviser, Mr. Arthur Baker, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, and other officials. The Team Personnel. Members of the team are (players art from New South Wales unless othervise stated): — Full-back.—K. P. Storey. Wing Three-quarters.—A. D. McLean (Queensland), J. D. Kelaher, R. W. Dorr (Victoria). Centre Three-quarters.—W. McLaughlin, E. S. Hayes (Queensland), R. Rainkin, B. C. Egan. Five-eighths.—-L. S. Lewis (Queensland), J. D. Hammon (Victoria). Halves. —E. Gibbons, V. S. Richards. Forwards. —O. L. Bridle (Victoria), A. J. Hodgson, K. S. Windon, R. L. Kelly, T. P. PauKng, W. G. White, K. M. Ramsay, F. E. Hutchinson, H. Malone, R. •J. Walden, W. H. Cerutti, A. H. Stone, E. T. Bonis (Queensland). Two Test Matches. The itinerary for the tour is:— August 22 (Saturday).—v. Auckland. August 26 (Wednesday).—v. Wanganui. August 29 (Saturday).—v. Hawke's Bay. 1 September 2 (Wednesday).—v. Wairarapa. September 5 (Saturday).—v. New Zealand, at Wellington (Bledisloe Cup). September 9 (Wednesday).—v. North Otago. September 12 (Saturday).—-v. New Zealand, at Dunedin (Bledisloe Cup). iSeptember 16 (Wednesday).—v. Southland." (September 19 (Saturday).—-v. Canterbury. September 23 (Wednesday).—v. New Zealand Maoris, at Palmerston Nort2i. While the team is in Auckland the members will stay at the Royal Hotel.