SOME SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 20

SOME SURPRISES.

THE CHOSEN PLAYERS. XEPIA'S NAME MISSING. As both the inter-island match and the piobables v. possibles fixture next Saturday arc expected to throw some light on the New Zealand team to be chosen to tour Britain. Auckland League followers will probably come to the conclusion that the North Island team has been chosen more with a view of giving certain ("avers an opportunit \ to prove themselves than as a suggestion that it is the best s-ide that could have been fielded to oppose the South.

I here aie a number of surprises and the biggest is that the name of George Ncpni, the well-known Maori full-back, is missing. It docs not appear that Nepia is In be considered as a New Zealand representative. Although now 34 years of age, the great Maori full-back has been placing in good form this season with 'a delence that has been ~,, objeet lesson to "!•'"'' players. ]{,- is the most experienced I'M.wr :li tin' game at. the moment. Hemi has been chosen at full-back for the Noith team. He played outstanding football «hen he toured Australia List season with the New Zealand team. He has shown good form this season in club matches. Four Three-quarter Plan. The .selection ~f the other hacks suggests a tour three-quarter airangement l)n the wings will be Nurse, of I'onson'ov and Mills, of Richmond, two young players with pace and scoring ability whose disability in dub games is that the ball does not reach them with frequency. Kay, of Ponsonby, has played well enough this season to warrant a centre berth and is a very speedy inside back, but the selection of Tittleton might be criticised on recent form, although need 0. defensive quality may have influenced selectors.

Solomon, as tho outstanding back in Auckland, could not be left out, and Walker, the Alount Albert player, deserves the half-back position on current form. There is general approval of the forward selection. Milliken. Mataira and Rirmui. all of the heavy yet mobile type, are generally regarded as certain of selection for the New Zealand team. Brooks, South Auckland, has been chosen as hooker, and Beadle, a 14-stone South Auckland forward, lias also been selected. The only player selected from outside the Auckland Province is Stanawav, the former Auckland forward, who is now at Wellington. He is a player of marked versatility and can play as a back if required. More Experiments. The selection of the probables and possibles teams is suggestive of further experiments and as another trial match is to be played before the national side is chosen, morfc players may get a try-out. Yet some familiar names and plavers are missing from the 39 players who comprise the selectors' first choice for next Saturday as far as the North Island is concerned. In this category are McLachlan, the Mount Albert full-back, whose consistency in club play has been remarkable; Peterson, the Ponsonby forward, who played for Papakura earlier in the season; Mitchell, the Taranaki hooker;. Pickrang, the outstanding forward of North Auckland, and Hapeta. the Shore hooker. South Island Team. There are some well-known names in the South Island side, which will be a heavy forward team, with a speedy set of backs. Tile forwards include Rex King, whose weight, is 14.7. King was one of the outstanding forwards of New Zealand before Ik; went to England in 1034 to join the Warrington' *')ul,>. He was selected to play .for England'against France. After several seasons, in England. King returned to New Zealand, aixl this year has been showing great form. His leadership is expected to help tho South side considerably. Orman, the West Coast hooker, originally came from Scotland, and has built up a big reputation in the South as the middle man of the front row. Glynn (West Coast) and Clarke (Canterbury) are both heavy forwards, who have previously played in Auckland.

Brown, the Canterbury half-back, is regarded as a player with strong claims for inclusion in the New Zealand team, and his play in Auckland will be watched with interest. The South three-quarter line will include two good players in Davidson and Campbell. The former is 14 stone in weight and is exceptionally fast, and is likely to appeal to the selectors as being of the right type to take on tour. Campbell, formerly of North Auckland, used to play for the Ponsonby Club in Auckland. Recently he was transferred to Christchurch. He is a very speedy wing.