Southland Comes North

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 209, 5 September 1939, Page 13

Southland Comes North

Rugby Champions Expected To Make History By Beating Auckland On Its Own Ground For First Time.

The all-conquering Southland Rugby representatives, holders of the Raafurly Shield, will appear at Edeu Park next Saturday. Alter its varied form this sea•son the local side is not expected to hold the visitors. Southland is justly proud or its team, which seems likely to win a place in national' Rugby annals as one of the greatest of provincial combinations.

Auckland had their first warning of the Southland menace from the touring Otago side a fortnight ago. "They're 15 to 20 points better than we are," said one prominent Otago back. Recently, too, it has been rumoured that the All Black sole selector, Mr. E. McKenzie, had commented that Southland were the best provincial tide he had seen in 20 years. If Mr. McKenzie did say that. Auckland, who know his experience, hail better seek methods of galvanising attack and stiffening defence. Present prospects of avoiding defeat seem remote.

Southland's particular interest in the pending clash with Auckland is that the southern union hae never beaten Auckland 011 an Auckland ground.

Though advance reports may have been exaggerated, it seems certain that the team on tour this year is one of the most formidable sent to Auckland in recent years by any province. On its own ground this season it has won with ease, though at Christchurch last Saturday the winning margin was only two points.

Southland critics have stated openly that, judged on its performances in resisting three Ranfnrlv Shield challenges this season, the wearers of the maroon jerseys sent on tour should have no difficulty in creating a record. Southland teams have not in the past put up good performances in the Xorth. Often a difficulty has been that the strongest teams have not been available. This time, however, Auckland can bank no hopes on that possibility. All the crack players selected are 011 their way and sufficient strong reinforcements have been added to ensure the closing of gaps left by injury.

Individually, no really serious accusations can be made against the Auckland side which will meet Southland at Eden Park. Xo member of the first fifteen has played really badly—though admittedly few have been consistently good—but collectively the team lacks something. It is difficult to detect just where the defect lies, but the record this season—three wins, three losses, two draws—is not exactly inspiring.

In some games the fault has lain in the lack of fire shown by the pack; in others the backline's defenec has been to blame. The general weakness, however, is sheer lack of penetrative sting, with backs .and forwards failing to combine in the rushes.

Main Southland menace is an outstanding hack lino. The inside back combination of ('. K. Saxton and M. P. Orace is a deadly one. Saxton is the half-back who created a sensation on last year's Australian tour. At first five- eighth he is just as menacing. Orace. similarly gifted with penetrative skill, is an extremely wily tactician.

More than that, however. Southland boasts a three-<fuarter line of speed and peneitration. The star is A. W. Wesney, who pla.ve centre, and can fill the fullback place with equal facility. Wesney rivals X. A. Mitchell as a maker of openings. Then there is A. G. Sutherland, young, fast and heavy, who fought a great duel with Cartwright. the Canterburyman. last Saturday. Southland has long been an exponent of the extra-hack game, with the. blind-side winger coming in at first five-eighth to give an overlap. Auckland will need to watch this. The other wingers are E. Calvert and R. G. Maliony, both of whom are dangerous runners.

Nearly all the Southland backs are capable of playing in several different positions; therefore they find r-> difficulty in scissoring and changing position. Part of their policy is to bring the full-back into their movements.

The pack is similarly strong—so strong that it has found little difficulty in tying up opposing forwards so for. The leader is V. L. George, a big, fast, heavy man. Others who have shone, in a great pack are S. Purdue, W. Sherriff and C. Soper. Though the Southland forwards have not won such individual fame as their backs, they have won a reputation as a pack which makes things look superior to Auckland.

The best plan for tlie Auckland backs will be to stand close up on their opponents, as Fiji did last Saturday, and attempt to smother before the Southland line nets into its stride. Reports from the south indicate that these tactics were followed by the South Canterbury side against Southland with 6ome success. Southland were handicapped on that occasion, however, by the inclusion of emergencies. Saxton and Grace were having a rest.

The Auckland side chosen by the sole selector, Mr. F. W. Lucas, shows some change on that which met the Fijians. W. McGrory, back-row, was injured; D. Bailey, a Marist team-mate, replaces him. No selection has been made for halfback, but two players are announced to be in the running. They are F. Cooney, who played there on Saturday, and C. Brady, diminutive brother of the regular second five-eighth, who has twice been emergency. Young Brady is fast and very game, but has little experience of big football. Against a crack team like Southland, experience will be needed. Southland's half-back, .T. Purdue, has been nominated for the South Island team. He is regarded on his native heath as one of the finest half-backs the province has possessed. Sufficient guarantee of his skill is the fact that Saxton has been moved to first fiveeighth in order that two fine players should both be able to lend their prowess to the side. The Auckland team is as follows:— Full-back—W, Hare (Marist). Three-quarters—.T. Dick (Grafton), ,T. Mnlloy (Marist). Ij. Schubert (Grafton I. Five-eighths—l). Brady (Suburbs), X. Pearnian (Grafton). Half-back—F. Cooney (Marist) or C. Brady (Suburbs). Front Itow—A. Moffitt (Marist), C. S. Fepper (Manukau), J. Gilmour (Grammar ). Second Row—H. F. McLean (Grafton), W. N. Carson (Ponsonby), W. Smith (Manukau). R. R. Hull (Grafton). Back Row—D. Bailey (Marist). Reserves—Backs : 1,. Curtayne (Marist), B. Grant (Ponsonby). ,T. Pile (Training College). Forwards: H. Priest (Otaliuhu), T. H. Pearce (Grafton).