SATURDAY'S RUGBY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 161, 10 July 1945, Page 7

SATURDAY'S RUGBY

SERVICES V. AUCKLAND

CHANCE FOR M. N. PAEWAI

Considerable interest is being taken in the personnel of the Auckland representative Rugby team to play the Northern Combined Services at. Eden Park next Saturday. The sole selector, Mr, F. W. Lucas, will probably announce his team after training at the Ponsonby gymnasium to-night. Although the actual composition of the Services' team is not yet known it may be taken for granted that four members of the Auckland side which drew with Waikato on the King's Birthday—B. Waldegrave, A. J. Johnson, T>. Barchard and A. Cooper—will be included in the Services' side.

The defection of these players should provide Mr. Lucas with an opportunity of trying out some of the promising younger talent at his disposal. G. Bourke (Ponsonby) looks a likely replacement for Waldegrave, while a hooker will have to be found in place of Johnson. This may present something of a problem as Roberts, of University, who is a rake of considerable ability will be in . Dunedin with the North Island University team. W. Smith, the Manukau skipper, received a bad knock last Saturday and is at present in hospital. It is unlikely that he will have recovered sufficiently to take his place on the side of the scrum and that being the case, it is probable that B. Taylor (Ponsonby), one of the most virile forwards in the competition, will be given his first representative chance. Pat Fox (University) and former Auckland and Otago representative may have to be considered as a forward.

There are several possibilities when It comes to' the question of replacing Barchard. Glen Hook and McKay, both of Ponsonby, must stand chances of selection, but on the other hand it appears that the obvious choice would be to play the mercurial M. N. Paewai, captain of the Aotea Maori team. There is no question about Paewai's brilliance as a footballer and while perhaps he has shown up to better advantage as a half, he is also a five-eighth of proven ability. Because ho may have failed when tried outside Tetzlaff on one occasion last year there is no reason why Paewai should not ho given another opportunity. And next Saturday would appear to provide that opportunity.

Hafl he not been away with the University team, D. T. Grace would appear to have been the logical successor to A. Cooper. There are several reliable wingers available and of these J. Brinsden (Technical), who was emergency for the Wafkato game, and Stevens (University) look the most likely to gain selection. Missed Selection Although the Services' selectors had a wide range of good class material to choose from there are several rather surprising defections from the names of players to train with a view to selection. Probably the most notable is that of Ken Macßae, the Navy five-eighth, who is playIng first-class football. With Barchard and Fisher both practically certain to make the team, it seemed obvious to include Macßae, who works in splendidly with them in club games. Reilly, the Navy half, is a sound enough player but the back-line could probably have been strengthened considerably had Barchard been played behind the pack, thus creating a vacancy for players •of the calibre of Macßae, Glen Hook, or. Bruce Donaldson. Apparently neither Hook nor B..N6rdgren, the Auckland representative League winger, were considered. Another • surprising omission from the players to train Is Bob Keeble, the solid, experienced Waikato forward. Keeble was probably the best forward seen out at the Service trials at North Shore last week. Nordgren did not play in the trials because of an injured hand but he turned out for his club on Saturday. Considerable Interest will centre in the appearance at fullback for the Services, of Ralph Martin, the well-known League player.