Australian Manager Loath To Make Predictions Of Result Of International Game Today

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15059, 20 August 1949, Page 3

Australian Manager Loath To Make Predictions Of Result Of International Game Today

WALLABIES MOULDING INTO STRONG AND

HAPPY SIDE, MR WALDEN SAYS

The opinion that all Rugby in New Zealand was strong was expressed to a Bay of Plenty Times reporter by the Manager of the touring Australian team Mr R. Walden in a telephone interview .yesterday. Mr Walden remarked that for this reason he was loath to make any prcduictions with regard th the Bay of Plenty team.

to the result of today's game w

Mr Warden, who was interviewed just after the team had come in from training, said that the team was doing exceptionally well in this department. They were settling down and were moulding into a strong and happy side. Trevor Allan, the captain, was very pleased with the way the team was shaping, remarked Mr Walden.

halfback, R. Cawscy; front row, B. Wilson, D. Furncss, J. Baxter; middle row, C. Windon, N. Shehadie, K. Gordon, D. BlockhofT; back row, R. Crrnforth.

The Bay of Plenty team is:— Fullback, E. Welch; three-quarters, B. McGougan, F. Martin, S. Morlison: five-eighths, J. Goldsmith, K. Sullivan; halfback, L. Raureti; front row, W. Trotman. R. Goddard, J. Gabolinsky; middle row, S. McLough in, W. Moses. H. Ranapia, P. Ratahi; back row, J. Ririnui. Players of note in the Bay team arc the captain L. Raureti, the Maori All Black halfback who toured Australia with the Maori team, and J. Ranapia who went to Fiji with the Maori All Blacks. B. McGougan was an All Black trialist last year and will rep'ace M. Dclamcre in the three-quarter line. Dclamerc who will not be available because of injuries, was also a member of the Maori team which toured Australia.

Apart from Emery, who received a shoulder injury in the game against King Country but who is progressing favourably under treatment, and Broad who suffered a knee injury before leaving Australia, the team is fit and well. As the majority of the Australians are veteran tourers there was not a trace of homesickness, they were all too busy enjoying themselves, said Mr Waldcn. The ground at Whakatano was a little uneven but this would not be a handicap to the team, Mr Waldcn continued. If the team won, well and good, if they lost then they could not worry, he concluded, and gave an assurance that they would do their best to gain the honours. There have been seven changes in the team which met the King Country rn Wednesday and the team to meet Bay of Plenty will be: Fullback, B. Piper; threequarters, R. Garner, T. Allan, J. Fogarty; fiveeighths, J. Bromley, J. Solomon;

A record crowd is anticipated in Whakatane where arrangements have been made to .cater for the travellers who will be requiring meals there. Two temporary grandstands .have been erected on the sidelines, and in addition temporary seating has been set up all. round the field.