SOUTH ISLAND TEAM

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21858, 11 August 1936, Page 15

SOUTH ISLAND TEAM

MATCH WITH NORTH ON SATURDAY

THREE CANTERBURY MEN INCLUDED The South Island selectors (Messrs A. A. Adams, W. Pearson, and J. T. Burrows) have named the following team to meet the North Island at Lancaster Park next Saturday:— Backs Full-back—G. D. M. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters—W. Mann (West Coast), N. A. Mitchell (Southland), T. Morrison (South Canterbury). Five-eighths—C. C. Gillies (Otago), G. Gaffaney (South Canterbury). Half-back—H. Simon (Otago). Forwards Front Row: O. Hattersley (Canterbury), G. Orman (Duller), C. .Quaid (Otago). Second .Row: R. Ward (Southland). R. R. King (West Coast), H. Milliken (Canterbury), F. Green (Otago). Loose forward: J. G. Rankin (Canterbury). Emergencies—Backs: K. S. Mortlock (Canterbury), W. A. Black (Otago). Forwards: W. Parkhill (Otago), J. Strang (South Canterbury). Mitchell will captain the team, with King vice-captain. J. E. Manchester and G. F. Hart, who will not be available for the test matches against the touring Australian team later in the season, were not considered by the selectors. MANY STARS NOT AVAILABLE STRENGTH OF ISLAND NOT REPRESENTED

A good team has been chosen to meet the North Island next Saturday, but unfortunately it does not represent fully the strength of the South Island. Several of Otago’s leading players, including Hore and Vorrath, 1935 All Blacks, and Watt, the brilliant winger, were not available for the match, and the elimination of Hart and Manchester has left further gaps to be filled. The South Island, is rich in material this year, and although Hart and Watt, of Otago, are undoubtedly the outstanding wingers in New Zealand at the present time, Mann and Morrison will be good substitutes. Gilbert. All Black full-back last ye“r. retains the full-back position, although Bchrns (Canterbury) must have been seriously considered. Mitche l, another 1935 All Black, is equally at home at centre and cn the wing, but whi’e there are plenty of good wingers to choose from in the South Island, it would be more difficult to find a good substitute at centre. Mann has developed considerably since he left Christchuxh two or three years ago. He is exceptionally fast and his swerve at top speed makes him a difficult man to stop. He. too, can play at centre, but he is a “natural” winger. Morrison came into prominence in the All Blac’trials last season and is a winger of great promise. Gillies has earned his selection as second five-eighths. A star of the New Zealand University team in Japan, he has since played brilliant football in Otago representative matches. Gaffaney, regarded by many as unlucky to miss selection in the All Blacks last season, was a’so the logical choice for first five-eighths. Simon is nearing the veteran stage, but he appears to be n’aying better than ever this season. McAuliffe, of Canterbury, was his most formidable rival for the position, and the selectors might well have given preference to the younger man. McAuliffe is a fine type of half-back, and he showed yesterday that he is in excellent form.

There are one or two surprises in the forwards. Hatters’ey, another who was unlucky during the A ll Black selection last year, was an obvicus frontrow choice, and Orman has proved h’rr.^e' , f a brilliant snrciaMst hooker. Quaid, the former Linwood and Canterbury player, must, be showing good form this year to find a place ahead of such a fine front-row man as George, of Southland. The locks are King, the West Coast All Block, and Milliken, of Canterbury. The former is still one of New Zealand's best forwards, whi'e Milliken will reach inter-island status for the first time. Milliken is a heavy man, but he is fast, and a tiger for hard work. In spite of the effects of inlluenza, he was one of the best forwards on the field in the match against Auckland yesterday. Ward thoroughly earned his place by his outstanding

display for Southland in the shield match against Otago, and Green takes the side-row position in the absence of Manchester and Vorrath, two more All Blacks who were not available. Ilankin was a certainty for the posit: on of loose forward, and it is extremely doubtful whether there is a better man in this position in New Zealand.