RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24711, 31 October 1945, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

! BRITISH COMMENT ON N.Z. PLAYERS TEAM CHOSEN TO MEET LLANELLY CSpecial Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 29. Without exception, all British newspaper critics consider that the New Zealand Army Rugby football team which began its tour last Saturday at Swansea will mould into a first-class combination. E. H. D. Sewell, writing in the "Daily Sketch," said: "It would be a good sporting bet that they do not have their line crossed a dozen times on this tour. At Swansea they played the kind of open I bov b e n »n R t u h gby I*s chance dictated §nd! fv?f k 3 11 ' • th , ey had no use f °r booting £f«, ba « U ;" mlessl y into touch, which si °^S a . is the last resort of the destitute and incompetent." „'S- Times" described the game as "a E^I ISin £ enough start," and made the 1 ' wh * lch « referred to by one or two Slri hi Cnt i, cs « that U tne New Zealanders h»„i£t? better served by quicker, cleaner heeling, either from scrummage or maul the chances are that Swansea would have W e e r e " Un off their legs lon S before they This -point is also -referred to by the Daily Mail," which remarked: "The New zealanders forwards did not heel cleanly and quickly. This was part of a concerted policy, whereby they seek to baffle SE£,°4 SI1 ?{!- wln ß-forwards. As an experiment, this policy is an interesting varia«.?n' « u * lt Ji such excellent backs, they will get better dividends from quick, orthodox heeling." *4««.»., J. P. Jordan, writing in the "Daily Telegraph," said: "These New Zealanders will take a lot of beating, even by the international sides they meet. Their forwards present a solid mass of muscular energy that is impossible to subdue" . u The . "Sunday Graphic" considered that, though the New .Zealanders beat Swansea they will have to improve a lot to merit comparison with any All Black team of pre-war years. "In particular, their forwards must learn to heel more rapidly," said the "Graphic." "As it was. the scrum half, Edwards, had to wait so long that he fell an easy victim to the nippy Haydn Tanner, who played a masterly game both in attack and defence." ~ "Impressed Very Much" In the "Sunday Times," D. R. Gent said: "The New Zealanders impressed very much."

The "News Chronicle" said: "Given another match or two, the New Zealanders ■will train on into a very good side indeed, one that will take a mighty lot of beating."

, A , ~,t he. n ewspapers select players for individual comment, and there is general praise for Allen, Smith, Young, Woolley and Arnold. The fact that the team is to be known as "Kiwis" Is also welcomed, "I s ..5 d of the rat her cumbersome title of New Zealand Army touring team (Rugby)."

. There is sympathy for Maclean, whose spine injury, it is stated, means the end of the tour for him. It is certain the Kiwis will draw crowds wherever they go. Three strong New Zealand Rugby fifteens will be playing throughout Great Britain on Saturday, the Army team at Neath, and fifteens recruited from all the New Zealand forces in England at Cardiff and Northampton. Nine new players have been chosen for the Army team for the match against Llanelly on Tuesday, in accordance with the policy of giving as many as possible early experience.

The team to meet Elanelly to-morrow is as follows:—full-back, H. E. Cook; three-quarters. W. A. Meates, J. C. Kearney, E. G. Boggs; five-eighths, R. L. Dodson, P. R. Allen: half-back, w. S. Edwards: forwards, J. G. Bond, F. N. Haigh, J. G. Simpson. G. B. Nelson, S. W. Woolley, A. W. Blake, D. S. Bell, J. Finlay (captain). The party is awaiting the result of an X-ray photograph of the injury suffered by J. Maclean in Saturday's game. In the first 20 minutes Maclean Suffered an injury to his back, but he carried on and played a fine game. Afterward the injury became worse, and he was taken to hospital with a slight partial paralysis of the legs. The view expressed by several doctors was that there was no permanent injury, but he might require a long rest. •An official statement is withheld pending the X-ray, but his. condition is believed not to be as serious as the newspaper stories to-day indicate. MACLEAN'S INJURY UNLIKELY TO PLAY AGAIN DURING TOUR (Official War Correspondent 2nd N.Z.EF.) SWANSEA, Oct. 29. An X-ray examination" or"J.'Maclean, the Taranaki forward "*who*Wßs*; injured during ;Saturday's ntafcK-Mveaea an injury to his spine of jthe nature-known as a "slipped .disc." Doctors say it will be necessary for him to rest for about two months, but the injury will not be permanent. However, it seems'unlikely that Maclean will be able to "play again' on the tour.