WALSH’S INCLUSION CAUSES SURPRISE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 15

WALSH’S INCLUSION CAUSES SURPRISE

[By B.A.S.]

ftugby football enthusiasts who followed closely the form of trialists for the New Zealand team last month, will find few surprises in the All Black sidex Nineteen players have been selected. and it appears likely that L. J. Townsend. W. A. McCaw, B. Mackenzie ana P. S. Burke will be named as reserves. The great surprise is in the selection of the comparatively immature P. T. Walsh as second five-eighths. Walsh, aged 19. played this year in the interisland game and in the trial match as a full-back, in opposition to K. C. Stuart. Although he showed great promise, he has evidently been considered inferior to Stuart, for the selectors have placed him at second fiveeighths. a position in which he has some experience. The wisdom of the selectors’ choice is doubtful, especially as there are some really promising five-eighths in the country. D. D. Wilson is reported to have been playing excellently in Wellington, and although essentially a first five-eighths. Wilson is equally at home in the other position. S. K. Henderson is another who has shown distinct promise, both in representative matches and in the trial match. Walsh recently -played for South Auckland at centre three-quarters against Waikato, and reports indicated that he had filled the position well The exclusion of J. Hotop from the second five-eighths position is not surprising. in view of the injury he suffered last Saturday. The selectors have probably taken the view that a sound player of some capability is better than a doubtfully sound player of great ability. One player is still to be named, and it may be that the selectors are waiting to- see whether Hotop recovers from his injury. The inclusion of Stuart will be welcomed. He has thoroughly deserved his place in the side. R. M. Smith, another new All Black, has also earned his position. His play this year and last was of a high order. The selection of R. A. Jarden was undoubted from the start. A. E. G. Elsom will resume his old position as centre three-quarters. He also was virtually certain of his place in the side. ' although not so certain as a centre three-quarters. H. C. Marett (Hawke’s Bay), who was a contender for the position, has been overlooked. W. R. Archer was one who could not be overlooked. L. J. Townsend and K. Davis have been bracketed as • half-backs, but the position will most likely go to Davis. The inclusion of =* Townsend, however, is well merited. In the forwards there are no real

surprises. I. J. Clarke, P. S. Jones, R. H. Duff, and R. C. Hemi were considered certainties after the two matches last month. Hemi will almost certainly be hooker, and as second string to him B. Mackenzie has been chosen on his play in the trial game. The filling of the other lock forward position is still uncertain, for in P. S. Burke and R. A. White New Zealand has two excellent line-out forwards. White outweighs Burke, however, by nearly two stone, and he woqld balance the scrum with Duff of similar weight. W. A. McCaw suffered an eye injury earlier this year, and that may be the reaso* for his being bracketed with Clarke as No. 8. N. M. Irwin and I. M. Vodanovich have also earned their places in the team by hard work, and the same aoplies to W. H. Clark, who plaved excellently in the trial match. S. F. Hill has been excluded. Here also the selectors may want to see Hill in action, as he could not play in the trial match or inter-island game because of injuries. Whatever way the selectors decide to arrange the pack, out of the 11 forwards chosen. New Zealand will field a solid eight. In the backs the play of the five-eighths will be watched with interest. The three-quarter line is an excellent one.