STEPPING STONE TO TOUR SELECTION

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 11

STEPPING STONE TO TOUR SELECTION

TT’HE representative Rugby League match against West Coast at Greymouth tomorrow will have added significance for Canterbury players. In addition to being the second leg of the South Island section of the interprovincial Rothmans tournament, it is also the final South Island trial. The inter-island game and the selection of the New Zealand team to tour Britain and France are only three

weeks away. For the players selection for the South Island is virtually an essential if they are to make the team. Canterbury has a 27-point lead in the tournament after the first leg of the tournament play-off and the province is almost certain of playing Wellington in the section final at Christchurch on July 31. Canterbury can be expected to have the greater representation in the South Island team. However, much will depend on form shown in tomorrow’s fixture. B. J. Mann (West Coast), should retain his full-back position and the Kiwi, B. W. Langton (Canterbury) is certain to play on one wing. The other wing position will depend largely on the form of P. M. V. White (Canterbury). If White can win his way back into the touring team it will be a great success story, for he has only recently recovered from a multiple fracture of the leg.

Should he not be successful then R. J. Rochford (West Coast) could make his island debut.

G. M. Kennedy (West Coast) will be one of the centres and the probable

captain but the other centre position is wide open. The leading candidates are J. D. M. Walshe (Otago), J. P. Hawthorne (Canterbury), and L. P. Brown (West Coast), who has resumed after a long illness. Waishe could provide Otago with its first South Island representative since R. D. Billington in 1959.

The stocky little former scrum-half, B. Sweetman (West Coast), and the sound Canterbury pair, P. V. Smith and R. F. Neiman, will, vie foe the stand-off half position. Neiman is the present favourite because of his selection as a Kiwi triaList but Sweetman is the better attacking player. Smith could also come into

calculations as a centre. The scrum-half is certain to be R. S. J. Irvine (Canterbury). The selection of the forwards will be more difficult. However, J. L. White (Canterbury) seems the most suitable loose forward while the West Coast Kiwis, J. K. Dixon (second row) and R. O. Schofield (prop) are certain of selection. The West Coast is likely to provide the other second row forward but it will be difficult to separate A. P. Dennehy and the 1963 Kiwi, C. L. McMaster, both of whom are playing well. Dennehy is considered the most attacking forward on the Coast but McMaster played very well against a Canterbury XIII. If Dennehy is selected in the second row then McMaster and M. H. Mohi will be the main contenders for the prop position now that the Canterbury Kiwis, G. H. Turner and I. T. Drayton,

apparently have been dropped from consideration. On his form against Auckland, Turner could well be the best of the four, but if Mohi plays better tomorrow he could be selected. With the West Coast seemingly unable to decide whether F. Kennedy is a better hooker than C. D. Smith, the position looks open for a Canterbury candidate. There are two—J. H. Fisher, who could also be considered as a prop, and the 18-year-old W. P. Noonan. Fisher would perhaps be the wiser choice becouse of his experience and Noonan’s youth. A possible team would be: Mann; P. M. V. White, Kennedy (captain), Walshe, Langton; Neiman, Irvine; J. L. White: Dixon. Dennehy; Turner, Fisher, Schofield.

Saturday, July I.—Rugby: South Africa v. Wellington, at Wellington; North Otago v. Bay of Plenty, at Oatnaru; Hawke’s Bay v. Walrarapa, at Hawke's Bay; North Auckland v. Taranaki, at Whangarel; King Country v. Thames Valley, at Thames Valley: Shirley Boys' High School v. Christchurch Boys' High , School, at C.8.H.5.; St. < Bede’s College v. Christ's College, at St Bede's; ’ Club matches. League: Club matches. Soccer :Club I matches. . Harriers: Twoman .relay at Creymouth. Indoor basketball: South Australtrv. New Zealand, Auckland ’ v. Hamilton, both matches at Auckland: Canterbury v. Petone and Hutt Valley, at Wellington. Table tennis: North Otago v. Canterbury, at OaraiaEU. Cricket: New -Zealand v.