Selectors Play Safely In Choice Of Trialists

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 17

Selectors Play Safely In Choice Of Trialists

(By Our Rugby Reporter)

’ The New Zealand Rugby selectors have put their faith in established internationals in choosing the 30 players for the j All Black trial match at Wellington on May 17.

The two trial teams, announced yesterday, contain only four players who have not represented their country— L. J. Davis, D. R. Panther, K. T. Going and K. K. Crawford.

It seems almost certain • that the New Zealand side to 1 play Wales in the first test 1 at Christchurch on May 31 ! will consist substantially of ' the players who appeared l against France last season. 1 Of last year’s All Blacks, 1 only C. R. Laidlaw—who is 1 in England—is missing from ' the trialists. 1 The main purpose of the trial, therefore, will be to test the fitness of the players a point which the convener of the selection panel (Mr I. M. H. Vodanovich) has emphasised several times this year. The two strong, experienced packs should give full expression to New Zealand’s forward power. Yet it is likely that the third test pack of 1968 will be retained en masse. There is not the same certainty about the backs, however. There will be interesting duels between W. D. Cottrell and I. R. Macßae at second five-eighths, and between G. S. Thorne and W. L. Davis at centre, while the return of M. J. Dick will place pressure on last year's wings, M. W. O’Callaghan and O. G. Stephens. The most intriguing selec- ; tion is that of G. F. Kember - as first five-eighths to mark E. W. Kirton. Kember, who ! devoted himself to studies ' last season, has returned with a flourish to Wellington club Rugby. With the reliable Can- • terbury half-back, Davis, to : serve, him in the trial he i could advance his claims coni siderably. Canterbury nominated 10 players and although only . five—A. E. Hopkinson, I. A. 1 Kirkpatrick, W. F. McCori mick, Davis and Cottrell—-

were selected, the union gained the largest representation among the trialists. After watching Auckland draw with King Country on Tuesday, the selectors named only two of Auckland’s 20 nominated players for the trial.

The most surprising omission is that of A. J. Wyllie, the Canterbury flanker, whose determined play last season gained him the leadership of the South Island pack in the inter-island match. He was extremely unlucky to be passed over, for his type of play would be of far more value against Wales than that of G. C. Williams. The teams are:

Probables.—K. T. Going; D. B. Panther (North Auckland), G. S. Thorne (Auckland), M. W. O’Callaghan (Manawatu); W. D. Cottrell (Canterbury), G, F.

Kember (Wellington); L. J. Davis (Canterbury); B. J. Lochore (Wairarapa); K. B. Tremaln, K. K. Crawford (Hawke’s Bay), S. C. Strahan (Manawa, tu). G. C. Williams (Wellington); A. J. Kreft (Otago), B. E. McLeod (Counties), A. E. Hopkinson (Canterbury). Fanlblts.—w. F. McCormick (Canterbury); M. J. Dick (Auckland), W. L. Davis (Hawke’s Bay), O. G. Stephens (Wellington); I. B. Macßae (Hawke's Bay), E. W. Kirton (Otago); S. M. Going (North Auckland); A. B. Sutherland (Marlborough); T. N. Lister (South Canterbury), C. E. Meads. (King Country), A. E. Smith (Taranaki), I. A. Kirkpatrick (Canterbury); K. F. Gray (Wellington), T. M. McCashin (Horowhenua), B. L. Miller (Taranaki).

Reums.—Backs: I. N. Stevens (Wellington), B. L. Going (North Auckland). T. W. M. Tataurangi (Auckland). L. W. Mains (Otago). Forwards: J. K. Mcßae (Southland), W. W. Townsend (Otago), 1. A. Eliason (Taranaki), R. A. Webb (Auckland).