RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 9, 5 October 1927, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SORTING THE ALL BLACKS FOR AFRICA

TO-DAY’S BIG FINAL TEST

(Notes by “Five-Eighths.”)

After viewing the comprehensive series of trial matches arranged by the New Zealand .Rugby Union, one can feel satisfied that the standard of play throughout the Dominion is as high j to-day as ever it was, and that the All Blacks which will contest iho Rugby supremacy of the world with South Attica next year will be a stronger side , than this country has ever fielded. ■ New Zealand has always been renowned for giant forwards of pace, but never before have such a wealth of i sterling forwards been offering as are available this season. .The Honoured Thirteen. Of the thirteen players who were, definitely selected tor the South African tour on Saturday, last, I. H. Harvey (15st. 121 b.), I. Finlayson (15st. 41b.), C. Brownlie (last. 31b.), R. T. Stewart (15st. 11b.), W. E. Hazlett (14st. 1016.1. and M. Brownlie (list. 61b.) form the nucleus of a powerful vanguard, which Should be able to hold anything South Africa can bring against them. " Beside this giant puck, the 1905 All Blacks, who only lost one match in , Great Britain, appear as pigmies. The heaviest man in the 1905 vanguard was I’. Newton, who scaled last., and lie was tho only man on the side who reached 15st., while there was only one 141 stoner, W- Cunningham, who tipped the beam at list. Gib. McDonald, Johnston, Seeling, Nicholson, Tyler, Corbett, Glasgow, O'Sullivan and Gallagher were all 13-stoners, while Glenn, Casey, and Mackrell were under that weight. The 1924 All Blacks, who outdid the •plendid record of the pioneer band in Great Britain, had one 15-stoner in C. ■ Brownlie; four 14-stoncrs, in Harvey, Masters, Richardson, and Stewart; four ' 13-stoners, in McCleary, M. Brownlie, West, and Cuppies; three 12-sfoners, in Irvine, Q. Donald, and White; and even an 11-stoner, in Munro. Many people argue that the day of the big forward has passed, and that smaller men, who can move faster, are what are wanted. Those who argue in this fashion can point to J. Swain’s three tries for the North against the South at Athletic Park last Saturday. Swain scales 13st. 21b., and nis success as a scoring man is largely duo to his exceptional pace. Against this, it can be argued that a good big man will always beat a good little man, and there is no reason why B. lost, man should not bo able to travel as fast as a lighter man. . The 1921 Springboks who toured this country included two 18-stoners in “Boy” Merkel and “Baby” Michau, and pveryone knows what a hard side they were to beat. Had New Zealand in 1921 had the wisdom to select forwards of the calibre unearthed in 1924, and still, offering, there would have been no necessity for the (All Blacks to have to contest the Rugby supremacy of the world in South Africa next year. No fault can be found with the five tacks who have been chosen by the selectors: A. C. C. Kobilliard (Canterbury), B. Grenside (Hawke's Bay), D. .Lindsay (Otago). N. P. McGregor (Canterbury), and W. C. Dailey (Canterbury. Of these, Robilliard, McGregor, and Dailey were members of ■the 1924 Ail Blacks, and they are playing better now than they were three yearg ago. Some people consider that McGregor was lucky to be included in the first thirteen, but the selectors know what a great defensive player McGregor proved himself on the tour of Great Britain and France. Rugby does not consist of attacking movements alone. You have a so at the line, and then the other fellow tries to get over yours. An insido back who cannot defend is a menace to his side. McGregor is a bulldog on defence, taking his man low every time he can reach him. and going down fearlessly at the feet of the oncoming forwards. It is a matter for great satisfaction that an eminently suitable man in D.. Ijindsay. of Otago, has been found , for tho centre-three-quarter position. This is nfways a most difficult position to fill. M. W. Brown, the 19-vcar-old Taranaki colt, was singled out to till this position on the All Blacks tour in 1924. but a lot of experimenting had to bo done before a suitable centre could bo discovered, and, as a matter of fact, one was never really found, as A. E. Cooke, F. W. Lucas, K. S. Svcnson, and N. P. McGregor had to take the position at times. Ijindsay is a big, strapping fellow. who looks the part. He can travel fttst, and handles well, while his defence is sound, and ho has sufficient weight to hold an attacker up until the defence rallies round. Lindsay, who is a member of tho Otago University team, made a name for himself with the Otago team on tho northern tour this season, and confirmed the good impression he had created in the trial matches at Dunedin and Christchurch. Lindsay is at present down with an attack of measles. Since Jimmy Mill’s retirement last aeason W. C. Dailey, his fellow halfback on the All Blacks' 1924 tour of Great Britain, takes over the mantle of New Zealand’s leading half-back. The little Canterbury man played an outstanding game in ' the North v. South trial match at Athletic Park on Saturday, clearly demonstrating that he knew the requirements of tho position from Ato Z. Dailey had never previously appeared to advantage in Wellington. He was very lame in 1925. and plaved ns fire-eighths in 1926. On Saturday, however he satisfied everyone that he is.a first-class half-back. He is imbued with rare fighting spirit, and revels in defence, while ho gets tho ball away smartly, and is clever at outwitting the opposition around tho scrums. A. C. C. Robilliard (Canterbury) and B. Grenside (Hawke’s Bay) are two ideal wing-three-nuartera. Roth are big fellows. Grenside scaling 13st. 41b. and tho Canterbury youth list. 121 b. They have pace, and go all out for their dashes at tho line, and can do their share of defence. With men like Lindsay, Grenside, and Robilliard. Now Zealand will take the I field against South Africa with backs I of weight, which will bo all to the good. | It will not be an easy matter for the . Springboks to brush aside such defenders I ■when charging for the line, and, in reverse ratio, our fellows will take nil the more stopping when it is their turn to attack. “Five-Eighth's” Pick. After having seen most of the important representative games this season, and several of the trial matches. "FiveEighths” considers that tho following players should make tho trip: F ull-back: H. Lilburne (Canterbury). Three-quarters: A. C. C. Robilliard (Canterbury). B. Grenside (Canterbury). D. Lindsay (Otago). J. Steel (Canterbury) H. R. Rushbrook (Wellington). I’. W. Lucas (Auckland). Five-Eighths: A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa). N. P. McGregor (Canterbury). L. Johnson (Wellington). A. Strang (South Canterbury). A. Berridge (Auckland). Half-backs: W. C. Dailey ((Canterbury). F. D. Kilby (Wellington). Wing Forwards: G. Scrimshaw (Canterbury). C. G. Porter (Wellington). Forwards: K. T. Stewart (South Canterbury). I. Finlayson (North Auckland). I. H, Harvey (Wairarapa). M. Brownlie (Hawke's Bay). J. T. Swain (Hawke’s Bay). J. Hore (Otago). W. E. Hazlett (Southland). G. T. Aliev (Canterbury). P. Ward (Taranaki). W. Freitas (West Coast).

R. McWilliams (Auckland).

C. Brownlio (Hawke’s Bay). Tho writer does not consider that C. Brownlie was entitled on form to be selected in the first thirteen, and should have been made to take his chance in this afternoon's trial. ALL BLACKS FOR AFRICA WHO’S WHO IN' THE SELECTION Brief biographical sketches of the thirteen players already chosen for the African tour are as follow:— A. C. C. Robilliard was a member of the 1924 All Blacks, being only 3) years of age when he accompanied that famous band to Great Biitain. He learut his Rugby at the Ashburton High School, and joined the Christchurch Club in 1923, gaining a place in the Canterbury representative fifteen that season. He did not play in a great number of matches in Great Britain, but was given a chanco in Canada on the homeward trip, and gave a taste ot his quality by scoring tries in a sensational manner. Compactly built and scaling two pounds short of 12st., Robilliard is one of the most dashing wing-three-quarters in this country today. B. Grenside has been one of Hawke’s Bay’s stalwarts for some seasons, past, and was one of the factors which enabled Hawke’s Bay to retain tho RanfuTly Shield from 1922 until 1927. Weighing 13st. 41b., Grenside stands well over 6tt. in height, and has strength and pace. He has been a prolific try-getter for several seasons back. He is the beau ideal of a wing-three-quarter. D. Lindsay, who is at present down with an attack of the measles, plays centre-three-quarter for the University Club in Dunedin. Ho is another fine stamp of New Zealander, being tall and tipping the beam at a little over 13st. He is only 20 years of age. Ho played his way to fame as centre-three-quar-ter for . the Otago fifteen on tour this season, and maintained his consistent form in the All . Black trials. He is a first-rate place-kick. N. P. McGregor was another member of the New Zealand team ' which made the unbeaten tour of Groat Britain and France in 1924. Ha started the game at tho Gore High School, and subsequently came to Wellington, where he played for the Wellington Club ou the five-eighths’ line, with L. Johnson in 1922, subsequently transferring to Christchurch, where ho won his way into the All Blacks in 1924. It was his fine defensive powers and his big heart which caused this young player to bo so frequently chosen to play during the 1924 tour in Great Britain. Ho captained the Canterbury fifteen in their representative matches this season,, and led the South Island against the North on Saturday. W. C. Dailey was one of the half-backs for the All Blacks in England in 1924. A product of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, ho first represented Canterbury in 1923, and was an emergency for the South Island against the North in the match at Wellington in 1924. Ho got his chance when Steel was injured, and had to retire. Dailey went on and gavo quite a good 'showing at wing-three-quarter. His strong defensive powers caused him to bo in strong demand in the early games of the 1921 All Black tour in Great Britain, when tho going was heavy,, but when ball and ground were dry Mill’s pace caused him to be preferred to Dailey. All who saw the North v. South game# at Athletic Park on Saturday will admit that Dailey has nothing to learn about the half-back game. J. P. Swain (Hawke’s Bay) is acknowledged to be one of the cleverest hookers in the Dominion, and one of the fastest men in the open. He represented Wellington from 1922 until 1925, when ho transferred to Hawke’s Bay, and has played for that province since. His speed in the open enables him to keep on the ball all the time, a.ud he is always handy when tries are likely. He crossed the lino three times in t'he North v. South match on. Saturday. J. Hore (Otago) is another 'fine stamp of New Zealand forward. Only 20 years of age, he scales 13st. and revels in scrum and ruck. He plays with the Southern Club in Dunedin. Hore was one of a team of four which won the Sager Surfing Cup last year. He got his cap for Otago last season, and played in all matches for tho province this season. He is an expert hooker, and will probably partner Swain in tho front row of the scrum in South Africa. .

M. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay) is generally acknowledged to be one of the very best forwards this country hag ever produced. On the All Blacks tour of Great Britain in 1924, English critics prive him the nalm as being one of the greatest forwards in the game. Scaling list. 61b., the Hawke’s Bay captain infuses great dash into his play, and is a most difficult man to hold, often sending opponents flying with a shake of his powerful shoulders. He is a tower of strength on the line-out, and in the open can move and handle like a back. Cyril Brownlio (Hawke’s Bay) is a brother of Maurice Brownlio,' and is slightly taller and heavier. A great man on lino-ont and loose, he .has been one of New Zealand’s leading forwards since 1924, when he nccotnoanied the All Blacks to England and France. Cvnl Brownlie is 30 years of age, and Maurice one year younger. . I- Finlayson was discovered away up m the Far North, just too late to accompany the All Blacks in 1924 on their record-making tour. Standing well over o’L ,’,n height, this strapping North Aucklander tips the beam at 15st. 41b and can run like a deer. He gets right into the heart of things in the ruck and is as fast as a back in tho open, now and again coming up to make an extra back on attack. Ho is without question as fine a forward as New Zealand has ever produced. , Stewart: (South Canterbury) learnt his Rugby at Timaru High School and represented South Canterbury and Canterbury in 1921, 1922, and 1923. His exceptional qualifications won him a place in the South Island team in 1922. 1923 and 1924, and he received his Now Zealand ran in 1925. He accompanied the All Blacks to land in 1924, and was one of tho best ' forwards on tho side. Well over 6ft in height, Stewart weighs List. 11b. and is fast in the open. He is an honest worker and-a great punter, being often delegated to gain ground from penalty kicks. He is 23 years of age. I. H. Harvey (Wairarapa) is another young player of perfect physique who is endowed with weight ami strength. Just 24 years of age, (ho Wairarapa lock , scales last. 121 b. He played a great game for Wairarapa against Wellington last Saturday week, being mainly’ responsible for Wairarapa’s sweeping victory by 36 noints to 19. He suffered from tonsolitis when in England with.the All Blacks in 1924. but a medical inspection has given him a clean bill of health for next year.

W. E. Hazlett, of Southland, started on the Rugby road at the IVaifaki High School. He joined Iho Pirates Club in Invercargill, and first represented Southland in 1925, when 19 years of age. This fine stamp of young New Zealander, who has just reached his majority, scales list. 101 b. He accompanied the All Blacks on the Australian tour last year.

The remaining sixteen players to complete the t«nm for South Africa will be chosen after the final trial at Athletic Park on Wednesday next. All the players selected will have to

undergo - a medical examination some six weeks before the team sails. Tho men are expected to keep themselves physically fit, and the. Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union have given the selectors tho right to replace any of the men if they deem it advisable prior to tho departure of the team.

Tho team will leave Wellington () n April 13, 1928, for Sydney, connecting there with the Euripedes for Durban and Cape Town.