ALL BLACKS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

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

ALL BLACKS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

FINAL TRIAL MATCH TO-DAY

AN INTERESTING GAME ANTICIPATED

Another great crowd should assemble at Athletic Park this afternoon, when tho New Zealand Rugby Union will hold the final trial match in order to choose the remaining sixteen players to complete the. team which is to proceed to South Africa in April next. Two strong sides will be seen in action this afternoon, and as every player will be all out to give of his very best, a stirring game should be witnessed. Claims for .the vacant full-back position will be made by Butler (Auckland) and Heazelwood (Oiago)j while Holden (Otago) and McManus (Auckland) will compete for the honour of being understudy to W. C. Dally as half-back on the tour. The Otago half-back is highly spoken of, and if he is given a fair share of the ball should have a good chance of selection. McManus is also a capable full-back, and the selectors will have to do some hard thinking in choosing from Kilby, Holden and McManus. . It is generally admitted that G. Scrimshaw (Canterbury) played himself into the team by his fine game for the South Island against the North last Saturday. He will be opposed this afternoon by C. G. Porter, and the captain of the 1921 All Blacks mav reproduce his best form and win a place in the team. On the three-quarter line, Hook (Auckland), Stringfellow _ (Wairarapa), and Lucas (Auckland) will be opposed by Rushbrook (Wellington) Brown (Taranaki), and Stewart (Otago). There is good material here, and three clever three-quarter backs should easily be found to reinforce the three already chosen, Robilliard, Lindsay and Grensidc. .... Much interest will attach to the appearance of A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa), who will partner L. Johnson (Wellington) on the five-eighths’ line for the Possibles. This pair will have opposite them Berridge (Auckland) and Strang (South Canterbury). If the weather behaves itself some spectacular back play should be seen, with better combination than obtained in the interisland match on Saturday. Six of the forwards taking place in. to-day’s trial appeared in tho North v. South match, bnt now men will be Knight (Auckland). Freitas (West Coast), Coulston (Wanganui). Godfrey (Canterbury), Bird (Southland), Young (Nelson), Conrad (Hawke’s Bay), and Ward (Taranaki). There will be a fair field and no favour, so lit can be taken for granted that every man will go all out from kick-off to final bell. The teams will be as follow: — POSSIBLES. Butler (Auckland). Hook (Auckland), Stringfellow (Wairarapa), Lucas (Auckland). Cooke (Wairarapa), Johnson (Wellington). .. McManus (Auckland). ■Scrimshaw (Canterbury). Coulston (Wanganui), Burrows (Canterbury), Alley (Canterbury), Godfrey (Canterburv), Freitns (West Coast), McWilliams /Auckland), Bird (Southland). PROBABLES. Heazelwood (Otago). Rushbrook (Wellington), Brown (Taranaki). Stewart (Otago). Berridge (Auckland), Strang (South Canterbury). Holden (Otago). Porter (Wellington). _ , • Hadley (Auckland), Young _ (Nelson), Conrad (Hawke’s Bay), Knight (Auckland),. Ward (Taranaki), Marslin (Otago), Snow (Nelson). Emergencies: Kilby, South, in the . backs, and Pringle and Hore in the forwards. Play will commence at 3.15 o clock, and the final selection of the New Zealand team will he made this evening. The booking plan for seats in _ the stand will be open at the Rugby Union’s office until 11 o’clock this morning. NORTH AND SOUTH MATCH . - (To the Editor.) Sir, —After reading the reports on Saturday’s football match I am satisfied that in some cases a player gets undue praise at the expense of another. I refer to the two South wing threequarters, Robilliard, of Canterbury, and Snodgrass, of Nelson. Right from the kick off the ball went to Robilliard’s side, and some very good openings came his way. In fact, I and many others thought that the South Island half and inside backs were making the play to Robilliard and cutting Snodgrass out. In the second spell I watched . the three-quarters very closely, and this is how I would sum them up: Hook, of Auckland, decidedly weak and uncertain; Grenside, strong and determined, but not brilliant; Robilliard, of Canterbury, dashing and safe, but not doing anything more than he should have done considering the openings made for him; Snodgrass, of Nelson, strong, very fast, and a determined runner, wlio can place-kick. Snodgrass received several very bad passes and did not get any really good chances during the game. Now, Sir,Robilliard gets picked for South Africa, but no mention is made of Snodgrass. Of the two men, I would sooner have Snodgrass. He is built for tho African conditions, and he is yards faster than Robilliard and Steel, and a little faster than Grenside. Also, Snodgrass can kick well. Given tho chance, he should become a great scoring three-quarter. Trusting the New Zealand selectors see this and that some abler pen will take this matter up,—l am, etc., “MANAWHENUA.” Wellington, October 3.