PICKING ALL BLACKS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 218, 11 June 1930, Page 12

PICKING ALL BLACKS

TO-DAY’S BIG MATCH FINAL CHOICE SOON The match that always precedes the selection of an All Black team, Possibles v. Probables, will be played in Wellington this afternoon, and it is probable that the selectors (Messrs. E. McKenzie, chairman, N. ’McKenzie, G. Nicholson, W. Maxwell, A. McDonald, and A. J. Geddes), will announce their final choice to-night. There is a wealth of material in.the two teams, and the selectors will have no easy task in picking any fifteen players better than another fifteen. There is no reason to doubt that the exhibition this afternoon will be as good as previous matches, for though there are a number of players appearing who have represented New Zealand for several years and who perhaps could be claimed to be past their prime, there are also many., who are new to “big” football, and who will be all out to earn All Black honours.

It should be an exhilarating game, and it will hold particular interest in that it will show just what may be expected of a New Zealand team against an opposition the strength of which is fairly well known. The Return of Nepia. Particular interest will be in the appearance of Nepia at full-back. If he .can reproduce the form he displayed in 1924 then there is only one man for the position, but it is yet to be seen if he can accomplish a “come back.” The battle between the rival centre-three-quarters, Lucas and Cooke, will provide plenty of interest, and all the wingers will be watched closely. Minns (Auckland) is possibly the best-known of these as far as interprovincial football is concerned, but bright performances may be expected of Mackay and Oliver, both of Wellington, who will be occupying the wing-three-quarter positions for the Probables team. Hart (Canterbury) will be associated _ with Minns in the Possibles side. Nicholls and Lilburne should prove an efficient combination in the five-eighths line for the Probables; opposed to them are Innes (Canterbury) and Johnson. The opposing half-backs are Corner (Auckland) and Holden (Southland). Both are reported to be playing good football this season, Holden especially, and as their play will always have the comparison to that of Kilby’s and Dailey’s there will be many a critical eye watching their performances. . Solomon (Auckland) and Scrimshaw (Canterbury) are the opposing wingforwards. Porter is still a force to be reckoned with for this position, however. Two solid packs are to oppose each other, and something particularly bright in the way of dribbling and “bustling rushes may be expected: C. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay), one of the original selections in the forwards, was injured some days ago, and is not available. H. F. McLean (Wellington) is taking his place, and R. K. King (Canterbury) has been chosen to fill McLean’s place in the emergencies (who, in all probability, will all be given their chance at some stage of the game). , „„„ ~ The game will start at 2.30 p.m. Mr. J. Scott (Wellington) has been appointed referee. The teams are:— PROBABLES. Full-back: L. Heazelwood (Wellington). Three-quarters: G. D. Mackay (Wellington), F. Lucas (Auckland), D. Oliver ( °Five°-eighths: M. Nicholls (Wellington), H. Lilburne (Canterbury). Half-back: A. Holden (Southland). Wing-forward: D. Solomon (Auckland). Hookers: K. Reid (Wairarapa), W. Irvine (Walrarapa). . Lock: R. Steere (Hawke’s Bay). • Supports: C. Campbell (Hawkes Bay), A. McWilliams (Waikato). , „ m Back row: E. Collett (Otago), E. T. Stewart (Canterbury). Reserves: Backs. J. Mill (Wairarapa), K. H. McKenzie (Wellington). Forwards: A. Sim (North Otago), McLean (Wellington), R. K. King (Canterbury). POSSIBLES. Full-back: G. Nepia (East Coast). Three-quarters: G. Hart (Canterbury), A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa), P. Minns (Auckland). Five-eighths: G. D. Innes (Canterbury), L. Johnson (Wellington). Half-back: M. Corner (Auckland). Wing-forward: G. Scrimshaw (Canterbury). Hookers: A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), J. Hore (Otago). ’ , Lock: I. Harvey (Wairarapa). Supports: I. Finlayson (North Auckland), W. Hazlett (Southland). Back row. G. Purdue (Southland), W. Batty (Auckland).