ALL BLACK TEAM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 287, 31 August 1931, Page 10

ALL BLACK TEAM

To Play Australians J , — AUCKLAND TEST Three Wellington Men By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, August 30. The following team has been selected to represent New Zealand in the Test match against Australia at Auckland on September 12: — ® Full-back: R. G, Bush (Otago). Three-quarters: N. Ball (Wellington), C. J. Oliver (Canterbury), G. J. Hart (Canterbury). Five-eighths: , H. T. Lilburne (Wellington), W, A. Strang (South Canterbury), ‘ Half-back: M. Corner (Auckland). Wing-forward: F. Solomon (Auckland.). \ Hookers: A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), E. Jessep ; (Wellington). Lock: ; E. R. G. Steere (Hawke’s Bay). Supports: G. Purdue (Southland), D. Max (Nelson) Back Row: W. Batty (Auckland), T. Metcalfe (Southland). Emergencies.—Backs, J. D. Mackay (Wellington) ; forwards, C. D. Anderson (Hawke’s Bay). STRONG COMBINATION But Some Surprises (By “Five Eighth. The New Zealand selectors, Messrs. E. McKenzie and A. McDonald, have certainly succeeded in picking a good side to play against the Australians on September 12, and in doing so they have not hesitated to put in practical operation their announced policy of considering players who did not take part in the trial match, North v. South. - Instances of this are the inclusions of Ball, the Wellington wing three-quarter, Corner, the Auckland half-back, and Jessep, the Wellington hooker. Apart from the inclusion of Corner and Jessep, there are no very great surprises in the team, not even the omissions of Mark Nicholls and Cooke. It was not expected, though, that ■F. D. Kilby would be dropped in favour of Corner, of ’whom not a great deal has been heard this year. From what reports have been received it would appear that Corner’s form has been' rather erratic in the Auckland club games, good one week and bad the next. He played well behind the New Zealand scrum against the- British team Iflst year and certainly, if he has produced the same form this year, he is well entitled to the position. Kilby's form this year, however, has been consistently good and it will come as a big disappointment to most Wellington enthusiasts that he has been dropped. The selectors are to be congratulated on their five-eighths and three-quarter lines. Mark Nicholls certainly played a game out of the box in the North-South match, and was then fairly generally considered, to have a rosy chance 'of further All Black honours. But his form the following Saturday was not good, nor, for that matter, was Kilby’s, and, it is reasonable to'assume that, as Mr. E. McKenzie witnessed the match, their display that day had a good deal to do with their being dropped from the New Zealand team. It is hard luck for Mark, because if he had represented New Zealand again this yearihe would have had the honour of having been in the All Black team more seasons than any other player. As it is, he and Porter share the honour. Probably, if he were included, he would again produce top form, but apparently the selectors say that they can’t afford to take risks. j Neither Cooke nor Allen was very impressive in the North-South match, and the exclusion of Cooke was half anticipated. Oliver, of Canterbury, should fill the position well. Both Lilburne and Strang have well-founded claims for the five-eighths positions. Wellington supporters will be pleased that Ball, the Hutt winger, has been given a chance in a New Zealand team. He and Hart should form an exceedingly dangerous attacking force. With Nepia’s' re-entry into the game, representing the North Maoris at Christchurch, it was thought likely that he would again fill the full-back position. His form imust have slumped, for he, would never have been overlooked if he were playing .the same magnificent football of past seasons. Bush, of Otago, undoubtedly was the next in line for the position, and he should fill it well. It is rather surprising that Hadley, of Auckland, should have been dropped in favour of Jessep, who did not play in the trial match. Jessep is a rattling good forward, however, and should do his job with distinction. Barry, of Wellington, appears to be a little unlucky to have struck his top form only recently. Max, who played lock for the South Island team, is understood to be an even better side-row man than he is a lock. If that is so, the inclusion of both he and Steere considerably strengthens the side. The selectors must have had a good deal of difficulty in coming to the final decision as far as the forwards are concerned, because although the men selected are unquestionably good, there are others who could fill ths positions just as well. On the whole, however, the combination appeals as an exceptionally Strong one.