CHANGES IN BACKS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 81, 30 December 1935, Page 9

CHANGES IN BACKS

All Black Team Chosen For Last Test CORNER HALF-BACK Tindill and Ball Replace Griffiths and Hart By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyright. (Received December 29, 6.30 p.m.) Loudon, December 28. Important changes in the New Zealand Rugby team which is to meet England at Twickenham on January 4, the last match of the tour, involve the dropping of Sadler, Griffiths and Hart, in favour of Corner, Tindill and Ball. The team has been selected as follows :— Full-back: G. Gilbert. Three-quarters: N. Ball, C. J. Oliver. N. Mitchell. Five-eighths: T. H. C. Caughey (second), E. W. Tindill (first). Half-back: JI. JI. N. Corner. Front-row Forwards: A. Lambourn. W. E. Hadley, J. More. Oilier Forwards: J E. Jlanchester, It. it. King, S. T. Held, H. F. JlcLean, A. Jlahoney. Tindill and Corner, who will be playing in their first international match of tlie tour, earned their places by their exhibition against London Counties. The dropping of Hart is regarded with surprise, as he is acknowledged as an outstanding winger, but in recent games he has not been at his best, while Ball and Mitchell have been in great form. There may be changes in the team, but it is expected that Caughey and Oliver will be fit. Need for Watching Tindill. Tlie “Evening News” says:—“Tindill’s goal-dropping is an ominous sign for England. Tindill scored both times following a breakaway on the blind side either by the winger or the scrum-half, followed by a cross-kick which found Tindill up for the bounce. London Counties seemed unable to foil the movement except by stopping tlie preliminary breakaway. England will probably detail a man to watch Tindill carefully.” The “Daily Mail” says“ The New Zealanders are seriously preparing for the international match against England. Jlr. Howard Jlarshall, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” says:—“lt is surprising to find Jlitchell, despite his excellent running against London Counties, ousting Hart, who is a beautiful player and would be first choice as a winger for any of the British unions. Also, it was not thought that the reliable Griffiths would be dropped. Jloreover, Sadler did not seem likely to lose his position at scrum-half. Apparently Jlr. Jleredith is anxious to speed up the midfield attack where Tindill and Corner will be effective when starting movements. Nevertheless, the All Blacks will probably miss Griffiths’s defence, although he was slow against Wales.” Team Not Going to Brighton. The All Blacks made a last-minute change in their arrangements and cancelled their visit to and engagements in Brighton, when they learned to-day Sir Harry Preston was unable to accommodate them at the Royal Albion Hotel. They go to-morrow to the Welsh seaside resort of Porthcawl, where they will remain until they travel to Twickenham. Sir Harry Preston says: “I am terribly distressed at the situation over which I had no control. The New Zealanders made reservations in April, but by Christmas we were booked out. I anticipated that most of the visitors would depart on Boxing Day, but they stayed on. I arranged alternative accommodation for a section of the New Zealanders, but apparently it was unsuitable, as the leaders require all the party, numbering 40, under one roof.” The Home unions may take up the matter of the All Blacks’ accommodation at Brighton. Their representative is busy assisting in seeking accommodation elsewhere, but Porthcawl alone is capable of accommodating the team at one hotel. The All Blacks are annoyed over the incident. They consider tlie team slighted and .ask why they were not notified earlier, as the impression has been given that the players are not wanted at Brighton. Mr. Jleredith has written the Jlayor regretting their inability to visit the town and pointing out where the blame lies. LESSONS OF THE TOUR Newspapers’ Summing-up (Received December 29, 6.50 p.m.) London, December 29. The “Observer,” summing up the lessons of the New Zealand Rugby footballers’ visit, expresses the opinion that they have proved that concentration, well-dev el oped tactics and the elimination of errors are essential to victory. “It is tlie last-named in which Britain’s debt to the tourists is greatest. Jloreover, the visitors’ eventual use of weight in the scrum has Illustrated the need of honest pushing. Their backs’ penchant to start an attack from a loose pass or kick has helped to improve British technique.” It adds tributes to tlie All Blacks’ backing up, and says: “We are apt to overlook the rarity with which they deliver a bad pass < r drop one that can be taken. Although, with the exception of Caughey, Hart, and sometimes Oliver, their backs are not outstanding in running, their success is based on something sounder —namely, technical excellence due to thorough training and football thinking, in which British clubs should copy the visitors’ methods, especially twice-weekly training.” CHICAGO WANTS MATCH London, December 27. Mr. Enoch Jlitchell. president of the Chicago Rugby Union, who is vlsititur Wales, received a letter from his union urgin', him to arrange a match witn the All Blacks while the latter are on their way home, and offering a substantial guarantee. Mr. Mitchell and a few other Welsh-

men introduced the game into Chicago in 1930. It has caught on well and there are now six teams in tlie union. Jlr. Mitchell considers that a visit by the New Zealanders would help the gam along immensely. UNIVERSITY TEAM LEAVES SYDNEY (Received December 29. G. 30 p.m.) Sydney. December 29. The New Zealand Universities Rugby Union team embarked aboard the Kitano Marti for Japan three hours after their arrival at Sydney by the Aorangi. All the players are in good fettle.