FINAL RUGBY TEST

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 299, 14 September 1937, Page 12

FINAL RUGBY TEST

Selection of Players to Train

OMISSION OF RANKIN

Mitchell and Caughey

Included

The names of 21 players to train in preparation for the third Test with the South African Rugby football team at Auckland on September 25 were announced by the New Zealand Rugby Union last night. The list differs from that announced before the second Test in the inclusion of T. 11. C. Caughey, the Auckland three-quarter, and the omission of J. G. Rankin, the Canterbury forward. The players to train at Auckland are as follows: — Full-back: J. M. Taylor, Otago. Three-quarters: J. Dick, Auckland; J. L. Sullivan, Taranaki; T. 11. C. Caughey, Auckland; N. A. Mitchell, Southland; W. J. Phillips, King Country. Five-eighths: C. A. Crossman, King Country; D. Trevathau, Otago; J. A. Hooper, Canterbury. Half-back: H. Simon, Otago.

Forwards: D. Dalton, Hawke’s Bay; A. Dambourn, Wellington; E. S. Jackson, Hawke’s Bay; R. H. Ward, Southland; R. R. King, West Coast; S. T. Reid, Hawke’s Bay; R. M. McKenzie, Manawatu; A. A. Parkhill, Otago; 11. Milliken, Canterbury; T. H. Pearce, Auckland; F. J. Green, Otago. Mitchell’s recovery from a thigh injury received during the trials in July will be tested on Saturday, when he will take part in a game at Auckland. No practice match, however, is to be played by the All Blacks on that day. Caughey had played in only two matches after his return from abroad when the first Test was played, and was not available for the second. An All Black in 1934 and 1935, he appeared in the first. Test against Australia last vear, but was replaced for the second by Mitchell. If the latter is lit it will mean that five three-quarters will be available for the match against South Africa, and as all have strong claims there will be a good deal of speculation as to the three actually to be chosen. The possibility that either' Caughey or Sullivan will play in the five-eighths position seems fairly remote. Caughey is 25 years of age, Cft. in height, and weighs about 12} stone. The omission of Rankin may have arisen either from his lack of weight, with its tendency to unbalance the serum, or from his insufficient recovery from illness. Although he was well enough to appear in the second Test, he received a knock in that game which may have had severe consequences. It is difficult to predict whether any other change will be made in the forward pack, but it is counted certain that JVard will be played in Rankin’s place. The players are to assemble in Auckland on Monday, and will be quartered at Takapuna. They will again be taken in hand by Messrs. J. T. Burrows iand W. J. Wallace as manager-coaches.

MR. DAY SAILING ON SEPTEMBER 21

Injury to van Reenan

Mr. Percy W. Day, manager of the South African Rugby football team, accompanied by W. E. Bastard, one of the forwards, flew to Wellington from Christchurch yesterday and conferred with the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union upon matters concerning the tour. Mr. Day informed “The Dominion” that the Springboks had been treated most hospitably in the South Island and had thoroughly enjoyed the games which they had played there. The members of the team, he said, were all fit and well with the exception of G. Van Reenan, who had had bones in one hand broken in the match against Otago at Dunedin on Saturday and would probably take no further part in the tour. Mr. Day, who is secretary of the South African Turf Club, said he would have to leave New Zealand by the Aorangi on September 21 in order to join the Themistocles for Cape Town to enable him to return in time for the South African Turf Club’s most important meeting of the year, which was to open at Cape Town on October 30. The Springboks will arrive at Wellington by steamer express from Lyttelton this morning and will leave at S o’clock this morning for Napier, where Hawke’s Bay is to be played on Wednesday.