THIRD RUGBY TEST

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 300, 15 September 1937, Page 5

THIRD RUGBY TEST

Finding the New Zealand

the THREE-QUARTERS

Why Caughey Should Not be

Played

(Ry

Three o’Clock.)

The omission of J. G. Rankin, the Canterbury and New Zealand forward, from the list of players to train in preparation for the third Test on Saturday week leaves the issue as among the for-

wards fairly clear, but the reverse is the case with the inclusion of T. H. C. Caughey, Auckland, in the list of backs. It looks as if R. H. Ward will be chosen to replace Rankin, as among the reserves he is the most experienced side row man, a fine all-round forward with plenty, of speed and a striding action when chasing the ball that promises trouble. In the first Test before he was required to leave the pack for the wing, Ward was going extremely well. Provided his ankle injury is mended he seems pretty certain to get a game. Failing this, the selectors would probably prefer a man used to the side row position and play Green, but so far there is no indication that Ward will not be able to take the field. Even on second Test form the other forwards should retain their places. Dalton, though his game was marred by a regrettable incident, was a tireless worker throughout, sharing the honours with King and Reid. McKenzie and Parkhill were buried in the tight for most of the game, and the only two who did not reproduce quite the same magnificent form of the first Test were Jaekson and Lambourn. Still, it appears improbable that either will be dropped. The latter is still the best hooker, and Jackson on his game —and his “off” days are few —is a splendid all-round forward.

Criticism of the Backs. It is the rearguard that has come in for the greatest criticism, directed mostly toward the inside backs. Simon who saw little of the ball at Christchurch, was held to be rather slow in the attacking work he did get in, but has not been omitted and can be expected to smarten up his w.ork. Trevathan's'work, too, was mostly defensive, and it was only in the marking of Harris that he fell below standard, his work in blocking the forwards and using the line being of the best. It is difficult to smother a fly half who run diagonally and usually it is not necessary to do so. With Harris, however, there is always the possibility of a quick change of direction at the moment when it would appear he must send the ball on to avoid a breakdown. To counter him a fast man is needed who can get up quickly and remain on the inside of him. The Otago backs adopted this style of blocking against Wellington at Athletic Park and made it rather effective. It is also said, and rightly, that Crossman is a man who excels at finding au opening close to the scrum. He is faster than Trevathan and defends well. But against him is the fact that the third Test will be too important a matter for experiments. Even in the trials in July it was apparent that the King Country man was a prey, to nerves and that he had not played the games of which he was capable. The coaches will have to see that Trevathan is well schooled in the methods needed to counter the danger of a player of Harris’s ability, especially oue who gets the ball so quickly from his scrum-half. In Hooper's case there was less excuse for his comparative failure to make sure of White, not only because the second five-eighth has more time to get. to his man, but also because White has not proved himself a brilliant attacking back. Yet the first Test showed that Hooper can bottle up his man, aud there is no reason to expect Hint he will fail again. On attack he has yet to be given the scope to show what be can do. Problem of the Three-quarters.

disregarding the possibility that either Sullivan or Caughey will be played in Hooper's place—the former is much better aud happier in au outer position, ami the latter is not a five-eighth at all—the selectors have asked live three-quarters to train: Phillips, Sullivan, Dick, Mitchell and Caughey. That Caughey should be considered has caused a stir among the majority of. foiiowers of the game. It takes a champion to walk into the Ail Blacks after a total of two games for the season before the Tests with such opponents as the South Africans. Caughey was a brilliant schoolboy player at King's College, though even in those days it was seen that he needed plenty of room to work in, and did not altogether relish the more strenuous work. His career since has proved this to be true; a typical instance was a match between Auckland and Wellington in 1933, when the three-quarter line was given plenty of the ball, but could not do a thing with it, and Wellington won 37-9. It is sincerely to be hoped that if he is played it will be in the outside position, for the South Africans are adepts at limiting the scope of the attack by great backingup, and it will take a better man than Caughey to get through. Another thing is that the South African tackling is likely to disconcert a player of his type. The three-quarter line which would give the greatest confidence would be Sullivan, Mitchell and Dick. If Mitchel! stands up well to his try-out in Auckland on Saturday, these three will probably take the field. If not, it would be preferable to play Phillips—at Christchurch he had little chance on attack, but his defence was impressive.

Otago Match No Indication. The heavy defeat of Otago by the Springboks has added another note to the trumpets of the prophets of doom, who point to the four All Blacks, Taylor, Trevathan, Simon, and Parkhill, aud oue reserve, Green, in the Otago team. Certainly the downfall was a blow to the union which defended the Ranfurly Shield eight times last year. But the Otago team seen in action at Wellington never looked like a team to stand up to the Springboks. The forwards lacked both weight and team work, in both of which they would have to match the Springboks to hope to succeed. When tlie time came they were hopelessly outweighed, and it was only in the first quarter that their tiro was able to produce any substantial effect. The Otago game is on a par with the Wellington one in that it cannot be used for predicting the result of a Test. Many Wellington people foretold a hiding for the All Blacks after the provincial match. The hardest match for the tourists, apart from the Tests, will face them today at Napier. They will be at a disadvantage to begin with in having travelled on Sunday and Monday nights from the south and again yesterday from Wellington. Hawke's Bay have again developed a fine all-round combination, with such men in the pack as Jackson, Reid, Dalton. Johnson and Bowman, and a set of backs who know each other's play perfectly. In Apsey and Devine tlie Bay have scoring men who need only half a chance to put on the points.

WeHiiigton's Fixtures. Wellington's remaining representative fixtures are with Wanganui to-day and Auckland and South Canterbury on Saturday, the last being the only one at Wellington.

Saturday's match at Eden Park will be the 56th encounter between Auckland and Wellington. The games have been played in the northern and southern centres alternately since 1880, though in one or two years no match was played. Each side has generally proved superior on its own ground. Thus of 28 games at Auckland the home team has won 17, Wellington nine, and two have been drawn : of 27 games played at Wellington, the home team has won 16, and Auckland 11. Altogether Auckland has won 28 times and Wellington 25.

Last year's match was not a truly representative one, as Auckland had four

men and Wellington seven away at the inter-island game at Christchurch. The match was at Athletic Park, and Auckland won 21-18, the inside backs, Cooney, Curtayne, and Solomon, playing at top form. Both unions have been beaten this year by Hawke’s Bay, though in the ease of Wellington the Bay team had tlie assistance of its All Blacks, Jackson, Dalton, and Reid. The game on Saturday ■should be even, but Wellington’s chances are the more favoured by reason of the team's improvement in its more recent matches. It is a vastly different side from that which went down to Canterbury on Coronation Day. and much of the improvement can be traced to the visit of tlie Springboks. The lessons learned from them were those of backing up, on both attack and defence. In the Southland, Otago, and Taranaki matches the Wellington forwards excelled themselves in tlie way they supported the man in possession ; whereas against the Springboks their failure to do this was most marked.

Answer to Correspondent. “Query,” Dannevirke: G. T. Nolan, the Canterbury full-back, is 25 years of age and first represented Canterbury in 1933 at the age of 21.