BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 123, 25 May 1908, Page 7

BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND.

THE DOMINION'S FOOTBALL TEAM, j The New Zealand representative j fifteen for the match to be played at Dunedin against the British team on. 6th June, has been finally picked by the ■New Zealand Bugby Union's Selection. Committee (Messrs. D. Gallagher, H. •Harris, H. Kelly, and S. Wilson), The list is as follows :— Full-back, W. Wallace (Wellington) ; three-quarters^ Cameron (Taranaki), R. Deans (Canterbury), H. D. Thomson (Wellington); fiveeighths, J. Hunter (Taranaki), W- J. Stead (Southland); half, F. Roberts (Wellington); wing-forward, G. Gillett ; forwards (front rank), S. Casey (Otago), E. Hughes (Southland: lock : W. Cunningham (Auckland) ; ; supports : H. R. Francis (Auckland), A. ("Rangi") "Wilson (Wellington) ; back rank: Seeling (Auckland), A. M'Donalci (Otago). Emergency back: EL J. Mynott (Taranaki); emergency forward, Hayward (Auckland).

The aim of the selectors obviously has been to onsure combination, and to that end they have confined themselves almost entirely to men who have played together previously. Eleven of the fifteen were in the All Black team of 1905, and two of the remaining four have been in representative New Zealand teams on previous occasions. Cameron, of Taranaki, is a member of the Stratford Club. His form must have greatly improved in the current season, for he was not a "top notch man" in previous years, though he represented Taranaki on several occasions. A. Wilson, the other new man, (familiarly known as "Ranji") is a young forward of great ability who has played in the Athletic Club for several seasons past. Three years ago, when he had just been promoted from the junior ranks, The Evening Post on several occasions prophesied that he was likely to make a champion player. His recent form has largely justified the prophecy, and his debut in an inter^country game next Wednesday, will be watched witb interest. Mynott's exclusion 'from the team is sure to be matter of comment, especially as he and Hunter have played together so long and gained such intimate knowledge of each other's style of game. His supplanter, however (Stead) is a welltried man, and he is reported by keen observers, to be playing as good a game to-day as at any period of his career.