RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 18

RUGBY

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM SOME SURPRISES (By "Dropkick.") There are some surprises in the team selected to represent New Zealand in the Australian lour. The team may be enumerated again in the positions in which the players will probably take. Fall-back, Jame3 Eyan (Wellington) ; centre three-quarters, It. Eoberts (Taranaki),, J. O'Brien (Auckland) ; wing three-quarters, G. Loveridge (Taranaki), T. Lynch (South Canterbury) ; fiveeighths, li. Black (Otago), J. M'Kenzie (Auckland), Weston (Auckland) ; halves, C. Green (West Coast), EL Taylor (Canterbury) j forwards, Francis (Wellington), Mi Cain (Taranaki), W. Lindsay (Soutliland), front rankers; lock, J. Irvine (Southland) ; other forwards, A. Wilson (Wellington), Bruce (Auckland), J, Graham {Otago), Downing (Auckland), J. M'fteeco (Southland), T. Fisher (Buller) ; wing forwards, H. Murray (Auckland) and Carroll (South Auckland). EXCLUSION OF E. EOBERTS. Of these players R. Eoberts, J. M'Kenzie, Lynch, Loveridge, Taylor, Cain, Bruce, Downing, Graham, and Murray were in the New Zealand team 1 which went to California. E. Roberts, who went to California, "and who played half for 1 North against South on Saturday, is excluded altogether. It may be added he was not even in the Wellington team to play Taranaki. His ex* elusion is simply impossible to understand on any visible tangible grounds. "Dropkick" understands that his knee is quite well again and that there is no ground 'for his .rejection on that account. The selectors do not give their reasons, but the rumour is that they simply turned Roberts down on the ground that he was not good enough. The Athletic half was injured in the Boyd benefit match at Petone, but he came out a couple of Saturdays ago and played a splendid game against Petone on the Park. His performance for North against South was certainly rather overshadowed 'by that of Taylor, the Southern' half, but, then Roberts was playing behind a beaten pack and did not get ■ the same chances as his ( opponent. He certainly did not let his side down, and, if his display was not brilliant, it was at least sound As a matter of fact, Saturday was not a day on which any representative team should have been picked without full' regard to the players' previous performances. This is specially applicable to a team picked to tour Australia, where wet weather games are not at all common. One would have thought, that Roberts would have been the ideal half for the Australian tour, as he is light on his feet, resourceful, and versatile, yet sound in defence. The fact that he was excluded from 'the "rep." team to meet Taranaki is quite a sufficient indication where the opposition to him lies. When Robinson goes up as an emergency and Roberts is not even given the benefit of the doubt, i( there really is any, to that extent, the public can only stand amazed. The whole affair is a mystery so far as the ordinary spectator can judge, and there is a .good deal of feeling' about it in football circles. AND WHAT OF COCKCROFT? The exclusion of Cockcroft is another surprise. It may be admitted, as suggested, that on Saturday he was often out of jhisj place, ,. but nevejs.jin any' posi- ■ tion where tmeri? 1 was^&ffything to' be lost by it. The book game was absolutely out of the question on Saturday. The game was to secure a score, and to prevent scoring at all costs. Whenever Cockcroft •• went out there was always something to be done., and he invariably did it well. _ He was never guilty of letting his side down once, which was more than could be said of some of .the other . players, who apparently made a better impression' on the selectors; 'He tackled well, kicked well, and When passing^ movements — few as they were — tailed it was not Cockcroft who was to blame. It might be argued, of course, that in R. Roberts the' team already had a -centre three-quarter who could not be overlooked. But both Roberts and Cockcroft are quite capable of playing five-eighths, and, instead of , picking three five-eights — Black, M'Kenzie, and Weston — one at least of the three might very well have been dropped to make room for Cockcroft. If it came to a choice between Weston and Cockcroft, the Northerner would certainly not be the chosen of the man on the bank. AND OF STOHR ! Then Stohr has been dropped also. This, again, is hard to explain. Stohr is a fine wing three-quarter, a good fullback in emergency, and esteemed the best goal-kick in New Zealand to-day. As things stand, apart from Graham, the team does not appear to have any really good place-kicks at all. The selectors may, of course, have kept this in view in regard both to E. Roberts and to Stohr, .that they have legs — footballers' ( knees — which have been known to incapacitate them in the past, and this is considered a defect in an Australian' tour, where the grounds are usually pretty hard, and injured knees are commoner than they are here. On a previous tour Stohr's knee gave him trouble, and the fear of its recurrence may 'account for his exclusion from the team this year. WHAT AN EX-NEW ZEALANDER THINKS. It is interesting after what has been written above to note what "Offside Mac" in his notes on the coming tour in the Sydney Daily Telegraph says: "J. Stohr, possibly the best all-round place, drop, and punt kick in New Zealand, will be a, notable Taranaki nomination if he can make the trip. • The other day he kicked three goals from the field against' Wanganui and won tho match tor his side. He has already been over here with one New Zealand team, but he had the misfortune' to be injured. Another possible with an interesting history is 'Teddy' Roberts, the Wellington half-back, one of the brainost players in the Dominion to-day, and a son of the great Harry Roberts, also half-back, who represented New Zealand in New South Wales way' back in 1884." Thus the two men picked out for spcciii-1 mention by a- critic of W. M'-Kenzie'e reputation are the very men dropped by the selectors. OTHER SELECTIONS GOOD. There is not much to grumble abbut in the rest of the team. Francis is lucky to get in, but on the whole for his play during the season he deserves his place. ''Ranji" Wilson was a practical cerLainty, as there are few better forwards in the loose to-day. James Ryan, though liot equa^ lo the full-backs of the past, is a sterling player, slow but sure, and as good now aa he has ever been. He has always struck the writer as better in club football than in the representative game, but in default of any outstanding full-back in New Zealand to-day, ha is about the best man the selectors could have picked for the place. He was certainly more conspicuous than Scott in j Saturday's match. Murray, as wingforward, gob over Taylor on Saturday, J and is entitled to his pked. Fratilt ! Mitchinson has been, mentioned as a possible member of the team, but it is understood that he has injured his ankle in up-country football, and in any case could not have got away. Among others who would most likely have been selected,

but who could not get away, were J. Cuthill (Otago),. R. M'Gregor (Auckland), and H. Dewar (Taranaki). It is notable also that four "B" inter-Island players worked their way into the AllBlack team: Loveridge, O'Brien, Green, and Carroll. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH. A good 'deal 1 has been said about the North v. South match in the foregoing notes. One has to add that the game, weather or no weather, was very disappointing. There was no versatility on the Northern side and very little in the South. Ifc was notable that whenever back-play was attempted, the attacking side were marked too well to make much progress. Yet the North would persist in the same old passing game in spite of repeated failures. Why the short punt and follow up was not tried is hard to say. Spoiling tactics well applied will always succe-cu unless the attackers mix their game a bit. The art of the short punt seems to have died out since the great days of Jimmy Duncan, who used to carry it out to perfection, and the Welsh system of crosskicking has never really got a hold. The Welshmen used to draw the opposing side over towards on© touchline and then the wing three-quarter of the attackers or whoever held the ball, used to centre with a cross-kick not a lofty punt, and with the unmarked backs well on the run, the ruse was again and again successful. The lofty' punt would have paid well on Saturday, too, but there was far too .little of it. Another , defect in the dribbling of both sides was kicking too hard when with the wind, the result being that tho ball frequently went over the Tine and was safely forced. Unless New Zealand display more resource and versatility than was shown in the North v. .South match they may find in the revival of Rugby in New South Wales tougher propositions to meet than they have done in the pa-st. According to all accounts, ' Australian ' football has improved, very materially 'in the last .couple ot years, and the same cannot be 'said of the game in, New Zealand. WELLINGTON'S ELEVENTH-HOUK WIN. It was literally an eleventh-hour victory that Wellington achieved over* Wairarapa at' Carterton on Saturday last. The try that, turned the, score m. Wellington's'favour was a splendid individual effort, but' it was undoubtedly a lucky win. Wairarapa were very much at home in more senses than one, and, taking a line through the two teams, it is^ quite within the mark to say that theirs was the better performance. The conditions helped them very materially, for before the game had progressed very far it became apparent that Wellington's strength lay mainly in their backs, fast, liesourceful men who would have achieved sure victory for their side on a dry ground and with a dry' ball. It was Wairarapa's opportunity and they seized it with both hands, but the -fortune of war was not theirs and victory was denied them. The winning of the game for Wellington was sensational in tho extreme. TKe game was just at its close, and dusk was drawing in, and the spectators were streaming from the ground — obviously, it seemed, all was over. Then orie saw the unexpected ; the ball in midair, the waiting three-quarter back, and that fatal open lane to Wairarapa's line. The Waivarapa met. &aw it too, but by that time Faire was half-way to the line, and only a thunderbolt could have stayed him. THE GREEN FORWARDS Up Wairarapa wuy they have tho reputation of turning out a fine class of forwards— big, husky men. strong oMittib> artdvfitouf, of body,-,, who revel 'iijra hard-roltfiht JJ game/4ud always go till the sound of the bell. The t;reon pack lived up to this reputation, and, what was as much to the poiut on a day like Saturday, they seemed quite at horns' in the Tiud. Wellington had entered' a very fair team of forwards, but there was no passing the, fact their opponents outshone them. Wellington held their own in the- ecrum, getting their fair share of the ball, but Wairarapa carried most of the lineouts, and were generally their masters in the loose., It was not so much the, resistance of the opposing pack that kept them in check he-re as tho clever and determined " rush-stopping of tho Wellington backs, notably Robinson, the scrum-half, who went down to 'everything... M'Kenzie led the Wairarapa pack on every rush, while N. and A. Johnson and Desmond were always prominent. WELLINGTON'S STRENGTH. Though the Wellington forwards are set down as being weaker than the opposing pack, it must not bo inferred that their , display was other than creditable. More particularly in tho first spell they often held the- upperhand for a fairly gooil interval, and carried the war right to the enemy's doors. It was from such an effort as this that they scored their first try. Forward movements often suffered, however, from t/he fact that there was too much individual effort and not enough .concerted action. Two or three forwards would break away- with the ball at their toes, and the rest of the pack lagging in the rear. Inevitably, of counse,- the advance would be checked simply because- the men were not there to drive it home. ' After the interval, M'Farlane came on. to replace Algar, who had sustained an injury to his shoulder. , The newcomer was' put on as extra wing-forward, but with little apparent effect. Gilchrist, Paton, and Beard were th& pick of Wellington's vanguard. Paton played a particularly sound game, his^ following up and tackling being features of his ■ play. THE BLACK BACKS. But little need be isaid of the Wellington backs, who were not afforded much opportunity o f showing their paces. Theii defence was well te6ted. howeveT, and the test served to throw into Telief the work of Robinson (who completely outshone his vis-a-vis, Tait), and Algar, -who -was sorely missed in the second eDell. D. Beard, at tu"»lDack made occasional mistakes, one of which at least proved rather expensive, but otherwise - made a good showing. AMONG THE BOYS. The fifth class boys are very pleased at the prospects of a "rep." team, while the sixth classers are divided. Some favour the rep. idea and the others claim that a- good "blow out" for all at thn end of the Season is " just the thing. Argument is waxing very fraely in tho different" camps, and the Management Committee should be very enrnful or they will have to brave the teriffic indignation of these big fellows. OLU BOYS' FIFTHS. In accordance with last week's promise some notes on a particular team will appeal 1 , and this week it is Old Boys' Fifths. This team, though "new," has made a- very good beginning and some of the players show decided promise. Full-back Marvis is the youngster of the team, and could, if he desired, play sixth class.^ He is a trifle slow at present, but is cool and an accurate line-finder. The three-quarter line is good. Slater is of the right build ; his opportunities have been few, but he must look for play more. Coffey is fast and shapes well, while Giblin is a likely player, and Hir>Jop a keen one with a good turn of speed. Tonks, at five-eighths and the place-kick of the team, is strong in defence, kicks well, and has' attacking abilities. Ilicks, his partner, noted for his straight running, handles the ball cleverly, plays

determinedly, and must be branded good. Leys at half is tricky, but his handling of the ball can be improved upon. Scott, the captain, leads his forwards splendidly, ana as he does not appeal to be a youth likely to develop "swelled head" j should be heard of in big .football in a j year or two. M'Leod hooks with Scott and plays a good hard game. The same may be said of R. Tonks— a bustler. Cole is big and solid, inclines to be a little spasmodic, but has big possibilities. Isherwood, Jenkins, Wall, and Gully all shape well, and should improve rapidly. The last named can gallop, but must learn to keep to the ball more. Menzies, the only one not so far mentioned, shows promise ; his line-work in particular is very pleasing. The play of the team at present is a little ragged — the forwards not bunching enough to the ball and the backs wandering a little and failing to get into position to receive the pass. No doubt in a Saturday or two there will be improvement, and perhaps it may be stated h&> fore the end of the season in these columns that the Old Boys Fifths are just "It." Next week the Oriental Fifth and Poneke Fifth and Sixth will have a few remarks passed on their play. NOTES. Playing for Raetihi on Saturday week, F. Mitchinson, the well-known Poneke clubman and Wellington rep., had the misfortune to badly strain his ankle. He came down to Wellington and was among the spectators at the Athletic Park last Saturday. Tho prospects of Mitchinson assisting his old club in Cup matches is very remote. W. H. Stairiton, the University centre three-quarter, is Unlikely to don the green jersey again this season. At the annual extravaganaa in connection with Victoria College he was assisting on the stage and fell from a ladder. He is still carrying his arm in a sling. Writing to a friend Gordon Kinvig (the ex-Oriental skipper) states that he is .comfortably settled at St. Kilda, quite 'close to the famous beach and cricket ground. On a recent Saturday he witnessed a football match (Australian rules), which drew a gate of 29,ut)0 peo■ple, and this in the face of equal crowds at matches on other grounds. Kinvig was certainly impressed with the attendance, but judging from his -remarks the game does not compare with our Rugby game, at least in his opinion. B. Algar, who retired after the first spell when playing for Wellington against Wairarapa, has now contracted pleurisy and will be confined to his bed for a month. This is hard luck, as he was just striking his best form. Mr. A. Griffiths, one of the Wellington selectors, was ready to take the field if wanted against Wairarapa — a very handy selector to have with a touring team. Great difficulty was experienced in getting players away to Taranaki, quite ten being^ unable to get the necessary leave required. A. Izrael and A. Bowe, of Poneke Club, should.be in their usual places on Saturday, having recovered from«4njury and illness. Different football selectors have different opinions. It is noticed that J. Robinson, who had been playing for Athletic seniors, but who had lost his position in the team, played a really good game against Wairaiapa last Saturday, and was selected and played against Taranaki. J. Gosling, who played" full-back for Atnletics a couple of seasons, is now playing wing-forward for the blue and black- juniors.