ALL BLACKS IN GOOD FETTLE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 8

ALL BLACKS IN GOOD FETTLE

TEAMS TO BE SELECTED

TO-NIGHT.

(»T TELBORAPH.J-SPECIAt TO THE POST.)

AUCKX/A-ND, This Day. Preparations are being made by the Auckland football authorities for handling a record crowd at Eden Park for the second Test match -to-morrow.

The Springboks arrived back in Auckland yesterday afternoon from their Rotorua trip, and the two ' opposing teams will be definitely selected to-night. The New Zealand team is in active training, and on Tuesday afternoon had the /benefit of a, practice match at Victoria Park against Grammar School Old Boys' team, whom they beat by. 13 points to' 5, in the course of a couple of short spells. The game was fast, but not strenuous, and the All Blacks, with Roberts behind the scrum, pleased tho spectators by their all-round' speed towards the end of the game. After the Grammar players ;had Warmed them up with some flashing open play that led to the local players ■leading temporarily by 5 points to 3, it was evident that if the . New Zealand (forward pack can hold their own they will/be backed up by a rearguard that ■does not lack anything by comparison ■with their opponents' display of. laet week in pace and dexterity. Tho whole team looked to be in fine fettle.

All League football and hockey matches have been cancelled for Saturday, while all the drapers have been asked to close their shops at noon, to enable the assistants- to attend the match.

While at Rotoraa a number of Springboks paid a, visit to the Maori School at Whaka-rewarewa, at the invitation of the headmaster. They were greatly interested in all they saw, especially the model farm in the school grounds, and before leaving planted about thirty trees on some high ground overlooking Rotorua. and Whaka.rev.-a.rewa, naming it "Springbok Point," in honour of their visit. ■ '

T-he football contributor to the Otago Daily Times has this to say of the second Test match':—"lt will be interesting ito . note whether the New Zealand selectors will stick to M. iNicholls as- second five-eighths for the second Test. If they do, the natural inference is that,they consider him the best second five-eighths in New Zealand, an opinion which is certainly not justified by his play at Carisbrook in the first Test. 'Teddy* Boberts I consider', is a better half-back' than H. E. Nicholls, and a better live-eighths than Mark Nicholls or Badeley. The selectors will also take a risk if they play M'Lean in the team, as his knee was troubling him very badly last Saturday week, and it can hardly be absolutely sound 1 by next Saturday. Storey hurt his shoulder in the first Test and he too may not be properly right for a match which is bound to be sternly contested from start to finish. : "The Springboks will realise that if they lose on Saturday their chance of securing the rubber has gone. The, All Blacks should, however, go better than they did in the first Test), when they just won. In \tho first Test the Springboks* stand-off half played a poor game,- and their three-quarter line was not at its best. The visitors',' play can likewise bo improved,, and they will be better fitted by the 'climate conditions in Auckland. A great'tussle should result. The New Zealand selectors will need to -haVe thedr -best team;-and the All Blacks will have ; to be in their best form if they are to win. Personally I consider that Roberts should be in the..team, and that.Standen.or.S..Sheerer should • replace Hugues, and if "there is any doubt about Storey being at his best I would replace him with Ford,, of Canterbury. g

"The New Zealand selectors will not be wise if they take anything on trust. Lastly, Turnbnll, tho slashing Otago forward, whose eye is now quite sound again, should be in the third New Zealand Test team." ■ '