THE ALL BLACKS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 140, 14 June 1924, Page 13

THE ALL BLACKS

VISIT TO NEW SOUTH WALES

CAREFUL PREPARATION" IN 1: COMMONWEALTH STATE

New South Wales would appear to" .be taking great care with the selection-of" the team to meet the All Blacks during the approaching tour of that State, judging by exchanges recently to hand. Ine bydney Sun," commenting, on the' visit, says: "Accounts which have been" received of the trials in New Zealand to enable the best possible team to "be P/,i ™ f<? r" En Slan(i suggest that this All Black side will be exceptionally capable One authority has remarked, Poor New South Wales'; but' he may yet take back those words, for it can be emphatically stated that when' the Light Blue side takes the field against its redoubtable opponents, the Blues themselves will be a wonderful team, specially trained and fit to the minute; Aew Zealand will have no walk-over " a fu ™S, Un"' considers that the New" houth Wales selectors, in their choice of teams for the trial matches, have done their work well, and it now only remains for constant training to' ensure that^the final fifteen "will be tutored up in all the tricks and wiles that it-will ba necessary to employ against the brilliant men of New Zealand, whose form according to New Zealand advices, is of a standard equal to the best that has ever been displayed by All Black sides Wowing accounts of the New Zealand trial matches, which have been played before record attendances, inform us that the fanal All Black side will be a team equal to the wonderful 1905 combination. No time should be lost now in getting our own team finalised, as the players will need as much- football together as it is possible to arrange " Commenting on the players that" have been so far selected—and those left" out —the Sydney paper says that although Larry Wogan's. name does not appear in toe trial teams, it must be because 1? unavailable, as it is unthinkable that he would not otherwise be included. Two other players who have been showing good form this season have also been omitted—Hill, a Manly forward, and Hmgst, the University break-away It is difficult to understand how these players escaped the eyes of the astute selectors. Hill is a particularly hefty and vigorous young forward, the best type of rucker, and deserving of selection. Georgeson, who' lias been chosen, and who works the North Sydney scrum, plays a fine game, repeatedly" varvin°his movements and running 'his backs into good position. His exhibitions this season stamp him as a specially good scrum half. Owen Crossman is iiot appearing in club football until the -ill Blacks'arrive. This player is one of the Union's biggest "draw" cards, and although an injury he sustained at Manly recently is slight, no risk will be taken of playing him till he is quite sound again Stanley and Sheehan are great backs of traditional University brilliance.

The selection has now been narrowed down to 32 players, all of whom go into training prior to the final choice which the selectors—Messrs. Bosward, Griffeh, and Adamson—will make just prior to the first Test on sth July. Their greatest problem appears to be goal-kickers, of which there is apparently a woeful lack this season. In a recent fixture at which the selectors were present, out of 15 attempts only three—and these easy ones—were successful. "This," declares the "Sun," "is shockingly bad for experts like Stanley, Nothling, and Mmgay, who, for the sake of their own reputation, apart from the value it would be to their team, should indulge in some much-needed practice. The standard is bad with most of the-teams, and needs urgent improvement..'-. ..'...-,