RUGBY.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 117, 21 May 1925, Page 7

RUGBY.

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM

DECISION NOT YET BEACHED ABOUT FORMATION.

The suggestion thrown out at the annual meeting of the New South Wales Eugby Union that the old-time method of playing two five-eighths and three three-quarters be adopted, in place of the present Welsh plan—the four threequarter game—has interested many old players, who are advocating this alteration for the coming matches against New Zealand. The New South Wales selectors, knowing the wealth of experience possessed by the old hands, agreed to call a gathering for last night, to debate the question. First-grade club captains and coaches, in addition to post-war representative players, were invited. Measures calculated to counteract the All Black wing-forward's activities will be considered also.

Already there is considerable speculation as to the successor to A. S. B. Walker as representative scrum-half, says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph." Walker is now one of the selectors. There is no one playing in the position who at present- is of tho calibre of the ex-State captain, but there are some able candidates among the eight club halves.

Newcastle, and the other country centres, are also to be considered, while the Hawkesbury'College and the Australian Fleet teams are known to possess some players of class. There are sev-' eral internationals' in the Fleet's best fifteen. Humphreys (North Sydney) is playing well. He is a veteran with a vast experience to draw upon, besides being a sturdy defender. Meagher (Randwick), rJuntine (Western Suburbs), Pratt (University), Duncan (V.M.C.A.), and Boss (Glebe-Balmain), are sure to receive careful consideration. It is quite possible that the determining factor may be tho ability of the half-back's club partner, so that the combination may be preserved. Early, the Auckland.player, who is playing five-eighth for Glebe-Bal-nv.iin, is an able exponent of five-eighth play. He is lively, possesses initiative, and ho.idy in his tactics. In Auckland he was dubbed the jazzy five-eighth—a tribute to his tricky methods ill attack. _ Not since 1919 has there been so plentiful a supply of forwards of big physique and dash. Each club has a couple of men, at least, who are six feet in height and over 13at in weight. A careful selection should result in a wellbalanced pack of forwards, who should bo worthy opponents of New Zealand's vanguard. There are some promising players of youth .and ability knocking hard at the door. Eeputation alone is not sufficient to win the highest honour of representing the State. New blood will also be found for the back division, and there will be a keen fight for Wogan's place in the centre of the threequarter line. A number of players for preliminary practice will be selected im-. ■mediately, though the final determination must be withheld until the trial games are over.