RUGBY ARRAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1933, Page 4

RUGBY ARRAY

NORTH ISLAND TALENT

FINAL CHOICE THIS WEEK

PROSPECTS DISCUSSED t ... ~ (By "Drop-Kick.") National Kugby honours arc not to bo won iu New Zealand this year. But there is the North-South match, and elevation to island'rank'is quite the next best tiling in Rugby awards. For this distinction, there.are' many candidates, and from those in the- South Island the final selection has been made. Who,■'then, are to bo the North Island's elect for the big match, to be played in Wellington on Saturday week? Forthe full-back position, there is quite an array of talent, a lato nomination bringing a great and picturesque Eugby figure into the running for. a place, none other than George Nepia, who built up a big name for himself by Ms performance throughout the 1924-25 New Zealand team's tour, lieports from the East Coast indicate that Nepia is still playing " splendidly,' and the entry of this player into the field for this year's North Island selection must reduce the chances of the other nominees for the full-back position— E. G. Bush (Auckland), H. E. Pollock (Wellington), H. T, Lilbiirne (Wellington), A. Collins (Taranaki), and " M. Davies (Waikato)..... ; The fact has to bo borncin mind that the selectors, of whom there are two, have not seen Nepia in action this season, and much depends upon how they regard "the form of those ; -whom, they have seen. Collins, recovered from .anfinjury, has been showing a return .to form, and Bush, too, apparently is now in good trim. The chances of Pollock and Lilburne are affected by,their.'being nominated for other positions,, though Pollock has played regularly, excepMor, a brief break, as full-back for Wellington and. has done all that has been required of him. Davies is an ex-Auck-land full-back, but does, not now appear to havo strong claims. Nepia's choice would be extremely.'.' popular with Eugby's following. Should Nepia be passed over, Bush would seem to be the most likely, one for the place. He has been almost constantly under the eye of one of the selectors. The Wellington full-back, however, ■will have his final trial on Saturday with Bush as the opposite number. THREE-QUARTERS. The -wing-three-quarters nominated flre:—F. S.Fuller (Wellington), T. H. C. Caughey- (Auckland),'", A. BullockDouglas (Wangauui),;,W. ..Eutherford (Taranaki), C. Smith (Hawke's Bay), L. Gloyn (Thames Valley), and J. Conaolly (Bay of Plenty)-; Since they are better as centres,: Caughey andißutherford may not receive-the/'( same consideration as the others, among whom Bullock-Douglas is' aV strong fancy. There are some .good reports of Smith, and Connolly is known as: an ex-Auck-land representative. For Ms scoring ability^ alone Fuller should be worthy of a place in any team.' If Killeeu happens to be wanted as contro, it is possible that Caughey may gain a place on the wing. One expects that Smith will be well in the running, and, if Fuller is not favoured, the wings may be Bullock-Douglas and ■ Smith. In addition to Eutherford and Caughey, the centres nominated aro;J, Aitken (Waikato), B. A. Killeen (WelKngton), And H..8. Pollock (AVellingtrfn). Aitken is an .ex-Christ's Gjdl* lege boy. Kutherford has played some nne football in Taranaki this season, but Caughey would appear to havo a pull over.him, and much depends upon how Killeen goes at Auckland as to whether the fine young . Wellington centre is placed , ahead of those two candidates;* At the moment, Caughey is the likely one1 for the position^ ; FIVE-EIGHTHS AND HALF. Nominations as: five-eighths are' few, with the, nominees, mainly ; front Wellington. The second five-eighths ave Lilburne,: Pollock, Killeen, (all three also nominated for other ;places), J.'L. (Griffiths (Wellington), and H. Pickering (North Auckland).' It is understood that Pickering is tho ex-Welling-ton player of that name. Had Griffiths maintained his early form, he was quite tho best prospect, but his chaiices have been affecto'd of lftto, though he is bound to rise to big football. Pollock is unfortunate in having such strong opposition for the full-back berth and in not having played in representative games as a live-eighth, LilburtLo's chances will depend; upon tke impression ho creates in Auckland. Killeeu developed as a five-eighth, and has done so well there'and at centrethat it willvtako a topnoteher to beat him .for a place. J.^B. Page (Wellington) walks/in to the firsjt five-eighth position practically unopposed, the only other nominee being P. Howell (Bay of Plenty), an ex-Ppverty- Bay representative, also nominated as a. halfback. ■ ■ " :'"..' Tho half-back position lies between M. Corner (A.uckland) and F. D. Kilby (Wellington), although Nunn (Wairarapa) js another nominee. The selection, no doubt, will depend upon tho result of the Kilby-Corner duel in Auckland, although it seems that Kilby has shown the better form, throughout the season. It is unfortunate in a way that, with two selectors, the choice of some players will depend upon form shown in one-match. FORWARDS IN PLENTY. Of forwards there,, is a plentiful supply. Those nominated as frontrankers are:—J. Leeson (Waikato), A. Lanibourn (Wellington), j. G. Dellabar&a (Wellington), -Wi E. Hadley (Auckland), F. Gargen (Taranaki), J. H. Waters (Wanganui), K. Eeid (Wairarapa), and F. C. Cooper (North Auckland). Here there may be a surprise. Hadley and Lanibourn will be put'.to their final test on Saturday, and both possibly may go well enough to be paired for the Nor,th Island, with Gargen or Cooper attached. Dellabarca would come into the reckoning if a loose man were required in tho front row. : .

Assuming that there will be a 3-4-1 scrum, there are the following for the inside positions of the second row:—l. Melntyre (Wanganui), B. McC. McKensrie, and G, Cf, Mitchell (Manawatu), E. It. G. Steerc (Hawke's Bay), B. Clarke (Taranald), T. Whitdey (Bay of Plenty), and' T: Thomson and J. Hed-" ley ("Waikato).'" Steere and Clarke are,the best known, anil that may count. For the other positions in the . pack there are;—H. F, McLean and E. Barry (Wellington), T. Beid (East Coast), |A. Mahoney (Bush. Districts), A. E. Cullimore (Bay of Plenty), Mataira Hawea (Hawke's Bay), E. Eadford (Thames Valley)j P. Solomon (Auckland), and J. Peacock and K. McCracken (North Auckland), and M. Devine (Wairarapa), in addition to McKenzie. Cullimora is tho cx-East-bourno aud " Wellington forward, McLean must bo regarded as a certainty for the place on one side of tho Biirum and Solomon appears to be, the most likely man for tho back. That leaves only one place, and, it being usual to ilnd fairly wide representation in a team of this sort, the other local nominee, Barry, will find it hard to get in *the side. There are particularly good reports of McKenzie and Mitchell, and. Hawea is stated, to be going very well. The good ones cannot all be placed, and those who are unlucky need not lose heart, as the future' holds r>.von holl or chances of distinction. '''.-'''. ' ' ' '