NEW ZEALAND TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1935, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

"UNLIKE WORLD-BEATERS"

AUSTRALIAN VIEW

Australia1 has taken a keen interest in the selection of the New Zealand • Rugby team for the tour of the Home countries, and there has been much surprise there' at the non-inclusion of several of the players who were man- >..* bers of last year's New Zealand team ■■,r, in Australia. It was expected there that F. D. Kilby would be a certainty, 1 not only because of his ability as a *r< half-back but also on account of his •ie leadership, and his omission has astounded some of Rugby's keen followers in Australia. That Bush has been unable to gain a place is also surpris- *:. ing. ;,- "It conies as a real shock to me— :_- and I know it will to most followers .* of the game in Australia—to find V; Frank Kilby omitted from the All | if. Black side to tour Great Britain," -ac writes Syd. Malcolm, the Waratahoi Wallaby half-back, in the "Referee" Sk (Sydney). "I confidently thought the oiv snowy-haired half would lead the side, i"-i so good was his form and captaincy "■v- here last year. It. makes one'wonder i~I" whether the New Zealand selectors is have'"committed as "grave an error as did the Australian selectors in the «" omission of Towers from the Wallabies! ;.'■ MAY DEVELOP. -.':•■ "The 1936 All Blacks don't look like ■-. world-beaters at this stage, though they may develop some outstanding ■•:; ■ players, and match-winning combina.l..- lion on tour. One can see no Porter, ■'.„-. Brownlie, Richardson, Nicholls, or »:'.- Cooke in this band, though some of the <■- youngsters such as Jack Griffiths may make, big reputations on tour. One thing is certain. They will have every chance •to develop t under manager Meredith, who knows the game thoroughly. He was an All Black selector, and also sole selector and coach *? of the Auckland Province side. "To get back to the omission of Kilby. Frank is not a "chicken" —he ' made the, trip to South Africa with * the 1928 All Blacks—but his form'here last year was outstanding. In fact, he played better football than on the 1932 tour. And few will forget what a faptor his shrewd captaincy was. Merv. . Corner, on the other hand, has never *•> impressed either in Australia or ir against us in New Zealand. I believe "., he played grand football against the r: G.B. team, but he hasn't reproduced it ■,' against.us. He looked very ordinary „ last year when deputising for Kilby '..•■ in the .first Test. . ■-■ ■ "I am pleased to see Charlie Oliver included. This fine footballer hasn't ..-, - had the best of luck in Australia with , injuries. In 1932 he received a nasty knock against a goal-post that put him out of action. His form last year was ' good. Charlie has the unique distinction of having toured England with an All Black cricket side. A FULL-BACK PUZZLE. "The full-back, Gilbert, is not known to me, but he didn't have much to beat in the 1932:34 full-back, Collins, whose form in Australia was anything but impressive. 'It has always puzzled me that -Bush hasn't won the full-back position in an All Black side. He played against us for Auckland in j 1931. and gave a champion display. His ' "\ goal-kicking too, was uncanny, and he >; got 14 points against us out of 20. Bush :; Has made a big reputation over here ■'V with the. New' Zealand universities f team.'ancf. we1- were ': astonished' wlletr ;" : ho missed both trips with All. Black :' .teams.; "• -■<;:■ "In Hart and Ball the side has two "''■' really good wingers—fast and.deter- .. rriined. We know them well. Caughey " V: is a centre df great possibilities, but;he has been rather patchy in Australia. • , Oil his day he is outstanding. ; " •. , .';" "Jack Griffiths was the baby of .the"X 'team, in Australia last, year, ahdite. k' did very well. He may. develop into- ;; a' champion on this tour. He is very % fast' off. the mark, and is tricky on .his 1' feet, and' defends well.". Page is a class it- fry&eijikths, who is popular in Austea'-: "■ ',lia;'and:his selection'was anticipated. V; He will be the spearhead of the attack,- -- probably. "Rusty' has plenty -of grit, '? ahclhe will be able /to take the knocks ?.' he is certain to get in Wales and Scot- ). 'land.' . ....■•. fr. '-Gilbert, Brown, Mitchell, Tindill, ~!\ Solomon, and Sadler are players whom 'I'".' t have, not met. I have been told that1 '^ ■'Joey Sadler is a champion halt an' '.: the making.. He plays with the Wellington College Old Boys, and is said to vary his play finely. SOLID FORWARDS. "The forwards look a solid bunch, although there are names new to me.Pepper, Adkins, Reid, Best, Collins, Wynyard, and Vorrath must have produced the goods to gain inclusion. I was" rather surprised to see Leeson missing. He impressed me as a real grafter of the type invaluable on such '•"• a ' strenuous tour. They don't make them any keener-than Johnny! --• ' "Wing-forward Solomon, who played ' so "well"in Australia in 1932, has ap- ; parently failed to recapture his form. after his severe injury. McLean, Hore, s Hadley, Mahoney, McKenzie, King, •■• Manchester, Lambourn, and Dalton *• are all well known to us. Bill Hadley is a grand hooker, whose legs I have '"•' often seen, and will probably be- an -'- important man on the tour. Hugh McLean is an outstanding loose-for- , ward, and Manchester, Hore, and ' Mahoney are three of the hard workers who will win big names overseas., Johnny Hore is, a particularly fine ■j forward, who dribbles like a Soccer *' player, and handles like a crack threequarter. "I cannot see this team proving as invincible as the two previous All Black sides in Great Britain. But a '-■' few defeats won't harm them, and it ■i can be confidently, expected that they •' will■■mould into a: first-class side"in -- readiness for the Springboks. And no f doubt there will arise some stars who will take their place in Rugby history . with the men whose names are linked with the wonderful deeds of the 1905 and 1924 New Zealanders."