TODAY'S RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 11

TODAY'S RUGBY

ALL BLACKS v. OXFOKD

UNIVERSITY TALENT

(By "Drop-Kick.")

Having started off the season with brighter prospects than was the case last year, and heartened by big wins over United Services (24-0) and Richmond (20-9) in recent Saturday matches, Oxford University should | cause the New Zealand Rugby team to | step lively in the match at Oxford toi day. Three converted tries represented the highest score registered against the 1924 New Zealand team on its allwinning tour, and that achievement was made by Oxford University, though on the other side of the ledger for the particular match the All Blacks ran up 33 points.

The hopes oi: an Oxford University revival this year were based on the fact that quite a number of the players were expected to benefit by a brief Welsh tour undertaken by Oxford towards the close of last season. Then, too, C. F. Grieye, who is a Scottish international, has been passed as fit again after severe concussion, and the captain, K. L. T. Jackson, and J. M. McShane (of Australia) were also stated to have thrown off the effects of injuries received last season. Some eight or nine old Blues being available, together with other players of account, Oxford were regarded as being quite fortunate in facing the present season, even though it would be necessary to recast the back division to a very considerable extent.

Main problems were in filling the full-back and half-back positions. Grieve has reverted to his position as a half, he being better suited there than at full-back, where he played in the University match last year. J. L. Stewart-Watson is included as the fullback, G. R. Rees-Jones, a Welsh international, retains his place on the wing, and Prince A. Obolensky (who has already played against the present touring team) continues in the place he occupied for Oxford last year, though he did not play in the match with Cambridge University. M. W. Wallford (from Rugby), who played in some games for Oxford last year, and R. F. Harding are the centres. Jackson (captain), evidently being out of action again, McShane and Grieve are paired as halves, though it is possible that had he been available Jackson would have played at centre. Of the backs, Stewart-Watson, Prince Obolensky. and R. F. Harding represented Brasnose in the Oxford College i Cup final last year, and Rees-Jones was on the University College side.

The Oxford forwards should lack nothing on the score of combination, since most of them appeared regularly for Oxford last year, when they prov-. Ed themselves to be really good scrummagers. N. F. McGrath (an Irish international), J. H. Pienaar (a South African), and J. A. Brett were linked in the front row in some of last season's matches, as they are today. G. A. Reid retains his place in the middle row of Oxford's 3-2-3 scrummage, and he has associated with him a player from the Stellenbosch University, Cape Town (G. D. Roos). This forward was showing considerable promise at Oxford last year.

pf special interest to New Zealand is the advice that M. McG. Cooper will be captaining Oxford today, as he has done previously. Since going to Oxford from Massey College, Palmerston North. Cooper has done exceptionally well. He was repeatedly given special mention in last season's Rugby matches, and he was given a trial for Scotland. Cooper is the Oxford secretary this year. On the back row with him today will be C. T. Bloxham, who has also figured prominently prior to this spason. and H. Davies.