RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 18336, 25 July 1923, Page 9

RUGBY

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM. A STRONG BACK DIVISION. > (Special to the ’Staii.’] CHRISTCHURCH, July, 24. According to some of the New Zealand University team which played in Australia a few weeks ago, the New South Wales team which lias been selected for the New Zealand tour is a strong side, especially so in the hack division, which will be composed of fast, dashing men, Perhaps the best all-round back is' Wl Sheehan, who captained Sydney University against New Zealand University in the recent tour. He also led tho Combined Universities of New Zealand and Sydney against New South Wales. Sheehan is a fine plover, very fast and beady, and quick olf tho mark. He is generally reckoned to bo one of the finest players tho Sta-fo has yet produced. Against the AllBlack team last year he placed line football.

Another player who has nor. yet visited New Zealand is O. O. Grossman, of the Rand-wick Club. Grossman is a young player who was at school last year, hut lie has come quickly to the front ag a wing-three-quarter. He is a fast winger, and against the New Zealand ’Varsity team was always dangerous. Dr \V. G. George, who has played fiveeighth for the. Slate this season, is one of lire “finds” of the season. After playing in only two first grade matches ho was selected for the Metropolitan team in its first game. He handles the ball with remarkable skill, and is possessed of a disconcerting swerve. O. E. Nothling, the full-back, has been Keen hero before, and is as good ns ever. Tho team has a. good reserve full-back in J. S. Crackcnthorpe. Another fine three-quarter is R. G. Stanley, also of the. Sydney University learn. Though bis play lias not been very consistent this season, at bis best Stanley is a very dangerous man. He has a great swerve when going at full speed.

D. J. Erasmus and J. A. Foote’arc the remaining three-quarters. Tho former is a strong, determined runner, while Foote is a line back, who scored a great solo try’ for .Sydney University in the first test against the New Zealand ’Varsities.

Tho back division as a whole is a fine combination, whose strength lies in their pace and super!) handling. As they have already developed pood combination, (hoy will be .a source of trouble to the New Zealand hacks.

Of tlie forwards there arc no outstanding players, and probably in this department the team is not so strong. As a. whole they are not up to the New Zealand standard, but play a hard, bustling game. If the grounds in New Zealand are soft tho visiting pack will be at a great disadvantage, accustomed, ns they are to hard grounds in Sydney. A typical New Zealand pact should have no difficulty in outplaying the visiting forwards. Elliott, Thorn, Thompson, Bonner, and Marrott have all played for New South Wales in previous matches, and make a quartet of fine forward's. A. R. Armstrong and T. S. R. Davies, both of tho West Sydney pack, are two of tlie best, forwards in the State. Of the Svditey ’Varsity pack there are included in tlie team C. Fowles, A. B. Erby, ami H. C. Taylor, who were tho outstanding men of a very even lot of forwards.

Tho team is probably the best that New South. Wales can produce. It plays a, fine open game, relying mainly on tho speed of the backs to win matches. If New Zealand lakes tlio team as cheaply ns it. dick the last New South Wales side, which toured the dominion, tho result will spell disaster.