AUSTRALIA HAS TEAM CAPABLE OF UPSETTING ALL BLACKS ON SATURDAY

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 8

AUSTRALIA HAS TEAM CAPABLE OF UPSETTING ALL BLACKS ON SATURDAY

(Special by W. H. Bickley.) SYDNEY, June 24. The Australian selectors have made sensational changes in the hope of snatching a sensational win in the second test against the All Blacks on Saturday., Virtually publicly admitting that they cannot win by the methods they have been following, they have gambled on achieving surprise success by wholesale reorganisation. Chief of their moves is the dropping of Mick Cremin, tlie dependable, but stereotyped first five-eighth, who toured New Zealand with the Wallabies last year, for Neville Emery. The hope is that he will add speed and thrust to the inside-back play. Emery has a good football history. He was captain of the Combined Sydney Great Public Schools fifteen in 1941 and 1942, and played in the R.A.A.F. team in England. He plays club football with Sydney University, and represented New South Wales 11. against the All Blacks on June 10. Aged 23. standing sft 9in, and weighing list 101 b, Emery is an accurate handler and straight runner, but it is doubtful if he has much more initiative than Cremin. He plays the Australian style of five-eighth play, concentrating on getting the ball out quickly to the three-quarters, in contrast to the New Zealand practice of the five-eighth piercing the defence or drawing it on to himself before passing out. Certaily he was not especially dangerous for New South Wales 11. against New Zealand. Max Howell is injured and Alan Walker (whom many of the tourists consider the best centre they have met) has been left out. Kevin Bourke, the Queenslander, who was selected for the first test, but could not play, and Trevor Allan, who toured New Zealand last year, take their places. Bourke is 24, weighs list and stands sft Bin. _ He is a sound player without special brilliance, but one who may do well in good company. Allan is well-known to New Zealanders. He is one of the best all-round footballers in Australia, and will require careful marking by the All Blacks. Injuries have kept him out of many games this year, but he played on the wing for New South Wales against the All Blacks last Saturday. EASTES REMAINS. Cyril Burke (half-back), Charlie Eastes (wing), and Terry Macßride (wing), are the only first test backs who retain their places. The new full-back, K. Windsor, is a doctor in Queensland. He is a good fielder and a long kicker, but he is not at his best under pressure, giving the impression of being spectacular, but’ not secure. Brian Piper has been dropped chiefly because he is not a good line kicker. The All Blacks have found that they can gain ground by merely kicking the ball to him because, even if he fields it cleanly, he could only kick it back about half the distance. Windsor, who kicks left foot for preference, is just as strong, a punter as the New Zealand full-back. Bob Scott. SURPRISING FORWARD CHANGES. The forward changes have surprised Australians. Col. Windon and Roger Cornforthj two of the best loose forwards in Australia, and Phil Hardcastle, potential captain of the team to tour Britain, have been dropped. There may be more than meets the eye in some of the changes. The selectors want to try out as many men as they can before picking the team for Britain, but even bearing this in mind they seem to have gambled heavily for the second test. D. Kraefft and N. Shehadie have been brought in to give more energy and vigour to the pack and G. G. Cooke has been recalled to add the touch of solid experience. THE REDOUBTABLE COOKE. Cooke toured South Africa with the 1933 Wallabies, so that lie will be the only man on either side to have played in both pre-war and post-war tests. He is 35, but his age is the only thing that can be said against him. He is big, strong and fit, and knows every trick in the football trade.

W. M. McLean, captain of the Wallabies in New Zealand last year, returns to the leadership. He is more dynamic than the easy-going Hardcastle. He may instil new life into Australia. There is, in fact, quite a possibility that the forward play will be “ deep and hearty ” Certainly the Australian selectors have lost little in size by their changes. The second test pack is little less weighty than that in the first test. Ages, heights and weights of the forwards are: G. G. Cooke, 35, 6.0, 15.0; A. J. Buchan, 22, 6.0, 13.1 p; D. Kraefft, 23, 6.0, 14.2; N. Shejiadie, 25, 6.0, 14.8; W. M. McLean, 29, 6.1, 14.3; R. E. McMaster, 25, 6.1, 16.2; D. A. Kearney, 27, 5.10, 13.7; E. Tweedale, 25, 6.1, 14.6. In physique this is a pack of which no country would need to feel ashamed. Once again the hard-worked All Black forwards face a heavy day. On the other hand the All Blacks may field the best back line they have had out in Australia. At the time of writing the team is not chosen, but it does seem that Fred Allen and Johnny Smith will at last take the field together and that inside them will be the cool, skilful Ben Couch. New Zealand should win again, but it is by no means beyond the Australians to spring a surprise, as they did in 1937 against the Springboks, and as they nearly did last year against New Zealand in the second test at Auckland.