On the Eve of a Great Campaign

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 May 1928, Page 9

On the Eve of a Great Campaign

RUGBY SUPREMACY The Last Crusade New Zealand Greets Coming Tour With Fullest Confidence in ' > Its Twenty-Nine All Blacks

/QUICKENING interest all through W the country signals the approach of May 3U, when the All Blacks’ programme is to open. , As the boat is two days late, if has been suggested that an effort should be made to have the first match cancelled; but since the 1921 Springboks, opening their campaign against Wanganui, did so within only two days of landing, and the All Blacks will still have two days to spare, there seems to be a pretty poor case for the attempt.

The circumstances are parallel, except that whereas Wanganui, although its wing forward was the redoubtable Bellis (who came to grips with a South African forward within the first ten minutes) was hardly one of New Zealand’s strongest teams, the. All Blacks’ opening match against Western Provinces will be something of an unofficial test. THE FIRST MATCH Western Provinces, which comprise the territory for which Capetown is the outlet, have won the Currie Cup, representing the South African Rugby championship, for a number of years, and it is generally conceded that this year, as in 1924, the bulk of the African test teams will be composed of Western Province representatives, among whom are Bennie Ostler and P. J. Mostert, both almost certainties for the tests. Under the circumstances it will be seen that it is in the first match, as much as in any, that New Zealand stands a chance of having its colours lowered. The All Blacks will prbably make an effort to field their strongest side, and if they win they will from that point feel always that they have this solid bulwark to fall back upon. Tho first two matches will certainly he no time for experiment. There will be time for that in the succeeding matches up-country where the Union’s Rugby strength is not nearly so pronounced.. One may therefore assume that, if logical processes are followed, the ‘ried and trusted warriors will go forth in the opening sallies of the campaign. Maurice Brownlie, unless affected by his bereavement (a sister died at Napier last week) is likely to lead the side, possibly from the posi-

tion of wing-forward, and such old comrades-in-arms as Swain, Finlayson, Stewart and Harvey, will probably lend weight and experience to tho pack, with Dailey, Nicholls, McGregor, Sheen, Robilliard and Lucas contributing seasoned speed to the rear division.

Sheen and Lucas are likely to be associated a good deal. Playing for Auckland last year, they showed that, even against the hottest opposition, they are a formidable scoring machine. In addition, both seem the type to be in fair fettle on arrival.

Although he went away with a great reputation, Lucas was not one of the best wingers with the 1924 team, Steele and Svenson being considered more reliable. Since his return, however, Lucas has undoubtedly improved, and his box of tricks is now stocked with such a wealth of baffling artifice that he will quite prob-

ably be called upon to share test match burdens. He is the only winger of his type in the team, Grenside, Robilliard and Rushbrook being

rather of the heavy, crashing type, with Robilliard perhaps the best of them, though Grenside has a wonderful scoring record. Several men in the team reveal latent possibilities, not yet fully exploited. Lindsay, for instance, although chosen as a three-quarter, may show most value further astern, at full-back, while he could also, with his accurate hands, be a first-rate rover. An admirable kick, he will hoist a lot of points off his boot. Moving up, we find youth and experience nicely blended in the fiveeighth line. Johnston and McGregor are of the solid type; Carleton, either at centre or five-eighth, may come into the open with streaks of real brilliance; and Nicholls maybe the success or failure of the tour. He and Strang are likely to share the short-range place-kicks. Nicholls came to the rescue when Nepia lost his kicking wizardry on the 1924 tour,

and wound up with the biggest scoring aggregate.. On Strang a lot depends. He may ultimately show the side’s best mixture ‘of soundness and resource... But. review of the insides only emphasises how sadly Cooke will be missed. " ' '. HALF-BACK PROSPECTS Then there is the pack, with the pivots in between. Dailey will remain the trusted donkeyman until Kilby shows what he can do. This position may cause heart burnings. How rhuch ball will the half-back get? Any amount from a line-out. Built from such lofty humanity as Finlayson, C. Brownlie, R. Stewart, Alley, M. Brownlie. McWilliams, and Harvey; but from the scrums, against a three-man front row, the harvest may tell a different story. Hadley should go down with Swain if the most rugged pair is to be selected; but Hore and Burrows may show the hooking artistry necessary if the side is to differ from the 1924 team. Irvine and - Donald were great front-row forwards in everything but their hookipg. , At wing-forward Scrimshaw has great opportunities as a scoring man, and if he shows better form than A. H. Keene showed in Auckland last Saturday, then none will question his ability to profit therefrom. » THE STAR TEAM As the soundest star team the following is suggested, with due deference to the endless possibilities that may arise, and the countless opinions held

on a subject so contentious:—Lindsay, Lucas, Carleton, Robilliard, Strang, Johnston, Dailey, M. Brownlie, Hadley, Swain, Harvey, Finlayson, C. Brownlie, Haylett, Stewart. Likely men to be prolific scorers are Nicholls, Grenside, Lucas, Robilliard, Carleton, Strang, M. Brownlie, Swain and Finlayson. But scoring will, if the side plays to type, depend on the team, not'the individual. And on the eve of a great campaign, that will give many of us “nerves” before the last test is over, New Zealanders will rest full of confidence in the team now six days out from Durban, on the high seas.—J. G. McLean.