ALL BLACKS v. NATAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1928, Page 7

ALL BLACKS v. NATAL

TO-DAY’S TEAM CHANGES TEST MATCH REHEARSAL ? (Special to Press Association.) (Recd. June 23, 9.30 a.m.) MARITZBURG, June 22. The New Zealand team to-morrow will be: — Lindsay Robilliard, Carleton, Grensidc Strang and Johnston Kilby Scrimshaw, Swain, Hadley, M. Brownlie, Alley. McWilliams, Stewart and Hazlett. The general opinion is that the team to-morrow will be the test team tor next Saturday, with two exceptions. Dailey is almost certain to play halfback, and Finlayson is certain to go side scrum in place of McWilliams. It. is surprising that the selection committee continues to play Carleton on his performances to date. He is unquestionably a great, defensive player but is not reliable in attack. Several times he has dropped passes when the wings were in scoring position. Dailey has had a touch of influenza, but will have recovered by next. Saturday. It is surprising that Nicholls is dropped for to-morrow, after his excellent performance at Potchefstroom. He gave easily the best display of liveeighths play so far on the tour. Lucas is also considered to be unlucky not to be given a place after his brilliance on Wednesday.

Finlayson will be rested to-morrow, having played more matches than anybody in the team. Lindsay on form has shown himself more reliable than Lilburne. He kicks with better length and judgment. S. AFRICAN POSSIBLES For the past week sixty-two players from all ovei\ South Africa have been engaged in trial games at Durban, and to-day the final trial will be played. The Springbok side will probably be announced in the middle of next week. The full back position is very open, and probably will be decided after the Natal v. New Zealand match to-morrow. Tindall is public fancy at present. Unfortunately, several of the Union’s best players have been injured in the trial matches. Two outstanding wings Van Niecerk and J. J. Pienaar have been hurt. It appears that Prinsloo and Slater will be the wingers. Both are fast tricky players. The centre position is very doubtful for the moment. Duffy, a fine all rounder was injured yesterday. Albertyn, a player of considerable experience will probably fill the position. The five-eighths will undoubtedly be Bennie Osler and Stanley Osler. Devine, on his great play in the Transvaal matches, must be half. There is hardly likely to be an alteration in the following pack:Van Druten, Kruger, Mostert, Pretorius, Vanwyk, Dutchit, Oliver and Daniel.

Most papers in the country agree that the Springbok side will be exceptionally strong in forwards, but the backs are not as good as expected. Several papers published articles saying that the Springboks will win the first test.

F. M. Howard, in an article in the “Rand Daily Mail” says that the All Blacks, after seven matches, are not up to expectations, falling short of the famous 1924 side. He says that the Springboks will win next Saturday’s test. There is not the slightest doubt that the All Blacks will have to play much better football than they have done so far. Although the backs have played some brilliant football, they'would not get away with it against a South African side. It is recognised that as in most big Rugby battles, the test match will be chiefly fierce forward combat.

Mostert and Kruger of the probable test side are the only players who toured New Zealand with the 1921 Springboks.

PARTICULARS OF TEAM.

Age H’ght W'ght st. lb. D. F. LINDSAY, Otago. 21 5 11 13 0 A. C. C. ROBILLIARD, Canterbury 2G 10 12 0 S. R. CARLETON, . . Canterbury 10 11 4 B. A. GRENSIDE. .. Hawke’s Bay 2G G 0 13 G W. A. STRANG . . South Canterbury 21 5 9 11 9 L. M. JOHNSON . . Wellington 29 5 s 12 8 F. D. KILBY . . . . Wellington 22 5 G 11 0 G. SCRIMSHAW .. Canterbury 25 G 0 12 2 J. P. SWAIN .. . . Hawke’s Bay 28 r. 91 13 0 S. HADLEY .. . Auckland 111 13 M. J. BROWNLIE .. Hawke’s Eay 29 6 1 14 G G. T. ALLEY .. .. Canterbury 25 G 1G 0 it. g. McWilliams A uck la nd 26 G 9 14 8 R. T. STEWART .. South Canterbury 24 G 1.9 15 ' 111 W. E. HAZLETT .. Southland 22 G 11 15 0