WITH THE ALL BLACKS— Crop Of Minor Injuries Delays Team Selection

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1949, Page 5

WITH THE ALL BLACKS— Crop Of Minor Injuries Delays Team Selection

[Prom CLAUDE KING, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent with the All Blacks]

HERMANUS (Cape Province), May 22 (Rec. 9 >a.m.). —A crop of minor injuries, none of them, however, of an apparent serious nature, has caused the selection of the All Black team for the first match to be held up. It will probably be announced on Thursday. Those on the easy list as a result of these injuries are J. W. Goddard, Allen, Kearney, Gudsell, Dalton, Willocks and Harvey. The probable team for the first match is: Scott, Botting, Goddard, Henderson, Allen (or Elvidge)., Black; Savage, Skinner, Catley, Simpson, McNab, Frazer, McHugh, Crowley (or Johnstone), Thornton. Saw University Match

The All Blacks on Saturday saw the annual match between the Cape Town and Stellenbosch Universities, from which the team is being drawn to oppose the All Blacks in the first match of the tour. These universities have in the past provided a big contingent of players for Springbok sides, but. Saturday’s Rugby, though fast, with some’ spectacular movements, was not up to the best standard. However, the All Blacks again saw some fine scrummaging. As in the Springbok trials, the flank side-row forwards packed on an angle and assisted in hooking by

swinging a foot after the ball was placed in the scrum. It is the accepted practice in South African Rugby for every forward to initial push after the ball has been placed in the scrum and then the side-row man swings a foot to assist in the hooking. Ball Cleanly Hooked As a result of these tactics, the ball is invariably cleanly hooked and one rarely sees the ball coming out the same side as it is put in, as often occurs in Rugby in New Zealand.

The Western Province forwards are tall, but not heavy, and the pack is expected to average about 13st 101 b. The All Blacks should thus have a considerable advantage in weight, but will need all this to offset the scrummaging ability of their opponents. The All Blacks are quietly confident after . seeing . the University backs in action .on Saturday. The handling was erratic and the short punt ahead was not well judged. However, the home players showed plenty of pace and, as they are also much fitter, having been playing since the beginning of April, the All Blacks are in no way underestimating the nature of the task ahead.

The whole party will leave Hermanns on Wednesday for Cape Town and the team is looking forward to practising on the turf at NeWlands.-