EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLISH TOURING TEAM

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1950, Page 4 (Supplement)

EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLISH TOURING TEAM

After seeing the English Rugby League team in its first three matches in New South Wales, the Australian sports writer, Tom Goodman, summed up his impressions as follows: — England’s best back division will be exceptionally fast all round, with much cleverness in the “inside” positions, and strong finishing power on the wings. The extent of the backs’ success will depend a great deal on how soon the new half-back combination of dynamic half-back Tom Bradshaw and flashing five-eighth Dickie Williams functions smoothly. There has been some indifferent forward play, but much of the slack will be pulled in. The Test pack will be strong, but ptobably will not be as efficient as the 1946 pack.

England has no lock forward in the class of Ike Owens, but Joe Egan’s cleverness in the loose will compen-j sate to some extent for the reduced mobility of some other long-service forwards. The Ashcroft-Hilton left-wing combination has great potential scoring power. Indeed, it might rival the famous Brogden-Smith left-wing partnership of 1932. There would have to be a serious break-down in combination for Willie Horne to oust Williams from the fiveeighth position. Horne is dependable, but seems to have lost some of his nippiness. Second-row forwards Bob Ryan and Fred Higgins, competing with Doug Phillips and Harry Murphy, may lift England’s forward standard as the tour advances.