ALL BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 January 1925, Page 5

ALL BLACKS

TO-MORROW’S TEAM CHOSEN. NEW ZEALANDERS FAVOURED. TRIBUTE TO NEPIA. tsx CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COBYKHi UT LONDON, Dec. 31. The New Zealand team to play England at Twickenham on Saturday will be as follows: Full-back—Nepia. Three-quarters—Steele, Cooke, Svensoii. Five-eighths—Nicholls,- McGregor. Half—Mill. Wing forward—Parker. Forwards—Richardson, White, M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie, Masters, Irvine and Donald. The greatest interest is being maun fested throughout Britain in Saturday's international football match. English commentators are decidedly pessimistic regarding the Home Country’s chances of checking the New Zealanders’ unbeaten career at Twickenham.

The ground is certain to be heavy after a week’s almost continuous rain. This fact has had the effect somewhat of reviving English hopes. It is acknowledged, however, that the All Blacks can rise superior to these conditions, and have demonstrated themselves equally proficient whether the ground is muddy or not. The New Zealanders are taking no chances to ensure eclipsing the record of the 1905 team. The selected team is the most aggressive attacking side, combining weight with pace and experience. The feature of the latter part of the tour is the marked improvement among the forwards, who are now up to the best New Zealand standard. The team is training assiduously at Deal, golfing and boating also being arranged. There is no suggestion of staleness.

The critics whole-heartedly pay a tribute to Nepia’s record in playing in every match. Cooke and Nicholls have completely i-ecovered from" their injuries.

The Premier (Mr Stanley Baldwin) will probably preside at a complimentary luncheon to the team on January 21, when the AH Blacks will be entertained at a unique valedictory luncheon. The hosts include the leading figures, past and present, in every branch of amateur sport, indicating the appreciation of sportsmen throughout Britain of the New Zedlanders. LEAGUE TEAM’S OVERTURES. LONDON, Dec. 31. The Richmond Club has invited the All Blacks, Badeley and McCleary, to assist against Newport. This is the first time in history that jurists have been included in an English club team. The Daily News says Rugby League teams hav© cast covetous eyes on several members of the all-conquering All Blacks, but the two years’ residential qualification is an insurmountable obstacle. An attempt will be made shortly to remove the ban, but in view of the visit of professional All Blacks in 1926 the embargo is most likely to remain.

The Daily Mail publishes a series of messages emphasising the Imperial value of the Ad Blacks’ tour. Earl Haig is pleased to learn that the majority of the All Blacks are ex-service men. He says he should; have expected it, knowing the splendid record of Rugbyites throughout the Empire. Mr J. H. Thomas says the All Blacks are worthy representatives of the Dominion and the Empire. Their visit will increase the affection of the Motherland for its offspring. Mr Winston Churchill says he has followed the All Blacks’ tour with the greatest interest. He pays tributes to the New Zealand division, of which the All Blacks are members. , Mr L. C. M. S. Amery says the man in the street realised that there was something in New Zealand’s energy and virility from the successes of the All Blacks, who will return with a better idea of the Motherland, her sportsmanship, her goodfellowship and her people. The All Blacks will fly to Fiance on January 5 in four aeroplanes, with a fifth as baggage carrier. The machines will make a detour over the battlefields es route.

INTERNATIONAL MATCH. LAST IN ENGLAND. KEEN CONTEST -EXPECTED. (By “Spectator.”) It is worthy of note that the team chosen for to-morrow’s great international match against England is the saifie as took the field against Wales, except for the replacement of Ouppies, the Poverty Bay forward, by White, and as this selection was also .made for last week’s match and in several other fixtures where the opposition was expected to be very strong, .it must be regarded as the very best possible. The forward combination have, according to the reports received, continued to improve in every feature of play. They have tremendous weight and dash, and have shown a great' versatility and the ability to shine under all conditions. Some time since their play under wet weather conditions was criticised, but on several occasions recently they have put up a great performance. * Their handling of the ball lias been as - good as their loose rushes, their footwork and their line-out play. Apparently a feature of their general improvement has been their marked display of footwork. In consequence they face wet weather with as much confidence as fine. But the general hope will be that conditions will lie of the best and give both sides the utmost opportunity to display Rugby of the highest class. A great display on a dry .ground by botli sides, with a margin of result not too great, would be a wonderful fillip for the great game in England. Our team will be most keenly anxious to preserve the unbroken record they hold, and so add lustre to the name and fame of Dominion Rugby football. The English selectors have gone to most of the leading counties, to the universities and to Wales for the men to represent the Old Country. No doubt thev will be just as keen to. win as our men, and they will strive thenutmost for the distinction of spoiling our great run of victories. No match in the whole tour has been awaited with so keen anticipation.