The Hawera Star. MONDAY, JUNE, 14. 1926. THE ALL BLACK TEAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 June 1926, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, JUNE, 14. 1926. THE ALL BLACK TEAM.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock iu Hawera. Manaia, Normanby, Oka laws, Eltbam, Mangatokl, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, llokoia, Whakamora, Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Road and Ararat*.

•Although the selection of a New Zealand Rugby team to play New South Wwleg, either in, Australia or at home, is now an annual affair, the continued high standard of Dominion football prevents any cheapening of the All Black cap; and it may with safety be said that any of the twenty-three players chosen, to visit Australia this season would have made good as a member of the more fortunate 1924 party. As a matter of fact, over a dozen of the, men now selected: were members of the team for the English tour, and only some four or five have not represented their country previously. While there are no surprises in the selection, those responsible have broken precedent to some extent by including two, men—Sheen and Cyril Brownlie—who were not picked for their Island' teiani. Undoubtedly Brownlie is a great forward—or has been — but there may be others just as good, and many in Taranaki would, have .preferred to see Kivell in the team. Sheen, an old boy of Christ’s College, has made a name for himself in Auckland; but he is no better than McGregor and, since the South Islander was apparently at tho top of liis form on Saturday, it may be that the selectors are working on a plan of introducing new blood wherever it promises to equal the old. In any case', with Nicholls and Cooke in the party, the third five-eighth will bo very small potatoes. Stevenson is the only other new “cap” in the backs. Like- Dr. Sinclair,, he is an Olago University man; and, if he stems the New South Wales attack as well, as his club-mate did in 1923, New Zealand will not miss Nepia. Originally a wing three-quar-ter, Stevenson drifted down to the forwards for a term; and won. his way into the New Zealand University team as rover. Last season Iris tackling and powerful kicking established him as the best full-back in Otago, and this year, from all accounts, his collaring is more deadly than ever. The threequarters for Australia have all proved themselves in big football; and the selectors, having sacrificed the South Island on Saturday to convince themselves that Dailey is not a five-eighth, have chosen wisely for tho half position by taking both him and Mill. Kilby, of Southlandl, who played behind a beaten pack in the trial, is a coining All Black. Forward, the New Zealand team will be both fast and

heavy. Supporters of the game in Sydney are confident, that the Neiv South Wales vanguard will put up a great fight this year because of the wealth of heavy men (available. In that case the tests will be battles of giants, for the Now Zealand pack will average fifteen stone. In the past, lack of weight in tlio forwards has been one or the chief weak nesses of New South Wales teams, while the State’s principal strength has been found usually in its fast and nippy backs. This year’s All Black backs, with the combination of the 1024 tour behind! them, will be probably one of the best sets that has ever taken the field in .Sydney, so that, with little apparent superiority to either side “on paper,’’ the international matches should prove a powerful agent- in further popularising the Union game across the Tasman.