THE IRISH TEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 8, 7 December 1935, Page 7

THE IRISH TEST

HEAVY GROUND LIKELY. McKENZIE OMITTED. TEAM NOT PESSIMISTIC. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 7, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. The All Blacks’ manager (Mr V. It. Meredith), Mr S. S. Dean, Manchester, and Gilbert visited the Dail Eireann and met Mr De Valera and Mr W. T. Cosgrave. Mr De Valera signed autographs and chatted with the party, questioning them about New Zealand. He wanted to know if they liked Ireland better. The team visited the headquarters of the Irish Hospitals Trust Sweepstake and an official promised the gift of a gold tiara brooch to the first member of the team marrying within a year. The manager of a picture theatre after a■ performance presented Oliver with a shillelagh bearing an inscribed silver shield. It has rained steadily most of today and the ground is sure to be heavy to-morrow. Tlie opinion is generally expressed that this increases Ireland’s chances, but the New Zealanders are not pessimistic. ALL BLACK TEAM. The All Black team is as follows : Gilbert Hart , Oliver Mitchell Griffiths Caugliey Sadler Dalton Hadley Lambourn McLean King Reid Manchester Mahoney Some quarters criticise the wisdom of playing McLean in preference to McKenzie, who is an excellent . wet weather forward.

WELCOME TO IRELAND. LONDON, Dec. 6. The New Zealand Rugby footballers wound up their training in readiness for the international match with Ireland by some hours of scrum practice, realising that solid scrummaging is essential if they are to hold the. Irish forwards, for whom they entertain a wholesome respect. The players are nevertheless, confident of victory. Mr Eamon De Valera (President of the Irish Free State) who was formerly a keen Rugby player, received the manager (Mr V. R. Meredith) and some of the members of the New Zealand team, who were introduced by Mr C. A. Maguire, K.C., tlie At-torney-General. They presented Mr De Valera with a silver badge in the form of the New Zealand national emblem. Mr De Valera said he had followed the tour with interest, and he hoped that the New Zealanders would have a good game with Ireland.