ENGLAND’S LAST HOPE

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2564, 23 December 1924, Page 5

ENGLAND’S LAST HOPE

Team to Meet All Blacks

“PULLED TO PIECES” ON EVERY HAM)

(By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Dec. 21. * The English team to meet the All Blacks at Twickenham, on January 3 has been selected as follows: — Full-back: Ji Brough (Sllloth, Cumberland).

Three-quarters; R. H. HamiltonWicks (Cambridge University), V. G. Davies (Harlequins), L. J. Corbett (Bristol), Dr. R. L. Raymond (Oxford University and Australia’).

Half-backs: H; J. Kittermaster (Oxford University) and A. T. Young (Cambridge University).

Forwards; A. P. Blaldaton (Northampton), G. S. Conway (Cambridge University), R. Edwards (Newport), R. J. Hillard (Oxforu University), H. L. Price (Oxford University), R. Cove-Smith (Cambridge University). J. S. Tucker (Bristol), and W. W. Wakefield (Cambridge University).

The “Dally Telegraph,’’ in commenting on England’s team to meet the New Zealanders, says: “It is nothing short of a tragedy that the authorities should pull the side to pieces on the eve of the most important international for twenty years.” The writer, in the clearest manner emphasises the folly of not taking reasonable steps earlier towards building up England’s side. The biggest surprise is the choice of Dr. R. L. Raymond as wing three-quarter, apart from whether it is desirable to include at all an Australian who had made a name in big football before ever he came to England. It was mostly expected that after his great display in the New Zealand-Oxford match that he would have been fullback. “Our three quarters, as an attacking force, are not convincing," says the writer, “and it is difficult to see the backs providing the pace and combination necessary to give a reasonable chance of success.”

The "Dispatch" states that it is difficult to Imagine the jA.ll Blacks spending sleepless nights after watching England’s trial match.