RUGBY TRIAL MATCHES

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 133, 8 June 1935, Page 11

RUGBY TRIAL MATCHES

PARADES OF BEST TALENT TO-DAY’S SOUTH ISLAND TRIAL PRE-VIEWED With the progress of the Rugby trial matches the best talent of the Dominion comes within the orbit of public speculation. Some players have been listed as certainties and others have been regarded as “definitely written off.’’ At the moment it is not possible to tell what is in the minds of the New Zealand selectors, but it would be safe to say, at this early stage, that there is likely to be many surprises in the side chosen to make the trip to England. The South Island trial is to be played at Christchurch to-day, and will include a very large proportion of the best talent that part of the Dominion has in hand. The North Island trial is set down to be played at Palmerston next Tuesday. On Thursday and Saturday next the two final trials will be played in Wellington, where th© best talent of the two islands will be congregated to await the final say of “The Big Four.’’ All trials played to date have emphasised the lack of good inside backs.

At the moment of writing the New Zealand selectors have not disclosed their hand with regard to the selection o' ! the Possibles v. Probables teams to play at Palmerston North next Tuesday, but the South Island sides, which arc to play at Christchurch to-day have been n/inounced. There is not a great deal to bo surprised at in tho choice ot' those two teams, which were chosen as under:— Possibles. Full-back: Cl. Gilbert (West Coast). Three-quarters: J. Watt (Otago), C. J. Oliver (Canterbury), T. Morrison (South Canterbury). Five-eighths: O. Lunn (Golden BayMotueka), D. Lano (Marlborough). Half-back: H. Simon (Otago). Forwards: L. Georgo (Southland), J. I-loro (Otago),' G. Adkins (South Canterbury), H. Deavoll (Canterbury), L. Max (Nelson), J. Best (Marlborough), L. Niven (Otago), W. McNeight (West Coast). Probables.

Full-back: T. Nolan (Canterbury). Three-quarters: E. Holder (Builer), N. Mitchell (Southland), R. Busch (Nelson). Five-eighths: K. Mortlock (Canterbury), G. Guffaney (South Canterbury).

Half-back: M. Davidson (West Coast). Forwards.—o. Hatterslcy (Canterbury), G. Orman (Bullcr), C. Lovell (Marlborough), F. Green (Otago), F. Vorratk (Otago), H. King (West Coast), G. Giddings (South Canterbury), T. Metcalfe (Southland), y Emergencies for both teams. —Backs: C. Saxon (Otago), T. Trevathan (Otago). Forwards: E. McKenzio (Ashuurtouj, i;. Seaton (South Canterbury). The emission of G. F. Hart, the Canterbury winger, is taken as an indication that lus form is too well known to warrant further trial until tho All-H.Z. clashes at Wellington. Unless there is somebody better iu the limelight, Hart looks a' certainty. J. E. Manchester is not iu to-day’s trial teams because he is injured. But he is another who will bo very elewo to the trip when tho whips are cracking in Wellington at the end of next week.

G. Gilbert, the West Coast will go as close as any of tho fullbacks to making the trip. In the earlier trial lio gave one of tho best expositions of full-back play seen for many years, and ho was dealing with a wet ball. A repetition of that form to-day is likely to play Gilbert into tho All Black touring party. When ono writes of a full-back handling a wet ball, memory stirs back to Gerald Merkel in tho great test against the Springboks at Wellington in 1921. Bush or Gilbert?

R, Bush (Auckland) will probably bo the North Island candidate for the position of custodian this year. It is presumed that (he selectors will either take two full-backs, or will select another back capable of filling the role as a substitute. It would be too much to expect another Nepia-rccord of a full-back playing in every match, bo-

cause no Nepia has arisen to take thg place of the old. It ts probable Thai N. Mitchell (Otago), ono of the threequarters in to-day’s trial, will hQ reckoned on as the substitute full-backs lie has not been playing up 'to his form in recent matches, but possesses all tho attributes of a lino centre and an adequate last lino of defence. Gilbert and Bush, however, look to be the nearest approaches to a ' Nepia thf Dominion has in view. Bush’s all-roun* ability, too, would mako him a usef** man on such a tour. 11. Simon, the Southern Half. ••

Particular interest will bo taken in tho form of 11. Simon, tho Otago halfback in to-day’s trial. This player, despite the fact that ho is moving up in years, will be one of the serious contenders for the base of the scrum position. Sound play in to-day’s trial, plus an extra touch of brilliance in. later matches in Wellington, might play him into the touring party. H 0 is a distinct possibility. There is a general feeling that Frank Kilby will not get away. That has to be discounted somewhat, in that leadership of the team to tour may bo a factor which will weigh with the selectors. Kilby may be found filling tho role of leader, and playing in tho minor, matches, not 'the tests.

The position with regard to tho half* backs will not clarify itself until the very last. If Kilby does not go, it would appear that M. M. Cornel' (Auckland) and either B. Sadler or 13. Tindill (Wellington) will mako tho tour. The probability is that Tindill will make the grade. For the wing three-quarter positions there are three more or less newcomers playing in to-day’s trial, with E. Holder (Buller), who found a place in the 1934 team which went to Australia. Holder will have to play well up to form to win back his place. He is a line stamp of back, but was not up to requisite" New Zealand standard. Tho Dominion is really short of wing three-quarters cf class and tho four who stand out at present are:—Nelson Bali ( Wellington), G. A'. BullockDouglas (Wanganui), G. F. Hart (Canterbury) and C. Smith (Hawke’s Bay). Holder (Buller) and Allen (Waikato), are probably next in order of merit- A. Wright (Wellington) appeared in the trial at Wanganui on Saturday last, but was given no opportunity to display his form. E. Apsey (Hawke’s Bay) and J. Watt (Otago), who is playing to-day, are possibilities, There may be some understanding regarding Smith (Hawke’s Bay), to include him in the Maori sido for Australia. Ho is undoubtedly the hardest wing threequarter to stop but his handling of ball detracts from his play. This afternoon’s trial is expected lot produce several fino forwards who will go near to the final chosen side. It would be possible to pick two packs in. tho Dominion of practically equal merit. Those iu to-day’s game who are likely to come through without a blue pencil mark scored through their names are:—Hore (Otago), F ! Vorrach (Otago), 11. King (West Coast), J. Best (Marlborough), W. McNeighl (West Coast), D. Max (Nelson) and T Metcalfe (Southland). —‘ ‘ Cross-bar.”