Allen Defends Present Team

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 5

Allen Defends Present Team

(Roc. 11.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. In a dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from Brisbane. Ginty Lush says Fred Allen, captain of the All Blacks, will play in the first test against Australia, although he is not fit. He will play in an attempt to hold his team together and force a win. Mr Lush adds tiiat the New Zealanders are determined to prove wrong the suggestion that their team is below All Black standard. The New Zealanders have been decried by their own countrymen now resident in Australia as a poor imitation of past All Blacks’ teams. Allen answered these critics when he said: “The present team individually is the equal of any side which lias visited Australia. What has been overlooked is the fact that Australian football is better now than it has been for many years.

“It so happens that the Australian forwards at present are good and the backs arc speedy and tricky. When they come back from their English tour they will rank with the best of Australian sides.

“I know we have the players to counteract the growing Australian menace, and in the test we hope to prove it." Mr Lush says that despite Allen's disability he will prove an asset to his team. A crowd of 35.000 to 40,000 is expected to seo the game. Every hotel in Brisbane is booked out. SMITH, HOBBS OUT Johnny Smith and Fred Hobbs, the vice-captain and line-out star, are not playing in the first test match between the All Blacks and Australia, at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground today. Smith's knee injury has not responded to treatment sufficiently to enable him to take his place at centre, and Goddard fills the berth. Hobbs will probably be missed in the forwards, and particularly in the line-outs, where he has been outstanding in games to date. The teams are: ALL BLACKS Fullback: R. W. H. Scott. Three-quarters: W. G. Argus, M. P

Goddard. ,T. K. McLean. Five-eighths: B. Couch. F. R. Allen

(captain). Half-back: P. L. Tetzlaif. Forwards: J. G. Simpson. E. H. Catley R. A. Dalton, L. A. Grant, H. Frazer. R. White, K. D. Arnold, N. H. Thornton.

AUSTRALIA Fullback: B. Piper. Three-quarters: C. Eastes, A. Walker

M. Howell, T. Macßride. Five-eighth; J. Cremin. Half-back: C. Burke. Forwards: C. Windon, A. Buchan, R. Cornforth, P. Hardcastle (captain), W. McLean, D. Keller, K. Kearney, R. McMaster. AUSTRALIANS FAVOURED The match is arousing great interest. The Australians are generally favoured to win, although it is considered that the All Blacks are fielding a better side than that which played New South Wales last Saturday. The New Zealanders have not impressed as a fine all-round side to the same extent as did their 1938 predecessors.

Cn that tour, the All Blacks completed their itinerary without loss. The first test on that occasion was played at Sydney and was won by the All Blacks by 24—9. They were superior in every department of the game.

The second test was played at Brisbane and was won 20 —14.

The star of the game was Max Carpenter. a brilliant three-quarter from Victoria. He scored two tries, converted one and kicked a penalty goal. His second try was a gem. He intercepted a pass from Brushy Mitchell almost on his own goal-line and. showing exceptional speed, swerved round full-back Taylor and left the opposition standing. He was carried from the field alter the match, a hero.

Cn that day, the All Blacks played brilliant football and had the game in the bag when Carpenter brought off the sensational intercept. BILLIARD-TABLE SURFACE The Brisbane Exhibition ground lias a beautiful playing surface, as smooth as the proverbial billiard-table, and, with winter being the dry season in Queensland, the prospects of perfect conditions for this evening's game are excellent.

The presence of Fred Allen as second five-eighth in the New Zealand side should give the attack the kick which it has lacked so far on the tour. Couch, too, should smarten up the back-line.

It is to be hoped that Goddard’s openings mean runs for the wingers. Eastes can be a match-winner for Australia and Argus and McLean can fill the same role for New Zealand if given the chances. L. A. Grant was a doubtful starter today on account of an injured knee at Canberra and a cold, but has decided to turn out. TO PLAY AUCKLAND ON RETURN The All Blacks are to play Auckland at Eden Park on July 2. They leave Sydney for home in twe batches, the first on June 30 and the second the following day. The New Zealand team unanimously accepted the NZRU's invitation to play at Auckland after their return from Australia.