FINAL TEST MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 8

FINAL TEST MATCH.

DECIDING GAME TO-DAY. NEW ZEALAND'S CHANCES. WELL-TBA.INED PLAYEES. In the. history of . international . Rupby football, in. New Zealand ho contest has created such widespread interest as that which is being evinced in connection with the third test match between New Zealand and South Africa, to be played on Athletic Park, Wellington, to-day. If the weather is fine it is anticipated that the attendance will provo a record for New Zealand.

The prospect of the New Zealand team defeating th« South Africans is being freely discussed, arid the weight of opinion is in favour, of the All Blacks, who, hav- i ing undergone special training for the past ten days, will take the field in perfect physical condition. Physical fitness will count for much, but it is the actual play of the New Zealanders which will be the deciding factor. The final preparations of the South Africans, while not as complete as that of the New Zealanders, are considered satisfactory, and they are said to be optimistic concerning the result. The New Zealand team is probably the ■ best that could be selected. Mit plays up to form it should defeat the South Africans. The contest, however, is certain to be a hard one, and it may be expected that the Springboks will put up the greatest fight of the tour in the final test. The record of the South Africans in matches in Australia and New Zealand is a fine one, the team having won 20 out of the 23 matches played; two have been lost, and one drawn. There is no certainty about the final test, and the result is considered to be open. The changes in the New Zealand team have made for improvement in the back division, which is now stronger on attack than that which did service in the first arid second test matches. Siddells, of Wellington, and Fea, of Otago, are the latest acquisitions, and at the top of their form will prove their worth. The selectors tried Siddells out on Saturday as a wing threequarter. The experiment wag considered very satisfactory, the Wellington player showing plenty of dash and displaying wonderful versatility. Fea is the Otago University five-eighths, who has represented Otago and the South island, and was also a member of the New Zealand Army team in England and South Africa. Ho is a clever player, and with Ifwerson, of Auckland, as second fiveeighths, a fine combination should be established between the scrum and the threequarter line. The matter of a centre threequarter exercised the minds . of the selectors, and the inclusion of* Mark Nicholls in that position will be something in the nature of an experiment. Roberts at halfback can scarcely be improved upon, and if he plays up to the form shown in the second test match will more than justify his inclusion. • The forwards are & powerful pack, excellent in the loose and clever in the break-away, but great improvement is required on the lino-out and in the scrum, where they were badly beaten by the South Africans in the second test. The New Zealand team has acquired fine combination in its training during the past few days, and it is expected to put up a great game against the redoubtable Springboks. At a gathering tendered to the AllBlacks at Eastbourne, on Wednesday, the Mayor, oh behalf of the residents, presented Mr. E. Roberta with a diver teaset as a mark of their appreciation of his great performances as a footballer. Announcement was made last night at the general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, that the New Zealand Rugby Union had presented more than 200 tickets for the admission of disabled soldiers to the third test match.

TEAMS TO TAKE THE FIELD.

ALL BLACKS COMBINATION.

XFWERSON AT FIVE-EIGHTHS. [BX TELEGBAPH.— ASSOCL43ION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Th? New Zealand team for fehs third test match is " officially announced to be: Fullback.—Kingston (Taranaki). Threequartere.— (West Coast), M. Nicholls (Wellington), Siddells . (Weilington). Five-eighths. — Ifwerson Auckland Fea (Otago). " Half.—Roberts (Wellington). Forwards.—Wing: BellTs (Wanganui); hookers: Duncan (Otago) and Fogarty (Taranaki); lock: Moffitt (Wellington)*; second row: Richardson (Otago), McLean (Poverty Bay); third row: Fletcher (North Auckland), West Taranaki). Official information as to the Springboks' team is not available, bat the following are likely to take the fisld: Fullback.—O. F. Morkel. Threequarters.Zeller, Strauss, Mever, Van Heerden.

Halves.—Michau, De Kock. Forwards.—" Boy" Morkel, Walker, Ellis, Van Rooyen, Mostert, Dn Plessis. Royal Morkel, Mel'isb. Mr. A. C. Neilson will be the referee. The weather this evening is unfavourable. Rain set in during the afternoon and light showers have been falling intermittently. The weather forecast is also unfavourable, but in a special report to-night, Mr. D. C- Bates, the Government meteorologist, says there is a remote chance .of fine weather. The city is simply packed with visitors, many of whom are not able to secure accommodation.