ALL BLACK SELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19761, 7 October 1927, Page 14

ALL BLACK SELECTIONS.

A .« » . STRONG TEAM CHOSEN. SELECTORS* GOOD WORK. FEARLESS DECISIONS MADE. I 'ONE OR TWO SURPRISES. Following a series of representative fend trial matches the members of the Hew Zealand Rugby Union's selection committee announced in two sections the names of the players to form the All Black team which is to make the toui pf South Africa .next season. The early departure of the team in April next made it necessary to select the players on this season's form, and anyone who has fol lowed this form closely in the various centres will agree that the selectors have Carried out their duties very faithfully, and, what is more to their credit, they have chosen the men according to considered ability, and irrespective of what part of New Zealand they came from. The list cf players and the various positions they occupy is as follows: Fullback: H. Lilburne (Canterbury). Wing-thrqequarters: A. C. Robilliard (Canterbury), B. Grenside (Hawke's Bay), F. W. Lucas (Auckland), C. E, ftushbrook (Wellington). Centre-threequarters: D. Lindsay [(Otago), T. R. Sheen (Auckland). Five-eighths: N. P. McGregor (Can terbury), A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa), L Johnson (Wellington), A. Strang (Soutl Canterbury), M. Nicholls (Wellington). Halfbacks: W. Dalley (Canterbury), F Kilby (Wellington). Wing-forward. G. Scrimshaw (Canter bury). ' Front-rankers: J. Swain (Hawke's Bay), J. Hore (Otago), J. T. Burrow: (Canterbury), S. Hadley (Auckland). Locks: I. H. Harvey (Wairarapa), G I. Alley (Canterbury). Scrum forwards (side row or bad row): M. Browniie (Hawke's Bay),, C Bftnvnlie (Hawke's Bay), I. Finlaysor (North Auckland), R. F. Stewart (Soutl Canterbury), W. Hazlett (Southland), R G. McWiiliams (Auckland), P. Ware t (Taranaki), E..Snow (Nelson). General Approval of Choice. The selection will meet with general ap proval although the inclusion of one or twe players, and the omission of others, have inevitably given rise to some criticism The selection of a fuliback was in doubi right up to the final moment. Lilburne i: a very fine player in this position, anc the fact that he did "not show up so wel. as expected in the trial games was nc doubt because he has been playing at five-eighths in club and representative 2,; football this season. Butler v?as very unlucky in contracting an illness when he was at the height oi his form. Had he had an uninterrupted run he may have secured the honours. Hazlewood was unfortunate enough 'or Wednesday to receive an injury to his jaw when tackling Lucas, but his play tip to then showed that he was not as - good as Lilburne or Butler. The Wing-Threequarters. Robilliard is the solid man of the wingihreequarters. His display in the inter Island match was well worth seeing Lucas and Grenside are sure to score a lot of tries, „but defence*is not ; strong point with either of them. Rush brook's inclusion is certain to give rise to some comment. He is young and has .not had a great deal of experience. While he possesses speed and dash he lack: defence, and he must be considered for tunate in securing preference over Stee or Stewart. Steel played well in th< trial matches down south, but had tin misfortune to break a blood vessel in hii hip :n Christchurch. This prevented hi: appearing in either of the big games ii Wellington, and he was passed over Stewart played a very good game ii Wellington, in spite of the fact that hi was on the side with the weakest inside backs. His claims were being urged ii Wellington on Wednesday night after the final match. The centre-threequarters are Lindsa; and Sheen. Lindsay, however, has beei chosen as the utility man. He is a ven fine fullback, and prefers playing in tha* position to any other. He is a powerfu kick, and a great defensive player. H and Lilburne will form a solid last lim of defence. Lindsay will be able to wing-threequarter as well is at fullbacl or centre. Sheen played well in the tria game at Pidmerston North, but, be wa not nearly so good in the inter-Islan< match.. However, he was not well and tli selectors evidently took that into consider ation. The unlucky man on the season's play is Carle ton, who has played great club am representative football this season. H also did well in the southern trials, an< finished up with a very fine exhibition ii the inter-Island game. He was looke< npon in Wellington as a certainty, an< his non-inclusion, therefore, came as ; great surprise. . Mark Hicholls Fortunate. Regarding the five-eighths, Cooke, Mc Gregor and Johnson were certainties Strang, the South Canterbury youth, madi a good impression in both the Wellingtoi games by his good all-round play. H should come back a high-grade back witl the experience he will obtain on the trip The selection of Mark Nicholls is suri to give rise to most comment, especially in bis own town, where (scarcely anybodi gave him a chance. His club and representative > football this season has shown that his play has deteriorated a good deal, " especially his defence, and consequently he maj be considered lucky in getting preference over-a younger player. Maybe the selec tors have in mind the idea of a player coach, and in this position Nicholls woulc be of much value, as he knows the* gam< thoroughly. With Dalley as first string for the half back position, there is nothing to fear, a; the Canterbury man is equally brillianl on attack and defence. Scrimshaw absolutely outplayed his rivals in the wing-forward position. Powerful Set of Forwards. The selection of that powerful set of for Wards calls for little comment. There is the material for two very fine packs. Cyril Brownhe is considered in many quarters to be., past his best, but he is a player ® •„ 1800 and has the ability when "the Win IS there. From an Auckland point, oi view the selection of McWiiliams is esJjecially pleasing, as there is no more honest forward in the Dominion. He ' f', a , ma gnifieent game in the fin a trial and made his selection a foregone conclusion Knight is in the same cat" f Sutler, being unfortunate tr Strike trouble shortly before the bic game« .arrived Knight was not able to do him justice on account of an injured rib "STRONGEST SIDE EVER CHOSEN. 1 MR. E. MpKENZIE'S OPINION. I BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION." WELLINGTON, Thursday. ' The chairman of the Selection Corn toittee of the All Blacks, Mr. E. Mc Kenzie, expressed the opinion that the material selected for Africa is better thai the 1924 team. He did not think toot ball in New Zealand had ever been se strong in forward play. This team, ii his opinion, was the strongest side tha had represented New Zealand, and h Spoke with personal knowledge of team as far back as 1893. An emergency had been selected fo teycry position, and the question o / advising these players in reserve to stud fitness in ease, of vacancies occurrin Jwoiild be a matter for discussion witi the New Zealand Rugby Union, whicl also select the captain and vice /. v.-'" ... . iSSliiiiif .