BEST FIFTEEN CHOSEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 12

BEST FIFTEEN CHOSEN.

SOLIDITY OF THE FORWARDS.

A COMPARISON OF WEIGHTS. FIVE MEN FROM CANTERBURY. The Now Zealand team is very much what was generally anticipated after reading the cabled accounts of the matches and the criticism of the players. It certainly looks like tho strongest side the All Blacks could place in the field at tho moment. McWilliams is unlucky m not getting a place, but it is very hard to say which of the forwards should be omitted in his favour.

The pack is a very solid one indeed, and, should all tho forwards do their full share in the scrums. South Africa will not have tho substantial advantage generally expected. It is well known, of course, South Africa is relying on its forwards to win the game, and a comparison of weights is, therefore, most interesting. The weights of the New Zealand forwards as sent to South Africa prior to tho commencement of the tour were as follow:—Hadley, 13.0: Swain, 13.1; Alley, 15.6; Finlayson, 15.4; M. Brownlie, 14.5; Stewart, 15.1; Hazlett, 14.9 This gives a total weight for tho seven men of lOOst 121b. The average weight of the South African scrum men is given as 13.13, or a total of 111.6 for the eight. Difference Not So Marked. The difference between the two packs, therefore, amounts to lOst 81b, which is not nearly so marked as is universally thought. Moreover, it must be remembered that these were tho weights of the All Blacks in New Zealand, and tho chances are some of the forwards—if not all—have put on weight in the meantime. If so, then the difference in weight of the two packs will bo substantially decreased. However, it is not so much a question of weight that is worrying the supporters of tho team at this distance. It is ability to gain possession of the ball in the scrums. It is stated in the cable message that the All Blacks are confident provided they obtain about a third possession of the ball in the scrums. This sounds highly encouraging. The ability of the New Zealand forwards on the line-out and in the loose is not in doubt, and so the question of success appears to lie in whether the pack can stand up to a heavy gruelling and give tho backs a fair share of the ball.

The team of backs looks a particularly strong one on paper. It is pleasing to see Dallev behind the scrum, as he is undoubtedly in a class by himself when it com6s to standing up to a heavy forward pack. He may be depended upon to lose no opportunity of getting the bail out to those behind him, even from the feet of the opposing forwards. A Thorough Try-out.

Strang has been given a thorough tryout, as ho has played in five games out of the eight so far, the last four in succession. The selectors, therefore, must be fully satisfied as to his capabilities. Johnson, his partner, is brilliant both on attack and defence. Should Strang fit in well between Dalley and Johnson, the combination of the backs is assured, and the opposition will have a lively time of it if the New Zealandcrs got their share of the ball. A great deal has been said, in South Africa about the omission of Nicholls, but he would have to show a vast improvement on last season's form get into the best New Zealand side. . The threequarter line is a brilliant attacking combination. Carleton has struck his. best form, and that will mean a lot to the side. A strong feature of his play is his ability to run his wings into position. With two such good scoring men outside him, it may bo only a matter of accurate handling for the success of pasing movements.

Carleton and Robilliard are both very fine defensive players, but the same cannot be said of Grenside, whose tackling is not always reliable. It is to be hoped, therefore, he does not get a great deal of tackling to do. Of the two wings standing down, Lucas has been suffering with influenza, while Rushbrook has played in only two games. Preference for Lindsay.

Though Liiburne has played in five games out of the eight as fullback, ho has had to give way to Lindsay. The Otago man has played three times as fullback and once at centre. His more accurate line-kicking has apparently turned the scales in his favour.

No player with tho combination has played in all eight games, and Stewart is the only one who has taken part in seven. The figures are:—Stewart, 7; Robilliard, Grenside, Swain, M. Brownlie, Finlayson, 6; Liiburne, Carleton, Strang, Johnson, Scrimshaw, Alley, 5; Lindsay, Nicholls, Dalley, Kilby, Hadley, Ward, McWilliams, Hazlett, C. Brownlie, 4: Lucas, Hore, 3; Rushbrook, Sheen, McGregor, Burrows, Snow, 2; Harvey, 1. The All Black side for to-day obviously has been chosen from the players who have been showing the best form, and so the selection calls for little criticism. The side differs only very slightly from that which administered such a sound defeat on Natal a week ago. Tho alterations are that Dalley replaces Kilby and Finlayson goes in in place of McWilliams. Seven members of the team—Lindsay, Carleton, Grenside, Strang, Scrimshaw. Hadley and Swain—-are, making their first appearance in an international match today. Canterbury's Quota. Canterbury, the present Ranfurly Shield holder, provides five members of the team, Hawke's Bay three, South Canterbury two, and North Auckland, Auckland, Wellington, Otago and Southland ono each. The result of to-day's contest will i>o looked for in every part of the world where the Rugby game is played. The success of the All Blacks may mean that the same team will take part, in the second test three weeks hence at Johannesburg. On the other hand, its defeat will no doubt lead to a few alterations. Fit and well, McGregor should get into tho best New Zealand side. lie lias played in only two games so far. Then there is tho unlucky Harvey, who took part in the opening match, but has not played since on account of injuries and illness. While the whole of South Africa is confident of the success of the Springboks, the public of New Zealand is almost equally confident of the ability of Maurice Brownlio and his men. to win Hie day. The result will be eagerly looked for to morrow morning. Intending listeners-m may save themselves the trouble of sitting up until the carlv hours, as if has been ascertained that ihere are no short-wave radio sets in South Africa, where wireless is of a very larcelv amateur nature.