ALL BLACKS' TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 13

ALL BLACKS' TOUR.

RETURN OF AUCKLANDERS. FIVE PLAYERS DUE TO-DAY. WELCOME BY RUGBY UNION. Tho five Auckland representatives, F. W. Lucas, S. Had ley, R. McWilliams, T. R. Sheen, and I. Finlayson, who toured South Africa with tho All Blacks, will return this morning by the Marama, which is due to berth at 7.30. The other members of the All Black Party will arrive in Wellington to-day by the Maheno. The Auckland representatives, who have been absent just upon six months, will be tendered an -official welcome by tho Auckland Rugby Union in tho Chamber of Commerce at noon to-day. As far as the form of tho players on tour was concerned, McWilliams gained the reputation of being the most honest forward. Ho played in 13 matches, including three tests. Hadley shares the honour with nine other players of having taken the field in all four tests. He was regarded as a forward in the first flight, and played in 11 matches. He was in jured in the second test and then did not play again for five matches. Lucas played in one test match only, tho fourth, and took part in 11 other games. In many quarters he was considered unfortunate in not gaining more opportunities in test games. Sheen, who was injured in the fourteenth match, also played in the third, seventh and tenth games. His omission from so many games before receiving his injury created considerable surprise on account of his form in Auckland during the 1927 season. Finlayson also took part in the four test matches, and played in 15 games. He shared with Stewart, M. Brownlie, Swain, McWilliams, Alley and Ilazlett the heaviest forward burden of tho tour.