STRENGTH OF ALL BLACKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20309, 17 July 1929, Page 15

STRENGTH OF ALL BLACKS.

DALLEY EQUALS F. ROBERTS* CANTERBURY'S BEST HALFBACK. A kwn Canterbury llugby enthusiast who has followed tJia game for years, writing to a friend in Auckland, gives his opinion regarding the present All Black team in Australia and is loud m Jus praise of Dalley. He also says Canterbury should have a jjooa side-, to send on tour this season. He writes as follows: "The All Blacks are having a tot of bad lack with their injured men, but we have the consolation of knowing that many of the best players did_ not, get, away* The 'greatest loss, of course, is Dailey, who :s a better player now than ever he was. 1. am sure thai he is now the best halfback Canterbury ever had, notwithstanding That he has' to be compared -with old champions. I can recall such tnen'xs Hel« more. A. Cook, Harvey. Burns and Taylor, but pm Dailey first of the lot. In fact. I think he can be conpled with Freddy Roberts as the best half Net?: Zealand has ever had. "Lilburne is also firsJ-cIaES, but accepting Xepia. I cannot see that any of tbo otheir backs axe up to first-class All Black form. Excepting for his defence, Carleton does not impress me. He does not seem as brilliant as he was at school. Alley would have made a difference to the team, but it is hoped he will be playing next year when the Englishmen come. There t.hould be some sood footh&ll then and as there will be no team going from New Zealand overseas, our men should be at their best. "Canterbury will probably have a pretty fair team to go North this year, but s> lot will depend on the men now in Australia keeping fit. Scott, of Canterbury College, is a fine fullback, and another , good one is young Roberts, the Riccarura cricketer. Loveridge, Carlson and Hart should make a good thifceqiMittur Ime* with Oliver, Lilburn and Bailey for ttoother places. I cannot tdh 7: snvone else, who the forwards but I know that Alley, if i» were would be the - best-of the- loi~- •' ' i'J