ALL BLACKS ARRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 10

ALL BLACKS ARRIVE.

TRAINING FOR THE TEST.

SHORT PRACTICE YESTERDAY.

I. FINLAYSON UNAVAILABLE.

NO REPLACEMENT NECESSARY.

Two days earlier than they were expected, the southern members of the All Black side, which will meet the British team in the third test at Eden Park on Saturday, arrived in Auckland yesterday morning. G. Nepia was the only player who did noi arrive with the main party and he reached Auckland last evening.

Mr. E. McKcnzie, of Carterton, who is chairman of the New Zealand selection committee and also manager of the New Zealand team for tho third tost, arrived in Auckland on Saturday morning and watched the game between Britain and Auckland in tho afternoon. Ho went to Eden Park with the players yesterday afternoon, when a short practice was held. Nepia and R. G. McWilliams wero the only absentees. All tho members of the team are fit. A. E. Cooke, who was suffering from kneo trouble earlier in the season, said yesterday that his knee was now quito sound. R. T. Stewart has also completely recovered from a kneo injury received in the gamo between Canterbury and Britain and which kept him out of tho first test match in Dunedin. I. Finlayson, however, is definitely not available. Although ho was a spectator at Eden Park on Saturday a septic hand still necessitates hospital treatment and it is hardly likely that 110 will bo ablo to lead North Auckland against the British team at Whangaroi to-morrow week. Tho Chosen Players. Questioned last evening, Mr. McKcnzio said no extra forward would bo selected to replace Finlayson for tho test match. In tlio 10 players provisionally selected there were nino forwards, so one man has still to bo dropped when the final team is chosen.

Tho other members of the Now Zealand selection committee will join Mr. McKenzie and the Auckland member, Mr. G. Nicholson, boforo tho end of the week. They aro: Messrs. N. McKenzie (Hawke's Bay), W. Maxwell (Canterbury), A. Macdonald (Otago), and A. Geddes (Southland). Tho All Black team will now be chosen from the following:—• Fullback: G. Nepia (East Coast).

Threequarters: G. Hart (Canterbury), F. W. Lucas (Auckland), D. Ollivcr (Otago). Five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (Wellington), M. F. Nicholls (Wellington), A. Strang (South Canterbury). Halfback: M. Corner (Auckland). Wing-forward: C. G. Porter (Wellington). Forwards: A. I. Cottrcll (Canterbury), J. Horo (Otago), E. R. G. Steele {lTawke's Bay), R. T. Stewart (Canterbury), 11. F. McLean (Wellington), W. Batty (Auckland), R. G. McWilliams (Auckland), W. Hazlott (Southland). Difficulty for Selectors.

On the form displayed in tho Auckland match, tho selectors may have a littlo difficulty in making their final selection. After tho second test it was thought that tlicy might shift Lucas to tho wing in pf Qlliver, play Cooke at ccntro and fill tho inside back positions with Nicholls and Strang. However, Lucas' brilliant game at centrethreequnrter for Auckland may keep him in that position for the All Black side Batty's great form against Britain makes him a strong contender for Finlayson's place. Wellington reports on McLean mo enthusiastic and suggest that he may replaco one of the side or back row forwards who has represented New Zealand in the two preceding tests. Only light training was carried out by tho New Zealand players yesterday, but it is expected that they will do more serious work this morning. The British team is training at Rotorua and will return to Auckland on Thursday. Tho British Rugby team has accepted an invitation from King's Collego to use the school playing fields at Mangere for their final training on Friday. The team will practice during the morning and will bo tho guests of tho Auckland Golf Club at lunch.