RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20955, 19 August 1931, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

CEiaCTIOM OF ALL BLACKS

MATERIAL FOR STRONG TEAM

HAWKE'S BAY ON SATURDAY.

The task of the two selectors, Messrs. 31 MeKenzie and A. McDonald, in choosing the New Zealand team to meet the Australians in the only test match, t~> be played at. Auckland on September il2, is by no means an easy one. It eeenis certain that the majority of the players will be selected from thoso who took part in the inter-island match, with perhaps one or two others included. There is abundant material among those who .played in Wellington last Saturday for llhe building up of a strong fifteen. As regards the fullback position the ('choice seems almost certain to fall on the ex-Auckland representative, R. G. Bush, •,who justified his inclusion by his display Hast Saturday. The th:reequarter line is [going to present some difficulty, more 'especially as Cooke did not show to his 't;sual advantage in the inter-island match. •Hart, Canterbury, can be regarded a cer'tainty for one wing. It had been said that Hart had lost form this season, but 'his game last Saturday showed him to 'be at his very best. None of the other wings who played in the inter-island match can possibly come in for consideration.

According to reports Ball, Wellington, vwho was chosen to play, but had to :stand down owing to an injury, is playing tfine football. If he is fit it will not be 'surprising should he be selected for the other wing position. Allan, Otago, showed such good form that he. must have good claims for centre, and should he gain preference over Cooke it is hardly likely on form that the latter will be given a chance at second five-eighths. Nicholls is sure to fill a position in the fiveeighths line, and on his game Strang must surely find a place, either as half or fiveeighths. Lilburne and Oliver. Lilburno is such a solid player that he ennnot be overlooked, and, failing his 6clection as a five-eighths, he may be played at fullback in preference to Bush, ii position which is by no means new to him. Oliver, Canterbury, is a brilliant individualist. He does not always fit in well as a combination player, however, and oil this account he may be overlooked. He rather faded out of the picture in the last ten minutes in the interisland " match, whereas Lilburne came right into the limelight. The position of halfback seems likely to be filled by either Strang or Kilby. Seeing that other players are to be considered Corner, Auckland; who played in the three last tests against the British team last season, and who is back to his bestform, has an outside chance.

There will be keen competition for positions in tire forwards. Solomon should gain the wing position, and both Hadley and Batty places in the scrum. Cottrell is such a fine all-round forward that his place should be assured as one of the bookers. Max, although a little inexperienced in big football, will be a serious rival to Steero" for lock on his showing last Saturday. Purdue, Manchester and McNeight all have strong claims, and if McLean has it impressed on him that he must do his share in the tight play lie is practically certain to find a place. Match Against Hawke's Bay.

Auckland will have a chance next Saturday at Eden Park of avenging its defeat by Hawke's Bay at Napier earlier in the reason by 19 points to 8. The visitors will arrive on Friday morning. The improved display given by the Auckland team against- Waikato last Saturday promises better results in future matches. There was more brain and less brdwn about the exhibition of the winning side. However, it was still a long Way from being Auckland at its best. Jamieson is obviously out of form, and ■why the selector persists with him is hard to' understand. Corner and Macindoe play well together, and a sound second fiveeighths would make a wonderful difference to the speedy threequarter line. There are two or three candidates for this position. Smith; of Marist, gave decided promise -in the games in which he took part. R. Stuart, Manukau, has played brilliant football in this position in club matches. But the ideal man for the position, now that lie has struck his best form again, is Haslam, who performed so well in representative matches last season. It is rather curious that both Jamieson and Haslam,- the representative fiveeighths of last year, should both have gone off this season. Haslam, however, lias come right back to his best, as he proved in his latest club matches, and against South Auckland last Saturday. Jieing such a strong runner and good handler, Haslam is the ideal type to play outside a straight-running player like Macindoe. Auckland's Forwards. With a strengthened back line the Auckland forwards could be depended upon for better work. It looks as though the following will comprise the pack:— Iladley, ' Palmer, Satherley, Knight, Batty, Finlayson anc'i Anderson, with Solomon as , wing-forward. Satherley played a very fine game against Waikato. but, while he was perhaps the outstanding forward, Anderson, linlayson, Palmer and Ivnight were all prominent for hard work. It. is pleasing to see Knight playing as everyone knows he is able when ho likes.

Another pleasure to Aucklanders is to Bee Corner .at the very top of his form once more. He played a fine all-round game on Saturday, and, if he had been in Wellington, he could not have failed to impress the critics with such a display. He is still well in the running for the New Zealand team, and another good exhibition against Hawke's Bay will add to the worries of the selectors.

Although tHe Auckland B representatives could claim but a narrow margin of points over South Auckland at Pukekobc last Saturday, it might easily have been a good deal larger. The town players found it difficult to follow the interpretations of the country referee, who bad control of the game. Cutler played a very line game for./ Auckland, while Haslam was the pick of the other backs. Nelson. Stacey and Haywood were the leading forwards, and Kerfhe did a lot of fine work at wing-forward. Views of Correspondents. "Rugby Supporter '' writes:—ln reference .to our Auckland Rugby fifteen I jjnd many others who pay our gate-money 6very Saturday afternoon think we do not get our money's'worth as the best players are not always in the team. We would like to suggest the following players:— Heazlewood; Hutchison, Caughey, Milliken; Haslam or Berridge, Macindoe; Corner; Solomon; Finlayson, Hadley. Knight, Anderson, Batty, Satherley, Bunting. , Space does not permit the publication of letters from. ; other correspondents suggesting an Auckland team to meet Hawke's Bay on Saturday. Varying views are expressed, but all the writers agree that a change at second five-eighths is necessary. Some prefer either Heazleor Butler as fullback", while opinions differ regarding the choice of forwards. on the. subject of refereeing 'J Rugbyite " expresses appi'eciation of the work of Messrs. F. E. Sutherland and Zr . Austin, and trusts that either of ese two officials will be appointed to .0 remaining big matches oi' tho season.