NEW ZEALAND SIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20976, 12 September 1931, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND SIDE.

MANY YOTJNG PLAYERS \ FEW OF LAST YEAR'S TEAM. TABLE OF WEIGHTS AND AGES. The New Zealand team to meet the Australians at Eden Park to-day is a very young side, and differ!! greatly from the All Black team tvhich took the field at Auckland on July 26 ls.sfc year against the visiting British team. Of the members of the last All Black side to play i D Auckland, only six, A. I. Cottrell, E. R. G. Steere, W. Batty, W. A. Strang, M. Corner and G. F. Hart, will be seen today. There is only a sprinkling of veterans in the team for to-day. No member of the (tide which toured Great Britain in 1924-25 will be playing, while W. A. Strang and H. T. Lilburne are the only players who were in South Africa in 1923. Eight players, R. G. Bush, J. R; Page, who is to replace C. J. Oliver, owing to the latter's indisposition, N. Ball, F. Solomon, E. Jessup, G. Purdue, D. Max, and T. Metcalfe, are making their first appearance in an All Black team. The average age of player? is between 23 and 24 years, the average of last year's team which played in Auckland being over 25 years. Five players are only 22 years old. The average weight of the backs this year is list. 111b., while the average of the forwards is 13st. 131b., the heaviest man being Max, who is 15st. 31b. Following are particulars of the players:— FULLBACK. R. G. Bush (Otago, All Black, 1931); student; age 22; weight, 14st. lib. THREEQUARTERS. G. F. Hart (Canterbury, All Black, 1930, 31); commercial traveller; age, 23; weight, list. 101b. J. R. Page (Wellington, All Black, 1931); Defence Force officer; age, 24; weight, list. 41b. N. Ball (Wellington, All Black, 1931); clerk; age, 22; weight, list. 21b. FIVE-EIGHTHS. H. T. Lilburne (Wellington, All Black, 1928, 29, 30, 31); boilermaker; age, 23; weight, 12st. 31b. W. A. Strang (South Canterbury, All Black, 1928, 30, 31); stock agent; age, 24; weight, 12st. HALFBACK. M. Corner (Auckland, All Black, 19301931); bank clerk; age, 22; weight, 9st. 71b. WING-FORWARD. F. Solomon (Auckland, All Black, 1931); warehouseman; age, 24; weight, 13st. 131b. FORWARDS. A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury, All Black, 1929, 30, 31); lawyer; age, 24; weight, 12st. 121b. E. Jessep (Wellington, All Black, 1931); mechanic; age, 26; weight, 13st. 111b. E. R. G. Steere (Hawke's Bay, All Black, 1928, 29, 30, 31); bank clerk; age, 23; weight, 14st. 81b. G. Purdue (Southland, All Black, 1931); factory assistant; age, 22; weight, 14st. 101b. D. Max (Nelson, All Black, 1931) ; farmer; age, 25; weight, 15st. 31b. W. Batty (Auckland, All Blacjc, 1928. 30, 31); insurance agent; age, 28; weight. 13st. lib. T. Metcalfe (Southland, All Blade. 1931); butcher; age, 22; weight, 13st. 71b. EMERGENCIES. C. J. Oliver (Canterbury), All Black, 1928, 29, 31); builder; age, 25; weight, 12st. 21b. J. D. Mackay (Wellington); teacher; age, 25; weight, 12st. 41b. / G. D. Anderson (Hawke's Bay); bricklayer; age, 22; weight, 14st. 71b.