RUGBY CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 10

RUGBY CONTEST.

[THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

ALL BLACKS' OPPONENTS.

STRONG AUSTRALIAN SIDE.

STRUGGLE FOR THE ASHES.

LORD BLEDISLOE'S CUP.

The first Rugby test of the All Blacks' tour of Australia will bo played at Sydney to-day, and considerable interest ha: ; ; been aroused in the game in both countries. Fostered by New Zealand teams, tho code in Australia has been gradually regaining ground, and at the present timo Australia is able to field a team which would be hard to dispose of by any inter national--, side. This was clearly proved by the display of the Australians in tho test match in Auckland last year, when the fine goal-kicking of Bush, fullback, really turned the tables it) New Zealand's favour. , Great, interest in the test will be taken in South A'rica, as the Australian team v.ill try conclusions with tho Springboks! tii ere next season. To-day's match will mark tho 19th occasion on which Australian and New Zealand teams havo met. New Zealand has won 12 of the contests and lost five, while one game resulted in a draw. Added interest is given to the match to-day on account of tho revival of tile code in other centres besides Sydney. Effect of the War Years. The fi'rst match was played at Sydney fn 1903, New Zealand winning by 22 points to 3. As far back as 1884, however, matches were played against New South Wales, and from 1893 fairly regular games were played against Queensland. Rugby suffered greatly in Australia owing to the war, and after three tests were decided in 1914 it was not until 15 years later that Australia and New Zealand r&et again. It is well known that but for New Zealand's assistance during this period the game would have practically died out in Australia. New Zealand lost the ashes in 1929, failing in all three tests. It was a unique experience for New Zealand Rugby. The ashes wer3 regained last year at Auckland in the only test played. Australia has left no stone unturned this season in an endeavour to field its best side, and the All BJacks to-day have a difficult task before them. It will be the first match for the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy presented by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, for competition between the two countries.

Six of the Australian players who took part in the test match lan year are included in to-day's team. They are* Stejjgall, Cowper, Malcolm, Clarke, M.. White, Bonis and Cerutti. Bridle and! Love were emergencies, but now find i\ place in the forwards. M.alcolm will be well remembered for his fine displays in New Zealand in tho past, while Steggall, the fullback, created a very favourable impression at fiveeighths when here last season. Cowper has a reputation as a great wing, and it will be interesting to see if he is pitted against Bullock-Douglas to-day. The New Zealandef has come quickly into the limelight, and js considered a "find" as far as .Dominion football is concerned. A New Rearguard.

The All Blacks will field practically a new rearguard, only Lilburne, at fiveeighths, .and Page, centre, having played l;ist year against Australia. Lilburne T}ow takes up the fullbaclc position and Page will play at second five-eighths. Of the forwards in the team for the match to-day, Jessup, Cottrell, Purdue, Steero and Metcalfe played in last year's test.

lit is difficult to judge at this distance hovp' the All Blacks will fare in to-day's match, but it would se?m that they will need to show better form than that against New South Wales last Saturday to take the honours. ,

The next test will be played at Brisbane on July 16 and the third at Sydney a week later. To date the All Blacks have played two matches, defeating New Soath Wales by 13 points to 11 and Newcastle by 44 points to 6. The teams for the match to-day are as, follows: NEW ZEALAND. Fullback.—Lilburne. Threequarters.—Proctor, Caughcy, Bul-lock-Douglas. Five-eighths.—Pollock, Page. Halfback. —Kilby (captain). I'orwards.—Jessup, Cottrell, Ilore., Steere, McLean, Manchester, Purdue and Metcalfe. AUSTRALIA. Fullback.—Steggall. Threequarters.—Cowper, King, SturtW. White. Five-eighths.— Lawton (captain). . Halfback.—Malcolm. Forwards.—Clarke, M. White, Bridle., Bland, Cook, Love, Bonis, Cerutti. It is interesting to note that all thfi players in the All Blacks' rearguard art> from the North Island with the exception r>f Proctor (Otago) who scored five tries, against Newcastle last Wednesday. Lil - burne and Kilby, the captain, are exCanterbury and Southland players respectively. Five of the forwards, Cottrell, Hore, Manchester, Purdue and Metcalfe, are South Island representatives. Cabled advice from Sydney states that Caughey played in tho Newcastle match because Bullock-Douglas felt slightly indisposed, and tho manager, Mr. W. J. W.illace, wanted to save him for the test. The replacement was a last-minute decision.