RUGBY TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 12

RUGBY TOUR

AUSTRALIANS' VISIT ' STRONG SIDE SELECTEB' : EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH 1. MANY NEW PLAYERS INCLUDED [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, July 1 8 f It is generally agreed here that the Australian P«ugbv Union team chosen to visit New Zealand next month is the strongest to have left these shores in post-war years. While there is surprise at the omission of several players, the feeling is that the team is capable of winning at least one of the two test matches, thus retaining the Bledislo* Cup. The team is made up of 13 player* from New South Wales, four from Queensland and three from Victoria. The average age of the 25 players i» 23 years. The backs average list. 121b., and the forwards list. The team is as follows: — Fullback. —K. P. Storey (New South Wales), age 23, weight 12st. 51b., height oft. lOin. Wing-three-quarters. —A. D. McLean (Queensland), 24 years, 12st. 61b., oft. llin.; J. D. Kelnher (New South Wales), 24 years, list. 211)., oft. 9in,; R. W. Dorr (Victoria;, 26 years, 12st. 51b., sft. 9in. Centre Threoquarters.—E. C. Hayes (Queensland, captain), 24 years, 12st. 21b., 6ft.; W. McLaughlin (New South Wales), 22 years, list, lib., oft. 10in.; 15. C. Egan (New South Wales), 20 years, 12st. 71b., 6ft.; 11. Rankin (New South Wales), 21 years, 12st. 101b., sft. lOin. Five-eighths.—L. S. Lewis land), 24 years, list. 61b., oft. 9in.; J. D. Hamnion (Victoria), 22 year», list. 41b., oft. Sin. Halfbacks. —V. Richards (New South Wales), 24 years, 12st. 21b., sft Sin.; E. de C. Gibbons (New South Wales), 22 years, 10st. 41b., sft.,6}in.

Forward Line Forwards. —T. P. Pauling (New South Wales), 23 \cars, 13st. 71b., 6ft.: R. L. F. Kelly (New South Wales), 26 years, 14st. 31b., 6ft. lin.; A. J Hodgson (New South Wales), 24 years, I4ht. 41b., 6ft. lin.; 0. L. Bridle (Victoria), 20 years, 13st. 71b., 6ft. 2jin.; K. S. Windon (New South Wales), 19 years, 13st., 6ft.; K. M. Ramsay (New South Wales), 23 years, 14st. 71b., 6ft.; F, E. Hutchinson (New South Wales), IS years, 14st. 41b., 6ft. 2jin.; W. G. S. White (New South Wales, 23 years, lost. 121b., 6ft. 3in.; R. J. Walden (New South Wales, vice-cap-tain), 27 years, 14st. 61b., sft. llin.; J. H. Malone (New South Wales), 23 years, 13st. 101b., sft. 11-Jin.; W. H, Cerutti (.New South Wales), 26 years, 14st., oft. A. H. Stone (New South Wales), 23 years, 13st. 101b., oft. Bin.; E, T. Bonis (Queensland), 28 years, 13st. 81b., oft. llin. The players include only seven who toured South Africa with the Wallabies in 1933. These are McLean, Kelaher, Hodgson, Bridle, White, Cerutti and Bonis. Bridle, Cerutti and B<mia were members of the last Australian team to tour New Zealand in 1931.

The team is a mixture of experience and youth. Bonis, Walden, Kelly, Bridle and Cerutti are the veterans, while 15 are new to international honours. Several others are in their early twenties, but well experienced. Inclusion of Pauling

New Zealanders will be particularly interested in the choice of Pauling. Be is the son of T. G. Pauling, who visited Australia with the New Zealand team in 1897, later settled in New South Wales, and played for the State against Queensland in 1898 and 1899. Young Pauling was a reserve back to a State team against the All Blacks four years ago. He became a forward this season and has given dashing displays. The " babies " of the team are Hutchinson and Windon, brilliant colts who, with rare dash and promise, have forced their wav into the side.

Storey, the fullback, missed early selection with the New South Wales side, and his form has been spasmodic, but on tour he is expected to rereal the dash and initiative which earned him praise against the Maoris last year. McLean is probably the best tringthreequarter playing to-day, and Kelaher can be equally dangerous. The policy of the team will be to play to these tricky and resourceful players, and the youthful McLaughlin is a centre with rare penetrative ability to make the openings. Solid Centres Hayes and Bankin are two solid centres, and Bryan Egan, brother of the Waratah, Ben. and State representative, Tom, promises to develop with experience, lewis, the pick of the five-eighths, retains all his old verve and is likely to be rr-served for the more important matches. Hammon, who learned his football in New Zealand, was one of the surprise inclusions.

The position of Richards is an enigma. Two years ago he played for the State as halfback and was then dropped. This year he blossomed ns * a stand-off. His speed off the mark, uncanny anticipation and backing, and ability to vary his play brought him State representation and the captaincy on a tour of Queensland) In subse- » quent Sydney matches the selectors experimented with him at inside centre, fearing that his trick of turning tho play back to the forwards rather frequently would play into the hands of the New Zea landers. So he has been chosen as a half. The other halfback, Gibbons, is very slight, but plucky, and his cover defence is a revelation. t Tho team does not lack for loose forwards, and weight and ruggedness are well represented in White, Walden. Bamsav, Bonis, Cerutti, Kelly and Malone. Those who can consider themselves particularly unlucky to have missed , selection were F. O'Brien (New South ] Wales), winger, V. Wilson and V. Bermingham (Queensland), forwards. One Queensland Forward The only Queensland forward selected was Bonis, who did not play in thfi last inter-Stato carnival match, lhere is bound to bo disappointment itt Queensland Rugby circles at its poor representation, particularly as the > ictorian team, which suffered a record defeat for inter-State fixtures by ft New South Wales second fifteen, provides three players. Dorr was the outstanding success among the Victorian visitors, but it is doubtful ii he was superior to O'Brien, who was chosen in all State games thi? year and gave every satisfaction and promise of improvement. Dorr, like O'Brien, is a champion traes athlete. . The selection of Ilaycs as captain was a happy choice, as, apart from his level-headedness and sound play, he has the respect of all the players, iho appointment of Mr. E. Gordon Shaw as manager will be pleasing to IS<?" Zealanders. Although he has never been to New Zealand he is well known to All Black and Maori teams, with whom he travelled as official New South Wales representative during their tours • of Australia.

The Australians will open their toitr with a match against Auckland on August 22. Ten games will be plu.veat including two tests. The first test i« set down for September 5 at Wellington and thfe second for September at Dunedin.