RUGBY VISITORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 12

RUGBY VISITORS

.THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM ARRIVAL AT CARTERTON [BY TELEGRAPH —ATHLETIC REPORTER] CARTERTON, Monday The Australian Itugby team arrived at Carterton this afternoon, to be greeted with pouring rain, which has fallen almost incessantly hero since last Saturday. The team is in good spirits in spite of two defeats, but is a little downhearted owing to the wet weather it has so far experienced on tour. The manager, Mr. Gordon Shaw, contracted a slight cold at Napier and stayed there. He will go to Wellington to meet the team. Following are the teams for Wednesday's match:— Australia.—Storey, Keiaher, Egan, Rankin, Dorr, Mammon, Richards, Walden, Stone, Malone, Kelly, White, Bridle, Pauling, Hodgson. Wairarapa-Bush.—Bond, Donovan, Brooks, Holland, Brunton, Van Praagh, Clarke, Serra, Gaudin, Harding, Martin, Matheson, Barr, Busch, Catt. Rough weather and rain prevented the Australians from having a run this afternoon and they were greatly disappointed. Egan will be l&vyig his first game on Wednesday. All the touring players will then have been given a trial prior to tho first test match. The tourists are anxious to know whether tho leg injuries suffered by Storey, Pauling and Kelly will stand tho strain of Wednesday's match. All three are being depended upon for the test match and further injuries would seriously handicap the team. Lewis is the latest player to be added to tho list of those suffering from leg muscle injuries. Hayes, captain of tho team, intends to undergo a further X-ray examination in Wellington to locate tho cause of his rib trouble.

NEW ALL BLACK CAPTAIN J. L. GRIFFITHS CHOSEN [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday Tho New Zealand Rugby team will have a new leader in the first test match against Australia at Wellington on Saturday. Tho management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union has appointed J. L. Griffiths, of Wellington, as captain, and R. R. King, West Coast, as deputy-captain. The new loader of tho All Blacks plays at first five-eighths and it was in that position he made a reputation for himself when tho All Blacks toured Britain last year. Griffiths is tho solid, defensive typo of player. Without brilliance or strikingly incisivo \vbrk in attack he is very reliable, handles well, and can make occasional good openings for tho men behind him. Tho son of an old representative player and All Black selector, the new leader made his mark in Wellington football as a colt, and soon won a place in the Wellington representative side, whore he has been suro of his place during the past throe sasons.

In 1934 Griffiths was a member of the All Black team which toured Australia. In the All Black trials last year he played so well that, ho was early singled out as a certainty for selection, and on tho tour he won high praise for an outstanding game against Scotland when his partner in the five-eighths lino was T. 11. C. Caughey, of Auckland. Griffiths is 24 years of age, sft. 7in. in height and weighs lOst. lib. The deputy-captain, 11. 11. King, is a product of. West Coast football, and plays in tho second row. Ho represented New Zealand in Australia in 1934, and last year was ono of tho best forwards in tho All Black team on tho tour of Britain/King is 24 years of age, 6ft. 2in. in height and weighs 14st.