RUGBY TRIALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 20

RUGBY TRIALS

INTER-ISLAND GAME

PREPARING FOR SPRINGBOKS MATCHES AT WELLINGTON FIRST CONTESTS TO-DAY Considerable interest throughout New Zealand will be centred in the annual Rugby match at Wellington to-' day between the North and South Island teams in view of the forthcoming tour of the Springboks. In addition to the inter-Island match a trial gamo will bo played as a curtainraiser. Further trial matches will be played next Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. It is expected that the All Black team to meet the Springboks in the first test match at Wellington on August 14 will be announced next Saturday night.Injuries to players made changes necessary in the teams, but the only alteration for the inter-Island match is the replacement of J. M. Watt, of Wellington, the fast wing threequarter, who made his reputation as an Otago representative. The change necessitates Sullivan, an outstanding centre-threequarter, going on the wing, while D.' G. Barton (Wanganui) will plaj T at centre-threequarter. Sullivan has, made his name as a centrethreequarter and it is doubtful whether the selectors are wise in changing his position. The selectors, however, Messrs. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), chairman," M. F. Nicholls (Wellington), G. W. Nicholson (Auckland), J. T. Burrows [(Canterbury), A. A. Adams (West Coast) and W. Pearson (Otago) are playing several players out of their .usual positions, especially in the forwards. Penalising Players" This policy has probably been found necessary, but with so many trial matches to decide upon the selectors hadan opportunity of giving all players a chance in their correct places. Probably they will do this in the final trials in an effort to obtain .the best available team. In the meantime, however, some players may be penalised through their inability to fit in positions to which they aro not accustomed. It is generally understood that the teams selected for the inter-Island match represent the cream of the players in New Zealand. On this occasion, however, although strong sides have been selected, it is likely that players who do not take part in the fixture will later catch the eyes' of the selectors. ' With a view to placing .the best talent in New Zealand against the redoubtable Springboks the Dominion has been thoroughly combed. Outstanding players, through injuries, will have to stand down in the trial games, but i will probably, if fit, come under consideration for the final All Black selection. North's Superiority In inter-Island matches to date the North easily holds superiority. Thirtyone matches have been played. North has won 18 and South 10, while three have been drawn. North has scored 526 points and South 351. The ,North Island team for to-day holds the balance as far as All Blacks are concerned. Included in the side are eight, as follows: —Pollock, Solomon, Jackson, Dalton, Lambourn, McKenzie, Reid and Wells. All Blacks in the South Island team aro Mitchell, King, Rankin and Ward. The teams for matches to-day are as follows: — { NORTH ISLAND Fullback.—H. v R. Pollock (Wellington). 5 Threequarters.— J. L. Sullivan '(Taranaki), D. G. Barton (Wanganui), W- Phillips (King Country). Five-eighths.—D. Solomon (Auckland), C. Grossman (King Country). | Halfback. —L. Clothier (Hawke's Bay). Forwards. —E.- Jackson (Hawke's Bay), D. Dalton (Hawke's Bay), A. Xiambourn (Wellington), R. McKenzie j(Manawatu), S. Reid (Hawke's Bay), 'A. Bowman (Hawke's Bay), J. Wells (Wellington), T. H. Pearce (Auck- j land). Reserves. —Forwards: R. K.*Anderson (Auckland), A. H. Andrews (Wellington). Back: C. Le Quesne (Wellington). , r : '• SOUTH ISLAND Fullback. —J. Taylor (Otago). Threequarters. —T. Morrison (South Canterbury), N. A. Mitchell (Southland), D. G. Cobden (Canterbury). Five-eighths.—D. Trevathan (Otago), !J. A. Hooper (Canterbury). Halfback.—J. J. McAuliffe (Canter- < bury). , Forwards. —J. 0. Hattorsley (Canterbury), G, Orman (Buller), C. E. Quaid '(Otago), R. D. King (West Coast), H. Milliken - (Canterbury), r J. Rfinkjn (Canterbury), R. H. Ward (Southland), A. A. Parkhill (Otago). Reserves.—Forwards: E. Cbesterman [(Southland), G. Strang (South Canterbury).' Backs: C. Saxton (South Canterbury), A. Black (Otago). "■ POSSIBLES Fullback.—G. Y>. M. Gilbert (West Coast): threequarters, J. Dick (Auckland), B. A. Killeen (Aubkland), A. / Dixon (King Country); five-eighths, D. Lane (Marlborough), W. G. Brooks (Canterbury); halfback, L. Russell (Waikato): forwards, V. L. George '(Southland), W. E. Hadley (Auckland). H Anderson (Horowhenjia), M. ' Seandrett (West Coast), R. Trust run; (King Country), M. W. Devine p\el - ington), F. J. Green (Otago), G. Mason (Buller). PROBABLES Fullback. S.' F. Easton (North Otago); threequarters, A. E. McAncny '(Poverty Bay), W. Fulton ("Wellington), A. Sutherland (Southland); fiven'ghths, J. L. Griffiths (Wellington), H; Bradley "(Hawke's Bay) •, halfback, J. A: Purdue (Southland); forwards, C. S. Peppoi* (Auckland), G. Fowler (Taranaki)/; J. Finlay (Mnnawatu), J. McClenaghan (Taranaki), F H. Braser Smith (Wellington), C. Williams (Unterburv), C. Q'Dowda (Taranaki), It. R. Hull'.(Auckland). Reserves for both teams. —A. Strachan (Buller), back; J. Best (Waikato)./

Test matches against the Springboks will be played as follows:—August 14, at Wellington; September 4, at Christchurch; September 25, at Auckland,