THE ALL BLACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22796, 2 August 1937, Page 11

THE ALL BLACKS

FIRST TEST PLAYERS

TWENTY CHOSEN FOR CAMP MITCHELL NOT AVAILABLE [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON, Sunday Twenty players have been chosen by the New Zealand Rugby Union selectors to train at Otaki in preparation for the first test against the Springboks at "Wellington on August 14. An additional player will bo chosen later in the week. A notable absentee from the list is the All Black centre and wing-three-quarter, N. A. Mitchell, Southland, who pulled n leg muscle during the All Black trials. Ho turned out on Saturday for Southland in the Ranfurly Shield match against Otago and was forced to retire. The selected players are as follows: —

Fullback. —,T. M. Taylor (Otago)

Threequnrtors.—l). G. Cobdeu (Canterbury), J. Dick (Auckland), T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki). Five-eighths.—J. A. Hooper (Canterbury), D. Trevathan (Otago), G. Grossman (King Country). Halfback. —H. Simon (Otago). Forwards.—A. Lambourn (Wellington), D. Dalton (Hawko's Bay), T. H. Pearce (Auckland), J5. S. Jackson (Hawko's Bay), R. R. King (West Coast), S. T. Rcid (Hawke's Bay), H. Milliken (Canterbury), R. M. McKenzio (Manawatu), J. G. Rankin (Canterbury), R. H. Ward (Southland), A. A. Parkhill (Otago). MITCHELL'S DEFECTION SERIOUS LOSS TO SIDE OMISSION OF W. E. HADLEY The outstanding feature of the selection is tho fact that, among the hacks, not one of tho 1935 All Blackrearguard has been included. Another is the inability of N. A. Mitchell, the brilliant All Black and Southland ccntrc-thrcequartcr, to play owing to his leg injury. Mitchell's loss will bo a serious one, as lie proved himself the outstanding back in the Dominion in the recent inter-island game and All Black trials. He was also freely regarded as the New Zealand captain. Tho selectors have relied almost solely on the form showed by tho players during the trials. As was c\'|x>ctcd, J. M. Taylor has been chosen to fill the fullback position. His play was of a consistently high standard in all the games, while lie also played a splendid game in the Ranfur'ly Shield match against Southland 011 Saturday. Tho only other position which has been definitely allotted is that of halfback, for which another Otago player, H. Simon, has been selected. In the thrccquarter line, only one recognised centre has been included,, this being Sullivan, the Taranaki player. In the absence of Mitchell, however, there is a possibility that T. H. C. Caughey, tho Auckland and 1935 All Black centre, who played his first game 011 Saturday in Auckland for the University team, will be the additional player selected to complete the list, and that he will play at centre-three-quarter. Caughey's Brilliance Although this was Caughey's first appearance, 110 showed himself to bo in fine physical condition, and 110 revealed much of his former brilliance 011 attack. Although well marked almost throughout, he made several fast dashes, and scored the best try of tho match after a fine swerving run from tho lialfwav mark.

The selection of the five-eighths gives the impression that every attention is being given to defence as well as to attack. For this reason, Grossman may be preferred to Hooper at second fiveeighths, with Trevathan, the solid Otago player and clever goal-lcieker, in the inside. Simon is known as an excellent wetweather halfback, and a first-class defensive player. This undoubtedly weighed heavily in his favour in gaining preference over McAuliffe, the very experienced Canterbury and New Zealand University representative. It is unfortunate that Russell, tho promising Waikato half, has suffered injuries which made him unavailable, as he was considered the most likely candidate for the position early in the season. Forward Standard An Al! Black pack up to tho best New Zealand standard should be chosen from the 11 forwards included in the list. The selectors have preferred weight and experience in their choice, and the result should give every satisfaction.

A feature is the omission of W. E. Hail ley, the Auckland hooker, who earned a wonderful reputation 011 the 1935 All Black tour of Great Britain. He played well against the Springboks at Auckland, but a shoulder injury received early in the season, and which has given hitr. some troublo recently, probably accounts for his exclusion. T. H. Pearce, the fast, heavy and aggressive Manukau forward, is the only other Aucklander included besides J. Dick. Pearce should have excellent prospects of wearing the All Black jersey. The outstanding Auckland forward in the match against the Springboks, he also created a great impression during the trials.