THE ALL BLACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23082, 6 July 1938, Page 15

THE ALL BLACKS

TOUR OF AUSTRALIA AUCKLANDER REPLACED ILLNESS OF J. DICK VIEWS UPON PROSPECTS A big surprise has been created by the replacement of J. Dick, the Auckland wing-threequarter, by A. Wright, of Wellington, in the All Black team which is to leave for Australia tomorrow. A Press Association message from Wellington last evening stated that Wright had been advised by the New Zealand Rugby Union that day of his selection by Mr. E. McKonzie for the New Zealand team. He was to replace Dick, who had contracted measles. The message added that, although Dick would 110 doubt be fit to play on the team's arrival at Sydney, the risk of infection to other members of the team was considered too great for him to be allowed to make the trip. Dick's loss was regarded in Wellington as a blow to the New Zealand side, as he was considered the best winger in the country and had been playing this season at top form. The New Zealand team will assemble in Wellington this morning and will sail for Sydney by the Wanganella tomorrow. The members of the team-will have a busy time to-day being fitted out with football gear and blazers, while it is also possible that the players will have a run at Athletic Park. The only other player selected from Auckland, W. N. Carson, the Ponsonby forward and also a New Zealand cricket representative, left for Wellington by the afternoon express yesterday. He was farewelled at the station by officials of the Auckland Rugby Union, the Ponsonby Club and friends and relations. Carson is expected to prove one of the best forwards on the tour.

Prospects of the tocr of the All* Blacks in Australia are discussed in the following special message Sent to the Herald by Mr. N. A. McKenzie, of Napier, former New Zealand selector, who states: — "If the ideas of the sole Belector ar» followed at the commencement of th» tour regarding particular players' positions, then New Zealand will wast* much valuable time before the best fifteen asserts itself. .For this reason, and in spite of the fact that Rugby in Sydney is not of a high standard at present, • victory for Now South Wales is probable in the opening match of the tour. Too much rfotice need not be taken of such a happening, as the test* are the principal consideration.

"The susceptibility to injury by Saxton has been fairly prevalent in the past and a continuance in Australia A would materially affect ultimate success. The greater speed of the best of the New Zealand rearguard will be magnified on the hard Australian grounds, but much will depend on. the ability of the forwards to provide opportunities for attack. Clearly, any attempts to follow public opinion by attempting to match the daring of Australians in open play would be suicidal. It behoves New Zealand to attend to the fundamentals of tha game closely, and completely eradicate the present tackling weakness apparent in many of the chosen rearguard. Although a good New Zealand side can be found in the twenty-five players, the reserves are of cloubtful quality. "Immunity from injury is going ta have a great bearing on the success 01 otherwise of the tour. I believe tbat with good fortune in this respect Ne\* Zealand will retain the Bledisloe Cup."

THE NEWCOMER .AN EXPERIENCED WINGER NORTH ISLAND PLAYER [BT TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Alan Wright was at Wellington Col logo from 1928 to 1930 and began hit 6enior football career in 1933. Slaying for Wellington College Old Boys t ijj the next year, he gained Wellington representative and North Island hon> ours, replacing C. Smith, the Maori wing threequarter, who was injured ia collision with- Wright in a represents tive match a short time previously, Other 1938 All Blacks in that year'i North Island team were Lambourn, Mo Kenzie and Griffiths. Mitchell and King were in the South Island team. Wright represerfted Wellington ;n each of the following years, although in the 1936 season, most of which he spent in Christchurch, he played .only two games for this union. His play in club football this year has been as good us ever, and against m ths representative game on May 25 Be was the best of the threequarters. He " fast off the mark, handles surely an<J can turn in-field at top