NO OFFICIAL NOTICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 16

NO OFFICIAL NOTICE

: EXTENT OF ILLNESS j AUCKLANDER DISAPPOINTED CONSIDERS HIMSELF FIT i ' "The first I heard about my being > dropped from the AH Black team to ; tour Australia, was '• when I read the i Hkkai.d this morning," said J. Dick, : the Auckland wing-threequarter, late yesterday. He added that he had not yet been notified tljat he was to be left, behind. Regarding his illness, Dick said that he trained in the cold arid wet at Vict9ria Park last Thursday evening, • so keen was he to do well rn the matcn against Taranaki two days later at JEden Park. He was at work • as usual . on Friday and that evening he said he noticed a slight rash on his chest and he also had a little soreness in tho throat. » With such an important trip ahead of him he decided to take no nsks and so called-in a doctor. This doctor told him he had a chill and that he would C;Hj,be all right in a few days and he was S' given a certificate to that effect. Dick was outside his house for some time on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon the Auckland Rugby; Union's medical officer paid Dick a visit and it is understood lie' diagnosed the case as a light attack of Grennan measles. It was apparently on this latter report that the New " Zealand authorities acted. Dick and his wife were talking in the when a Herald representatrve called at the house yesterday afternoon. "Naturally -we are both very disappointed , after having made ail preparations for him to go," said Mrs. Her husband added: "I have trained hard for this trip and early in the season got myself into the best condition. After taking part in the intermatch and also two representative games'for Auckland,\l had just reached the top of my form. I feel quit 6," fit and was looking forward to leaving next'week &> Join up'with the team in Sydney. . My. condition is such that I am certain I would have been able to take the field with very little I training on' the cither side." I

THE TEAM'S PROSPECTS

FORMER SELECTOR'S VIEWS A' GOOD ALL-ROUND SIDE Further special messages regarding the prospects of the New Zealand Rugby team in Australia were received by the Herald last evening. Mr. W. Pearson, of Dunedin, one of the selectors of the 1935 All Blacks, said:— " The prospects, of the New Zealand team about to tour Australia are in my opinion very bright, as the players chosen appear a good all-round side with youth and experience blended throughout. The success of the side depends in the main on possessi'on of the ball and, if the lessons taught by the Springboks last year are carried out, then I feel that success will come our way. " The tendency of New Zealand forwards over the last few years has been " to fan out into open play instead of concentrating on concerted action. The forwards are a good set with plenty of weight and pace and, with last year's experience, should hold their own with the best packs produced in Australia. " The backs should develop into a fine attacking combination with possibly more penetrative powers than last year's team., Given dry grounds on tho tour the inside backs, Saxton, Berghan, Hooper and Sullivan, should give an excellent account of themselves, ns they have both pace and guile in-their play. "The managers nave been wisely chosen and, under the guidance of such an experienced exponent of the game as Mr. Alex. McDonald, I feel sure the - team will give a good account of itself."' " With careful selection and coaching—and I know that Mr. Alex. McDonald and Dr. Adams can delirer tho goods* 4 in this respect—the 1938 All Blacks in Australia will, I feel certain, regain for Maoriland much of tho prestige lost last year to South Africa's greatest Springboks," said Mr. Read Masters, of Christchuich, lock of the 1924 All-Blacks and since a Canterbury and South Island selector. " There are players in the party who are in my opinion somewhat lucky to bo crossing the Tasman Sea again 'at this stage of their Rugby careers. I am, however, positively confident that included in the twenty-five is a test side capable of demonstrating to Australian critics in no uncertain manner that New, Zealand has made a remarkable i recovery from the doldrums from which she ! hag suffered during the last few i years and is now well on the way up the;, -ladder to the old position she had i maintained for so . many, years in the eyea-ofithe.Rugby critics of the world." 1