Before The Irish Test

NZ Truth, Issue 994, 13 December 1924, Page 11

Before The Irish Test

HOME TEAM QUiTE EASY ABOUT (By E. E~._Booth.— Special ,"N.Z.T.'O • , . DUBLIN, October 29. The New Zealand team left Carlisle on the' Monday afternoon and took the Irish packet steamer at Heysham for Dublin. This is the first time most of the team have been m the Land of the Shamrock. The weather was very dull, but warm enough. After a meeting of the team selectors the following players were drafted out to go to Monkstown, a small outlying suburb six miles away by the sea, m order to undergo special training for the first bis International next Saturday against Ireland; Nepia, Hart, Lucas, Steel, Svenson, Nicholls, = Cooke, Dalley, Porter, Donald, . Irvine, Masters, Richardson, Stewart, .. White, Cupples, - M. Brownlie. The idea of .getting the team away fx'om the city to make special preparation is a good one: and should have the best results." *,''

Meanwhile the All Black's are strong favorites as the local preparations for playing are still m a backward state and the Irish team have not had a real game or practice together. The only excuse offered for this grave error is. that, the match is much too early m their season for Internationals.

They never think about Internationals before the end of December or the beginning of January., consequently this November stunt is not welcomed. Most of the team are chosen on last year's form. The general indications are that the All Blacks will have another fine victory, same as at Carlisle. Perhaps not so pronounced. The Irish captain; G. V. Stepherison, is arranging for eleventh-hour preparations of his team on Friday night which is riot indicative of much prior preparation.

Since arrival, everybody m the' team almost, except the members with sore legs Munro (knee), Brown (leg), and Robilliard (toe) have been exercising. To-day the Dublin contingent witmessed a match on the Trinity College ground which was not of any special quality. To-morrow they visit Guinness' s. brewery; and a' theatre m the evening' There's great interest locally, and a great game is assured excursionists coming. from all parts.