ALL BLACK TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26471, 27 May 1947, Page 5

ALL BLACK TOUR

BLEDISLOE CUP GAMES OPTIMISM IN AUSTRALIA HIGH HOPES OF VICTORY Rec. 9 p.m. SYDNEY, May 26. Australian Rugby Union players and officials are almost cockily confident of beating the All Blacks in matches for the Bledisloe Cup. Typical optimism is that of W. H. McLean, captain of the 1946 Wallabies in New Zealand. He says: “We will win provided we outruck the New Zealanders. We can hold our own in scrums and lineouts, and our backs will be more than a match for theirs.” Never before have such extensive preparations been made to beat New Zealand. Four inter-State games have already been played and another will be played on Wednesday. Candidates for the New South Wales team have been in practically continuous training over a month, and it is generally considered that the New Sotuh Wales game in June 7 will be the hardest the All Blacks will have in Australia, possibly harder than the tests against AusNew South Wales has practically an international side with the great advantage of combination and confidence developed by their' successes in interstate games. Brian Piper, Charles Eastes, Max Howell, Mick Cremin and Cyril Burke (backs), Col Windon, Arthur Buchan and Eric Tweedale (forwards), from the 1946 Wallabies, are all playing again. Big, fast Eastes is having a tremendous season. He has scored 17 tries in four first-class games so far. Trevor Allan (centre) and Phil Hardcastle (forward) are injured at present, but are sure to play if fit. Allan may go to the wing because of the rise of the speedy and clever new centre, 22-year-old Alan Walker, an artist at making openings for the wings. Three forwards new to New Zealand seem certain of selection. J. V. Turnbull, a front-row forward of the 1939 Wallabies who visited Britain without playing a game because of the outbreak of war, has made a successful come-back, Ken Kearney, RAAF hooker in Britain during the war. has displaced Wal Dawson, the hooker in New Zealand last year, and Roger Cornforth, a vigorous and fast 15stone back-row forward, who missed the New Zealand tour last year through injuries, and who is noW one of the best players in Australia. New South Wales Tactics It seems certain that New South Wales will field a pack averaging around 14 stone, and will be very fast Hardcastle will be captain if fit, otherwise. Cremin. New South Wales specialises in a venturesome and spectacular style of football. They have been carefully coached to feed their fast and clever backs at every opportunity, relying on speedy wing three-quarters to score the tries. The five-eighth hardly ever tries to make an opening, but concentrates on getting the ball out as quickly as possible. to the wings, especially to Eastes. Attacks are launched from any and every position, the movements frequently covering three-quarters the length of the field. New Zealand’s marking and tackling will have to be close and constant to nullify the daringly dangerous game perfected by New. South Wales. New South Wales is almost certain to play the three-two-three scrum instead of the three-four-one, and it is possible that Australia will do the same. Johnny Wallace, captain of the 1927 Waratahs in Britain, and coach of the New South Wales team, believes the three-two-three scrum gives a clearer passage for the ball to the half-back, and also' holds together better for pushing. The forwards have been coached in this formation night after night, and New South Wales have used it in all interstate games except one. Keen public interest is being shown in the match, and seats are already in strong demand. The Australian test team is certain to be mainly of New South Wales players. Queensland will probably contribute three or four forwards, the leading candidates being Bill McLean. Ron McMaster, and Kev Hodda, who were all in New Zealand last year with the Wallabies. It is doubtful if any Victorians will win selection. The back line is sure to be predominantly New South Wales. The All Blacks’ first match will be at Canberra against not too strong opposition. It will be good preparation for the game against New South Wales. The Canberra full-back is R. N. Rankin, a member of the 1936 Wallabies in New Zealand. He missed the trip to New Zealand last year through injury after selection, and is making an effort to gain a place in the Australian team to tour Britain later this yerir It is possible that he will be the Australian full-back against the All Blacks The weather has now turned in New Zealand’s favour. After a long dry spell winter rains have started, and the grounds are losing some of their concrete-like hardness. INCONSISTENCY SHOWN SELECTION OF STATE TEAM Rec. 11 p.m. SYDNEY, May 26. A claim that the New South Wales Rugby Union selectors have shown puzzling inconsistency in their choice of the squad to meet the All Blacks is made by Edward W. Kann in the Sydney Sun. He cites the case of Phil Hardcastle and John Fuller, who have been on the injured list and unable to play since May 3. but who are in the squad without having to play a match to demonstrate their recovery, while Trevor Allen was told he would havp to play against Queensland on*Wednesday or he would not be picked against the All Blacks. “Allen, who like the others, is on the injured list, is one of the finest young players the union has seen,” says Kann. “He is brilliant both in attack and defence, and is a better defender than either Walker. Mcßride, or Howell. It will be vital to have a good defender to try to keep the mercurial Maori centre, Johnny Smith, in check.”