ALL BLACKS QUEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 7

ALL BLACKS QUEST

SELECTORS’ TASK FORM IN TRIAL GAMES MAGNIFICENT FORWARDS SHOULD HOLD SPRINGBOK PACK FAST PLAY IN REAR DIVISION (Par Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The New Zealand selectors' task of sorting out tile backs became more complicated than ever after tire games in tile All Black trials to-day.

Hooper and Sullivan, who wore expected to consolidate their already strong claims to second five-eighths and centre three-quarter positions, were unable to take the field, and Russell was unable to accept the opportunity to prove himself Sadler’s successor behind the scrum. Veitch, who was brought in on Monday to fill the gap, again excelled himself, while H. Love, the young second division Wellington player, was a shining success as substitute for Sullivan. Brooks, the Canterbury fancy for first five-eighths, was a vastly improved man, and there was little difference in the merit of three of the wingers, both half-backs and both full-backs in the main game. The situation compels the belief that less significance than was expected will be attached to the selection of the best New Zealand team for Saturday’s final trial. Probably the team will comprise those who have shown consistently good form in all the trials, while their opponents will include players who have shown a glimpse of All Black quality, but have been prevented by injury from proving it is “no flash in the pan." The main game to-day proved beyond doubt that New Zealand can oppose the Springboks with a pack of magnificent forwards.

Physique and Keenness

The scrummaging in particular ana the team-work in general was right up to All Black standard. me players' physique, speed and keenness were particularly impressive. Equally pleasing was tiie standard of back play.

As the total of 52 points from two evenly-matched teams demonstrates, for once the backs forgot their individual importance and the result was a succession of sparkling movements of a type which, judging by reports, is going to beat' the Springboks. Every movement was admirably directed. Every breakaway found ample support. The game was a tribute to the ability of 30 players, most of whom were on the field for the third time within a week.

Jackson showed his best form to date. He is a forward who knows every department of the game. On his side were Parkhill, King and McKenzie, and what a quartet they were. Parkhill is an unusually fast forward and he was often on hand to receive dn in-pass from a back. He works in the scrums and line-outs, and none will be surprised if he makes the first eight. King’s work in the tight was noticeable.

Great workers were Scandrett. Strang and Ongle.v, although these men have not the experience of the others. Ongley was rewarded with a try when he broke loose from a ruck after a line-out. Rankin received a kick on the ankle during the first half and could not produce his best He and Mitchell were called off bv the selectors near the end of the game, but a typical Rankin try was the second one of the match, when he raced up to receive the ball from Killeen after Cobden had put in a short kick! Milliken Impresses

Milliken again impressed with his iine-out work, speed in the loose and nonest work in the tight. Reid was another valuable line-out man and scrummager. Two men who were always in the vanguard were Finlay and Green, i'he latter played his best game ot the series. In the second half particularly, when the Black forwards were on top, he was in many scoring movements. On to-day’s form Green has a good chance. Pearce has earned the reputation oi oeing the best defensive lorward ot the packmen in the trials. Wells was another who turned on the best game of the series. He was often seen taking the ball at toe after strenuous scrummaging. Like Lambourn, however, he lacks pace and a number of forwards who have all the requirements, may cause him to be passed over; in fact, there are a number ol forwards whose limitations will have to be recognised, in spite of the qualities in which they excel. One is McLenaghan, who headed every loose rush in the first game, but lacks the physique. On paper, he is heavier than Green, but does not look it on the field. Quaid was another fine forward to-day, but he too, will probably have to give way to bigger men. O’Dowda, for constant prominence in the loose, Chesterman and Fraser for line-out work, Williams and R. K. Anderson for hard rucking, are other forwards who deserve mention.

To-day was the first day of decisive scrums. In the first match, Orman won 10 and Lambourn 13. At one stage Orman won live to Lambourn s one, and throughout the series Orman appears to have won the hooking laurels, but Orman weighs under 13 stone, and while a splendid loose forward, his physifue may keep him out. Hadley has also been hooking well, and, in addition, has shown experience and dash in loose work and 'ability in defensive rucking. An able front row man to-day was George. He is well built and does his share in the open. Possible Pack From the following forwards an All Black pack could be chosen to meet the Springboks on even terms: Milliken, Parkhill, King, Jackson, Rankin, Reid, Ward, Green, McKenzie, Pearce and Hadley.

SIDE FOR FIRST TEST END OF THE MONTH INTENTION OF SELECTORS WISH TO SEE SPRINGBOKS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. There is a popular belief that the New Zealand Rugby football team to meet the Springboks in the first test at Wellington is to be made known next Saturday, the last day of the trials. This, however, is not the case. The New Zealand selectors are to make further observations when the trials are over and they will see something of the Springboks before coming to a decision as to the players to represent New Zealand in the first test, which does not take place until August 14, though the players are to be together for a week before the test.

A New Zealand team and the next best players called into the trails will be chosen for next Saturday’s match, but the selections will be purely for the purposes of completing the trials. The selectors have the right to consider players who were unable to participate in the trials, and it is not unlikely that some of these will come into the reckoning. The intention of the selectors is to view the match between Auckland and South Africa at Auckland on Saturday week and see also the Springboks’ match with the combined Waikato-King CountryThames Valley team at Hamilton on the following Wednesday. The New Zealand team will be chosen after that, about the end of the month.

PLAY IN FINAL TRIAL HALF-BACK FROM OTAGO (Par Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The Otago half-back, Simon, has been requested to take part in the final Rugby trial in Wellingtony on Saturday, and he will probably leave for Wellington.

SPRINGBOK GAMES REFEREES APPOINTED (Per Pross Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The following referees have been appointed for the opening matches of the Springbok tour in New Zealand:— Auckland. July 24.—Mr. A. Thompson, King Country. Waikato-Thames Valley-King Country, July 28.—-Mr. J. A. Malcolm, Auckland. Taranaki, July 31.—Mr. A. De Clifton, Wellington.

The work of both the rearguards in the first game was so poor that the game added nothing whatever to the individual chances, and it is now almost certain that the All Black rearguard will include none of these backs.

This does not detract from the performance of Easton, the full-back. He did all that was required of him and more, but both Taylor and Gilbert are better. Hook's work made it difficult to take seriously the encomiums that have come from Auckland. Solomon and Griffiths do not solve the halfback position. The latter often ran into his forwards, while Solomon was prominent only in one or two movements in the open field. Taylor and Gilbert During the second half, Strachan executed some clever breaks, but the rest of his work was poor. Once again Taylor and Gilbert left the field with equal honours. Both are fine kicks, long and accurate, and both can find the bar. Possibly, Taylor’s greater speed off the mark may count. Today it secured him a well-deserved try. The wingers, Dick, Cobden. and Morrison all went well on attack. Each of the three used his own style and there was little choosing to be done. Phillips could do little against Morrison’s defence. Dick is going to be hard to leave out in view of the headiness of his work. The young Wellington man, Love, was popular witli the crowd for the touch of brilliance "in his attacking work. Although of no great physique yet—he is only 19—he has the makings of an All Black. Improvements in Backs Mitchell eased up near the end and was called oil, his leg giving trouble. Sometimes he held on too long, but generally he was the driving power of the attack. It was unfortunate that Sullivan was unable to be tried in the centre position.

Greatly improved displays were given by Kileen and Brooks. The former had a duel with Veitch and honours were about even, each beating the other several times. Brooks played an orthodox game, but occasionally beat Crossman badly, particularly two ininutes before time when the Canterbury man showed speed to carry on and run right round Gilbert. Grossman appeared unwell and allowed himself to be caught in possession throughout the game. The half-backs also broke even. McAulifTe was better in the first spell, but in the second, Saxton had a feast of the ball from set and loose scrums, and got it away smartly. Neither is the halt to take place with the great ones of the past, but with Russell unable to prove himself, the job looks like McAuliffe’s. For accuracy and better physique there are too many “ifs” about the back prospects for a forecast, but those strongly in the running are McAulifle, Trcvathan, Hooper, Sullivan, Mitchell, Dick, Cobden, Morrison, Taylor and Gilbert.