ALL BLACKS ARE POPULAR SELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 15

ALL BLACKS ARE POPULAR SELECTION

The announcement of the New Zealand team to tour Australia next month would probably meet with general satisfaction. Mr E. McKenzie, the sole selector, did not rely wholly on the form of the inter-island match and caused the only surprise of the selection by calling upon men who had not been selected to play for the North or South Island teams.

There are 12 of last year’s All Blacks in the 25 chosen to make the tour. This number represents two-thirds of the 1937 All Blacks. Only 19 took part in the three Test games played against, the Springboks, so that seven have been passed over. They are: I>. Trevathan (Otago), H. Simon (Otago), T. H. C. Caughey (Auckland) who has retired

from the game, D. G. Cobden (Canterbury) who was hurt in the first Test last year, R. H. Ward (Southland, now Hawke’s Bay), J. G. Rankin (Canterbury), and S. T. Reid (Hawke’s Bay). At first glance the team selected by Mr McKenzie would appear to be a well-balanced one, with speed in the back division and weight and dash in the forwards Judged on the form of the inter-island game it could be said to be one of the strongest teams selected to represent New Zealand. The inclusion of several players who previously have not played for New Zealand would be well received.

For the first time for many years the South Island has had included more of its players than the North Island. The division is South 13, North 12. District representation is made up as follows:—Otago, 5 players; Hawke’s Bay 3; Southland 2; Canterbury 3; South Canterbury 2; Wellington 3; Auckland 2; West Coast 1; King Country 1; Waikato 1; Manawatu 1; and Taranaki 1. The new “caps” are A. W. Wesney (Southland), V. L. George (Southland), T. C. Morrison (South Canterbury), C. K. Saxton (South Canterbury), T. Berghan (Otago), C. E. Quaid (Otago), A. W. Bowman (Hawke’s Bay), H. H. Milliken (Canterbury), C. W. Williams (Canterbury) and W. N. Carson (Auckland). Southlanders will congratulate Wesney and George on their selection. It is not too much to say that no more popular Southland selection for All Black honours has been made. They join the band of 28 All Blacks who have been chosen from Southland. They are G. T. Alley, J. Archer, D. L. Baird, J. R. Bell, H. Y. Braddon, G. Burgess, J. H. Geddes, F. T. Glasgow, D. Hamilton, W. E. Hazlett, E. E. Hughes, P. Jacobs, W. Lindsay, T. Metcalfe, J. McNeece, N. Mcßobie, C. Purdue, E. Purdue, G. B. Purdue, J. Richardson, J. W. Stead, A. White, N. A. Mitchell, R. H. Ward, J. O’Donnell, J. Howden, V. L. George and A. W. Wesney.