LUCAS OUT OF LUCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 9

LUCAS OUT OF LUCK

EXCLUSION OF NICHOLLS Received 9.5 a.m. MARITZBURG, Friday. It is surprising that Nicholls has been dropped for to-mori-ow, after his

excellent performance at Fotchefsroom, where he gave easily the best display of five-eighths play so far on the tour. Lucas is also considered unlucky not to be given a place, after his brilliance on Wednesday.

Finlayson. will be rested to-morrow having played more matches than anybody in the team. Lindsay, on form, has shown himself to be more reliable than Lilburne. He kicks with better length and judgment. AFRICAN TRIALS For the past week 62 players from all over South Africa have been engaged in trial games at Durban, and to-day the final trial will be played. The Springbok side will probably be announced in the middle of next week. The fullback position is very open. It will probably be decided after the Natal v. New Zealand match to-mor-row. J. C. Tindall is the public fancy at present. Unfortunately, seevral of the Union’s best players have been injured in the trial matches. Two outstanding wings in J. van Niekerk and J. J. Pienaar have been hurt. It appears that Prinsloo and Slater will be the wingers. Both are fast and tricky players. The centre position is very doubtful for the moment. Duffy, a fine allrounder, was injured yesterday. P. K. Albertyn, a player of considerable experience, will probably fill the position. The five-eighths will undoubtedly be Bennie Osier and Stanley Osier. Devine, on his great play in the Transvaal matches, must be the half. There is hardly likely to be any alteration in the following pack: Van Druten, Kruger, Mostert, Pretorious, Van Wyk, Dutoit, Oliver, Daneel. Most papers in the country agree that the Springbok side will be exxceptionally strong in the forwards, but the backs are not as good as expected. Several papers have published articles saying the Springboks will win the first test.

F. M. Howard, in an article in the Rand “Daily Mail,” says the All Blacks, after seven matches, are

not up to expectations, falling short of the famous 1924 side. He says the Springboks will win next Saturday’s test. There is not the slightest doubt that the All Blacks will have to play much better football than they have done so far. Although the backs have played some brilliant football, they would not get away with it against the South African side. It is recognised that, as in most big Rugby battles, the test match will be chiefly a fierce forward combat. Mostert and Kruger, of the probable test side, are the only players who toured New Zealand with the 1921 Springboks.