AUCKLAND TEAM TO PLAY WAIKATO"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 985, 30 May 1930, Page 8

AUCKLAND TEAM TO PLAY WAIKATO"

A CRITIC’S VIEWPOINT

.T. Hughes writes:

Mr. George Nicholson, sole selector, has chosen his team to meet Waikato on June 3, and it is most evident that still retains his weakness for some players. I would submit the following as a better side to represent Auckland in this game: Butler; Minns. Lucas, Couper; Weir, Jones; Corner; Solomon, Hadley, Finlayson: Anderson. A. Knight, Satherly; Batty. L Knight.

Here we have Couper replacing Hook; Weir in place of Jamieson; Finlayson for Palmer, and Satherly for Greville.

Couperin the writer’s opinion (and I feel sure a big majority will be in agreement) lias earned his place, probably the fastest threequarter in Auckland, he has scored some fine tries for Technical, and when one takes into consideration that this team’s inside backs are not all that could be desired, this is all in his favour.

Hook, on the other hand, is playing outside the best centre in Auckland, with five-eighths who believe in getting the . ball away as fast as possible . In spite of this, Hook’s displays have not been as impressive as Coupcrs. Weir is a good first live-eighth, both on attack and defence. Iri both departments he was* well tested while playing for Training College last season, and had lie not been injured he would doubtless have been in the representative team. This year for Grammar he is going as well as ever, though, from a spectacular viewpoint, he is apparently playing to instructions, insofar that Grammar is largely relying on its forwards. Jamieson on attack is good, but on j defence is not to be compared with that j of Weir, and one lias only to take liis ! display against "Wellington toward the 1 end of last season to confirm this • opinion. Finlayson should be there. He suf- I fered an injury on the first day out, ! but was playing again last Saturday. Taking his play all round, it is doubtful whether there is a better forward in Auckland Satherly also deserves a game. He may be lighter than Greville, but Ileuses all of his poundage all the time and is a dangerous man near the line*, j ith McW illiams eligible for future matches he must find a place, and then no doubt in this team he would replace Satherly.

The opinions expressed by this correspondent are quite sound, but ir should be pointed out in regard to the wing-threequarter and five-eighth posi tions which he mentions, that there is very little difference between the qualifications of the respective players. Although Couper lias shown 'up very favourably this season, Hook is also playing good football in his position and has done nothing to warrant being dropped. On the other hand, it may have been advisable, as this is an experimental game, to have given Couper an opportunity of proving his worih in representative football. This, however matter for the selector himv?U t 0 dee j de ’ , Weir has been playing £ k< SOUndly ’ but has hardly been so TU T° n a , ttack as Jamieson, whose defence has also greatly improved One Ri? agreement with the correspondent ITJUw P r esent play is no doubt influenced by the requirements or the Grammar team. Finlayson is undoubtedly one of the best hookers secured a » inured rib securea tally in tne season has kei.t lum Off the field. The opinion w„: expressed in the Sun’s Rugbv notes on th i at Satherly should be included instead of Greville.—F.I.R

W. JONES’S CAREER ‘King Country” writes: Although, generally, the selection'of v • Jones as second five-eighths for Auckland will be endorsed bv all observant football critics, there app . a rs to be some misgiving in certain quarters that “his selection is in th" -aw*”* 5 -° f an experiment - ‘lie i.-, As a keen Rugbyite and one who ha.followed this young player's career ! ” n , ly I>U L 1 £itil to see any justifyrn- ■ ! ion for severe criticism of his phiy am. j am rather apprehensive that any un-

warranted criticism may proiiias this player’s chances. He has been idol of the Kins Country and WaikM for the last two years. For 07.° unions, he has played brilliant gaZ? and it was in deference to the advv of King: Country supporters and wishers that he l as come to Auckland where his talents would be fully avaUe^ Ho represented Wanganui (if i t ». convenient for aim he would be ceived with open arms there novel ~1 also the New Zealand Maoris UsKaC about the tackle which was wronsw attributed to Toma I’arata). He hplayed representative football in ev2i back position, except half. For th« Xew Zealand champion Maori tr:hale.un (Maniapotol he has scored sensational try or two in every match. He excels in other branches of spor' having competed successfully last sum" mer as axeman, sprinter (100Yds and 220yds) and as a .op-step-and-jun,,, artist. He has yet to meet his equal Wo King Country people expect l bithings of him. *

HAMILTON DOINGS From Our Otcn Correspondent * HAMILTON, Today. • Rito” Chapman, the Old Boys* rover who was selected to play as on® cf the scrum supports for Waikato against Auckland at Hamilton next Tucsdav has had to stand down. Chapman is having trouble with a knee injury and may he unable to play for the remainder of the season. This is unfortunate, not only for his worth in club and representative football, but on account of the suggestions that have been* circulating that he might have been singled out for All Black .rials. His place on Tuesday will be taken bv “Wally” Bonham, a newcomer to Old Boys, who has shaped very well in the pack this season. SAGE CUP The following table shows the position of the teams in the senior F.ugbv codnpetition in Hamilton for the Saya Memorial Cup at the end of the fir?:

round: — Team B. W. L. X>. PU. Chair.. P- A. Pts Frankton 4 40 30 6 Old Boys 4 3 1 42 26 6 Technical 4 1 1 36 51 5 City 4 1 1 So 43 2 Maris t 4 1 3 - 25 2! 2