FOOTBALL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2048, 7 September 1920, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. CANTERBURY v. WANGANUI. j The following team has been chosen I by Messrs S. F. Wilson, II.M. Taylor! and Claude Evans, to represent Gainerbury against Wanganui, at Lancaster Park next Saturday:— Full-back: C. K. Evans (Old Roys). Three-quarters: \V. A. Ford (Merivale), M. O'Malley (Marists!, A. McLeod (University). Five-eighths: R. E. Hong (Old Hoys), I>. McCormick (Marisls). Half-back: E. Fitzgerald (Mai\sts). Wing-forward: N. Carnegie (MeVivale). Forwards: .7. H. Parker (Old Hoys), E. H. Ellis (Marists), E. Cummings (Linwood), K. Henderson (Cluisteliurch). 1.. Peterson (Marists), E. \V. Hascll (Merivale), H. G. Munro (University). Emergencies: Backs, G. R. Wilson (Albion), F. Blackmore (Old Hoys); forwards, A. Henry (Merivale), B. McCleary (Marists), J. B. Jackson (University). There are several differences between this team and that which was picked as Canterbury's best fifteen for the southern tour. At centre three-quarter, O'Malley replaces J. McCormaek. On the southern tour, McCormaek played I excellently, both as centre and, after W. | L. Henry's retirement, from injuries, in two matches, as second five-eighth. McCormaek was hurt in the match against Southland, and for a time it was thought that he would not be able to play again this season. But he recovered quickly, and he has been playing excellently for the Marist team which has been touring tlije West Coast. Yet he is not even chosen as an emergency for next Saturday's game! Apparently O'Malley played himself into the team by his display in the Metropolitan v. Country match on August 28. in that game, however, he was against weak opposition, and lie was well "fed" by the Metropolitan team's second live-eighth, C. E. Guiney. It should be noted that not one of the selectors saw McCormaek playing against stronger teams, in the south, than O'Malley played against on August 28. It was certain that another live-eighth would be chosen in place of W. L. Henry, who has been hurt so often in representative matches this season. |However, the selection of R. E. Boag, in preference to ('. E. Guiuey, will not jgive general satisfaction. Bong is brilliant at times, but ho is not consistent, and lie is apt to follow a brilliant iiis'play with a mediocre one. He was rue [of the two Canterbury five-eighths who 'failed badly against Wellington, in Wellington, on June 3. In the Metropolitan v. Country match he played well. But I that was as a first five-eighth, not a j second, and was against "unfinished" backs. In that'match Guiney played excellently, and if the selectors had wished to choose a team that would have some degree of combination, they should have selected Guiney, who combined well with O'Malley, against the Country fifteen, and who played with I). McCormick in some representative matches last season. Perhaps the selectors are trying experiments. But it is rather late in- the season for experiments, and it would be better for Canterbury if the team to meet.Wellington in Christchurch on September 18 were also to meet Wanganui next Saturday, and so be enabled to regain some of the eombinat.ton which has been disturbed by the alterations to the team that played in the southern matches-.

In the forwards, E. W. Hasell and .T. H. Parker displace A. Henry and B. McCleary. Hasell was not available for Canterbury's southern tour, as he was chosen as a member of the New Zealand team for Australia. He is a bettor hooker than E. 11. Ellis, and he and Munro should be able to get the ball for Canterbury in the scrums. Ellis is too good a forward to bo left out of the pack, and so he changes from the front row to the back row. After experimenting with Parker as a threequarter, the selectors have come to an agreement with the general opinion that Parker is much better as a forward than as a back. Parker was one of the best forward*; in the Canterbury team against "Wellington on June ?,. He was not available for the southern tour, in which A. Henry and McCleary showed

form quite equal to Parker's. J. B. Jackson's form in the inter-university match last, Saturday was also as good. These four forwards are of such equal calibre, at present, that on their individual play it is just a "toss-up" between them. But from the point of view of combination, and in consideration of the fact that McCleary is the best tackling forward Canterbury has had this year, it may be regretted again that McCleary is not retained in the pack. SYDNEY 'VARSITY TEAM. The Sydney University Rugby team which is touring New Zealand left Christchurch for Wellington last, evening. In the afternoon it was entertained at tea by the Canterbury College Students' Association. WELLINGTON TOURING TEAM. Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 7. . The Wellington Rugby representative team for the southern tour is:—Brook, McCabe, E. Roberts, Hamilton, E. Ryan, O 'Sullivan, Tilvard, Christopherson, H. E. Nicholls, M. Nicholls, Calcinai, Hughes, Standen, Wilson, llai'kness, Price, J. Shearer, S. Shearer, Pearee, Malin.