FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-OAV'S SECOND TEST. PROSPECTS OF FINE WEATHER. TEAMS NOT ANNOUNCED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The indications are for fine weather for tomorrow's test. The ground is dry and in good order. The personnel of neither team is available. THE PROSPECTS DTSCUSSED, The South Africans meet the New Zealanders in the second trial of strength at Auckland to-day. Naturally very great interest is being taken In it, and there is little doubt but that it will bo vigorously and closely contested.

It is unfortunate that there should have arisen anything to mar the spirit of the last Test. It would seem that a mistake was made—quite honestly, of course—-by the referee in awarding Bellis the first try. This put a damper on the spirits of the visitors, and for a time affected their play. New Zealand, of course, got another eight points that would have given them the decision, but the element of luck right through was with- them.

The Christchurch Press’ football writer, who saw the match, sums it up in these words: —The South Africans put up a very plucky fight with the elements of luck against them. Time after time they swarmed down on the New Zealand line, and a score looked certain, but each time they failed to put the finishing touch on their efforts. Everyone expected New Zealand to win, and one cannot help feeling that the visitors have been a little underrated. They are a team which will take a lot of beating in the other two tests, and there is every chance of their winning if New Zealand does not improve on to-day’s display.

A Taranaki man, wtc-se views on the game are accepted throughout the Dominion, expressed himself to the writer in similar terms. He was greatly impressed by the show made by the Springboks, and predicts that unless a radical alteration is made in to-day’s New Zealand team, which seems unlikely, the South Africans will gain the verdict. Their chances are increased by the dryness and fastness of the Auckland grounds, to which they are accustomed. This was shown last Saturday, when they raced right through the Aucklanders, putting up tho biggest score against a first-class provincial fifteen of the tour.

New Zealand has the material from which a team can be secured to defeat South Africa, or any other country. The selectors have not got the best so far, and seem inclined to stick to the team that won at Dunedin. But they may not have the same luck again, whilst the conditions will also be far different.

Confidence in the judgment of the selectors was shaken by their Ignoring the claims of Roberts, and in giving the prize for being the best on the field at Dunedin to H. E. Nicholls, when obviously Steel stood out on his own. But whatever the team, New Zealand can be relied upon to put up a great fight. Whether they can win on a dry ground is a question on which there will bo a difference of opinion, but everyone will hope they will, and so settle tho question of the premiership of world Rugby.

RUSH FOR SEATS. The booking of seats for the Rugby test match to-day commenced on Wednesday, the available grandstand accommodation being taken up within an hour and a half of the opening of the office. The demand was practically entirely for grandstand seats, and the 900 of these open to the public were speedily disposed of for 10s each, the number each person could buy being limited to six. It is stated that the grandstand holds about 1500 oeopie, and that the remaining 600 seats are being reserved in the meantime. Ground enclosure seats, to the number of 1000, were co sale at 7s 6d each, and during the day between 500 and GOO were sold. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. The football contributor to the Otago Dally Times has this to say of the second test match:—lt will be interesting to note whether the selectors will stick to M. Nicholls as second five-eighths for the second test. If they do the natural inference is that they consider him the best second five-eighths in New Zealand, an opinion which is certainly not justified by his play at Carisbrook in the first test. “Teddy” Roberts I consider is a better half-back than H. E. Nicholls and a better five-eighths than Mark Nicholls or Badeley. The selectors will also take a risk if they play McLean in the team, as his knee was troubling him very badly last Saturday week, and it can hardly be absolutely sound by next Saturday. Storey hurt his shoulder in the first test, and he may not be properly right for a match which is bound to be sternly contested from start to finish. The Springboks will realise that if they lose on Saturday their chance of securing the rubber has gone. The AH Blacks should, however, go better than they did in the first , test, when they just won. In the first test * the Springboks’ standoff half played a poor game, and their three-quarter line was not at Its best. The visitors' play can likewise be improved, and they will be better fitted by the climatic conditions in Auckland. A great tussle should result. The New Zealand selectors will need to have in their best tefa-n, and the All Blacks will. have to be in tbeir best form if they are to win. Personally I consider that Roberts should be in the team, and that Standen or S. Shearer should replace Hughes, and if there is any doubt about Storey being at his best. I would replace him with Ford, of Canterbury.

The New Zeeland selectors will not be wise if they take anything on trust. Lastly, Turnbull, the slashing Otago forward, whose eye Is now quite sound again, should be in the third New Zealand test team.

. ECHOES OF THE LAST TEST. The gate receipts for the first Test with about 23,000 spectators in the Carisbrool Ground, Dunedin, were about ££7oo (says the Wellington Post), It is hare to understand why our receipts at Auckletic Park were only £2300, with an attendance reputed to be much larger than that at the first Test. The matter has never beer satisfactorily explained yet. With £l5OO taken for tte Springboks’ Otago match, Dunedin has contributed over £4OOO towards the expenses of the South African tour. Down at Dunedin admission to the ground was by ticket alone, and the system seems to have worked well and without wastage. It might well be worth a trial here for the third Test. When Steel took the cross-kick and began his famous run for the line, a lady was standing on the edge of the steps of the grandstand. Excited at the prospect, and uncon scious of her position, she commenced to run also, and fell down the flight of steps to the ground. Undismayed and unabashed she jumped up and continued to run in front of the stand until she saw the fleet West Coaster forge round the corner and turn in behind the goal lino towards tte posts. i School girls took off their straw hats and flung them into the air, other hats went up, and sticks, and the crowd went mad, standing up and yelling all round the ground. They love football down South as much as we do here. One of the Purdue brothers from Southland, wlo were great footballers in their day about twenty years ago, pulled his way over the railway from Orepuki to Invercargill by handcar on Friday night, caught the special to Dunedin at Invercargill, ? aw” the match, got the train back to Invercargill, and pulled his way home- again to Orepuki by the jigger—a distance of 49 miles each way. He got home on the Sunda? morning. Purdue weighs 19 stone, and must hare teen in a magnificent physical condition 'or such a feat of sheer strength and endurance’ Of such were our old footballers