FINAL RUGBY TEST

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1935, Page 7

FINAL RUGBY TEST

ENGLISH TEAM CHOSEN OBELENSKY’S SELECTION ONE OF THREE NEW CAPS FINE MATCH EXPECTED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyrign*. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 21. Critics generally approve of the selection of the English Rugby team to play New Zealand at Twickenham. They point out that it has speed attack, experienced midfield play and solidity forward where it is evidently hoped to beat New Zealand by weight and scrummaging power. The News Chronicle, however, believes that on paper the team does not look as strong as Wales. The Daily Mail speculates whether it is young and fast enough to last out 80 hard minutes. The Daily Telegraph expresses the opinion that the match should be an instructive test, contrasting English and New Zealand tactics. There will probably be a controversy regarding Obolensky, who is a Georgian prince. He has been in England since he was two years old and has applied for naturalisation papers but when it was suggested he should play against New Zealand some newspapers pointed out that he was not actually English. Obolensky is regarded as the fastest player in Rugby to-day. He averted a Cambridge University win against Oxford by a marvellous tackle after an amazing sprint. In last year’s trial he scored three tries by sheer speed. Owen-Smith is a South African international cricketer. He is also an Oxford blue for both cricket and Rugby. The team will be:— ' Full-back: H. G. Owen-Smith (St. Mary’s Hospital). Three-quarters: Obolensky (Oxford University), P. Cranmer (Richmond), R. A. Gerrard (Bath), H. S. Sever (Sale). Stand-off half: B. C. Gadney (Leicester). Scrum half: P. L. Candler (St. Bartholomew’s Hospital). Forwards: D. A. Kendrew (Army), E. S. Nicholson (Leicester), R. J. Longland (Northampton), C. Webb (Navy), A. Clarke (Coventry), E. Hamilton-Hill (Harlequins), P. E. Dunkley (Harlequins), W. H. Weston (Northampton). Obolensky, Sever and Hamilton-Hill are capped for the first time. The remainder include old stars. Gerrard did not play in an' international match last season and Gadney and Webb played in one game each. Dunkley reappears after four years. EMINENT CRITIC’S VIEWS NEVER SAW FINER MATCH WALES DESERVED TO WIN Lodon, Dec. 22. Manchester, the All Black captain, and Mr. S. S. Dean visited Tarr, who is in hospital with a displaced vertebra after the match against Wales yesterday. His heck is semi-paralysed and he will remain in hospital for five weeks. Oliver’s injured shoulder is painful and possibly he will not be available against England. Davey, the Welsh captain, interviewed, said: “It has been a great game. I think we deserved. to win.” Manchester pays a tribute to the clever Welsh backs. The New Zealanders agree that the best fifteen available in the circumstances played. The tourists made a good impression at Cardiff for the sporting manner in which they took the defeat. The Daily Mail expresses the opinion that with/ better going Oliver and Hart would have engineered another try in the first half. It was also difficult to estimate the result of the absence of Caughey. Howard Marshall, in the Daily Telegraph, says he never saw a more splendid match, or one played in a finer spirit of performance and strong endeavour. The AU Blacks obviously missed Caughey and also lacked pace, essential at the beginning of a midfield attack. The Daily Mail’s sports gossip writer says that the non-playing New . Zealanders were given seats at one end of the stand and had a poor view of the game. As guests of the Welsh Union they expected better treatment