FOOTBALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17773, 8 October 1927, Page 16

FOOTBALL

BLUE RIBBON OF RUGBY.

ALL BLACKS’ VISIT TO AFRICA. NEW ZEALAND TEAM REVIEWED. (By “Cross-bar.”) Three seasons ago the elect of the Dominion’s Rugby players visited the Old Country and established a record which can be equalled, but never excelled. Next season another tour is to be undertaken, the objective this time beifig South Africa. During the past four weeks interest in the Dominion has been centred on the All Black trials, each province doing its utmost to further the claims of its respective representatives. Everything must come to an end, however, and at last the personnel of the 1928 All Blacks has : been made known.

The selectors, Messrs E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), N. McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay), A. Adams (West Coast), A. Geddes (Southland), T. Milliken (Canterbury) and W. A. Guy (Taranaki) have done their best to see that every player worthy of a trial has been given a chance to show his ability, and as a result of the several tidal games have chosen 29 players who, in their opinion, will worthily uphold the prestige of New Zealand on the playing fields of South Africa. The task set them has been by no means an easy one, and throughout they have religiously set aside provincial claims, aiid have based their choice on individual merit. That there will be heartburnings in some centres cannot be denied, particularly where players considered to be “certainties” have been passed over, but it will no doubt be recognised that the selectors’ objective was to consider the interests of the Dominion as a whole, and have made their selection along those lines.

An analysis of the team shows that Canterbury has by far the strongest representation. having seven representatives, while next on the list are Auckland, Wellington and Hawke's Bay, all with four representatives.

Looking back over the season’s representative games, it might be argued that Auckland, with its unbeaten record of ten representative games, was entitled to more than four representatives, particularly in view of the fact that Canterbury, although holding the Ranfurly Shield, was beaten by Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Otago. Wellington also enjoyed a better season than Canterbury, being defeated only by Auckland and Wairarapa, but the obvious answer to any argument which might be advanced along the lines suggested is that both northern provinces gained their success wholly through good team work.

Take, for instance, the Auckland back line, which, as a line, was capable of great things. In the North Island Possibles v. Probables game, and in the North v. South match, the outstanding of the Auckland backs were placed alongside men whose play w'as foreign to them, and they failed to reproduce the form shown by them when playing with their team mates. In short, the failed to pass the test, that of adapting themselves to conditions which were likely to crop up at any moment. It was in the same direction that the Wellington backs failed, only to a lesser degree. Wellington has four backs in the team against Auckland’s two, but in one instance Wellington may consider itself distinctly fortunate. On the other hand the Canterbury backs during the season were distinctly patchy, but in almost every game played two or three of the liiffe were outstanding, and when placed alongside representatives of other provinces they proved themselves good all round men. None of the four who have gained places could very well have been passed over. The selection of the five-eighths has been a wide one, Wellington being the only province which has more than one representative. McGregor, Coolce and Nicholls were members of the 1924 team, but, as has already been mentioned, the latter has been a bit lucky in securing a place, and while it is admitted that he has been a great footballer and a splendid general, still he has been put in to the exclusion of a younger player who would, in the company of McGregor and Cooke, probably be of far greater service to the team than Nicholls.

As has been pointed out by prominent players who have had experience of South African grounds, all the players must lie absolutely sound, and it will only he courting disaster to take an unfit man on the tour. However, the player concerned has yet to pass the medical examination. Strang (South Canterbury) is the stranger in the five-eighth line, but lie lias all his football before him. and there is every prospect of his developing into one of the strongest backs in the team. The inclusion of Kilby as second half will occasion some surprise in the south, where Holden was considered to he the equal of Dailey, but Kilby is reported to have shown good form all through the season in Wellington, and should he able to uphold liis end when he goes overseas. This fact should not lie overlooked, however. Strang has had considerable experience in the half-back position, and could be brought in behind the pack in the event of either or both of the halves being injured or not reproducing their form. The five-eighth line may similarly be weakened, but Lilburne, Robilliard or Lucas could be brought in without any misgivings.

While the selection of the backs has exercised the minds of the selectors to a considerable extent. the selection of the forwards, with so much talent available, lias been a difficult one. There are always some players whose claims cannot be overlook*!, and men such as the Brownlie Bros., Finlayson, R. Stewart and Harvey played themselves into the team long before the final selection was made known. Not a feiv in South Canterbury had some misgivings concerning Stewart's chances, following his displays in home matches, but it might be pointed out that Stewart was in tlio position of having to nurse his pack in almost every game, and it was not until lie went into first-class company that he showed his trim form. The Otago pack when on tour held its own in every game played, and outclassed Canterbury on the .lome ground, but the southern province is represented by two players only. J. Hore and D. Lindsay—one forward and one back.

Southland has one representative, W: Hazlett, as against two in the 19 24-,team. In this.memorable tour Hawke’s Bay furnished three forwards and three backs. In the present team the province has again secured three forwards, M. and C. Brownlie, both of whom went to England, and J. Swain, who represented New Zealand against New South Wales in 1923. The Black and Whites have one back only this time, B. Grenside, who was considered unlucky in missing the 1924 tour.

Early in the season the Auckland pack was literally pulled to pieces by the critics, but they later developed into a sound combination, and -are to be represented next year by S. Hadley and R. McWilliams, both solid men.

The display of Scrimshaw (Canterbury) on Wednesday in Wellington earned him his trip, for he completely outplayed C. G. Porter, who captained the 1924 team. J. T. Burrows (Canterbury) and G. T. Alley (Canterbury) also earned their places as a result of . Wednesday’s game. P. Ward (Taranaki) is an ex-South Canterbury player, and lie learned most of his football in this district. Another player whose inclusion occasioned surprise in some quarters was D. Lindsay (Otago), but South Canterbury enthusiasts accepted Lindsay’s selection ■ as an honour- to this district, for lie 'was one of the best backs which the Timaru High School ever produced The representation of the provinces in the 1924-25 tour and next year's tour is as-under:

From the above it will be noticed that Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, South Canterbury, Otago and Auckland have increased their representation this year, while North Auckland and Nelson have gained distinction this year. On the other hand Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Southland have dropped back, while the West Coast and Bay of Plenty, who were represented in 1924-25 by ,J. Steel and L. F. Cupples respectively, have this time failed to gain a representative. Members included in the present team, who also went overseas in 1924 are F. W. Lucas, A. C. C. Robilliard. A. E. Cooke, M. F. Nicholls, N. P. McGregor, W. C. Dailey, I. H. Harvey, C. Brownlie, M. J. Brownlie and R. Stewart. Others who have worn the Silver Fern, either in New Zealand or in Australia, are I. Finlayson, L. Johnson and .1. Swain.

A glance at the weights of the respective teams shows that the present selection is heavier, on the average, than its predecessor. The weights are only approximate, and Will no doubt vary before the team leaves New' Zealand, but at the present stage the average weight of the hacks is list 51b as compared with list in 1924. The forwards this year average 13st 121 b, while those who visited England scaled 13st 61b. The team averages are 12st Sib this yetir and 12st 31b in 1924. The heaviest back in the 1924 team was G. Nepia (Hawke’s Bay), who weighed 13st lib, w'hile this year B. Grenside (Hawke’s Bay) tops the list at 13st 41b. C. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay). 15st, was the heaviest of the 1924 pack, but this year there arc five men all over 15st. They are I. 11. Harvey lost 121 b, G. Alley 15st 61b, I. Finlayson 15st 41b, C. Brownlie lost 31b, and R. Stewart lost 111).

The ages of the present team are not at present available, but in 1924 the average age of the backs was 22 1-3 years and that of the forwards 25 i years.

SOUTH CANTERBURY'S REPRESENTATIVES.

Ron Stewart’s inclusion in the team has been taken very calmly, for the glowing reports received concerning his form in the Inter-Island game made it clear that his selection was a foregone conclusion. In his school days, Stewart gave promise of developing into a first-class forward, and that promise has been fulfilled, for lie may rightly be given a place among the very best of the Dominion’s forwards. In 191 S-19-20 he was a member of the Tinriru High School first fifteen, and on leaving school was one of the mainstays of the Old Boys’ Club, which be has represented from 19 21 up to the season just closed, with the exception of 19 24, when he was away in England. Stewart lias gained South Inland honours on six. occasions, namely from 1922 to 1927, and has worn the All Black jersey during four different seasons. He first gained this distinction in 1923, and went to England in 1924-25. In 1926 he was a member of the team which visited Australia, and is now' to represent South Canterbury and the Dominion in South Africa. Apart from these distinctions, Stewart has also represented South Canterbury since 1921, the only season he missed being 1924. His record is one of which he might well be proud, and which bears favourable comparison with that of other leading players in the Dominion.

Strang’s rise to All Black fame has been most rapid. In 1925 he was a member of the Timaru Boys’ High School first fifteen, and had represented the school, during the two previous seasons. In 19 26 he joined up with Old Boys, and that same season gained a place in the South Canterbury representatives. tns year he again secured a place as a representative of the district, and was the outstanding back in all representative games played. His inclusion in tlie : trial game at Dunedin was viewed with great satisfaction, and when he won his way into the South Island team, and then into the All Black Possibles v. Probables game, followers of the game were convinced that having got so far, "Arcliy” would gain his All Black cap. The announcement of his inclusion in the team to go to South Africa was enthusiastically received in Timaru, and Strang is to he congratulated on having been chosen to represent New Zealand with only two seasons’ senior football to his credit

1924-25. 1928 Canterbury f> ' 7 Hawke’s Bay .. 4 Auckland . . ,. 9 ■ 4 Wellington . . t , . .3 4 Wairarapa .. .. 2 2 South Canterbury . 1 2 Otago . . .. 1 2 North Auckland . . ■— 1 Taranaki . . ., 3 1 Nelson -— 1 Southland .. .. 2 1 West Coast 1 '— Bay of Plenty 1 —