RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16530, 14 September 1921, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE CANTERBURY TEAM. The selection of the Canterbury team to phay Southland is criticised by many followers of the game. The match will be the last of the season, and it is felt that an effort should have been made to get the best possible combination in the field so as to leave Canterbury with its present record of only one defeat. The fault generally complained of is in the three-quarter line. W. Henry should have been played as centre three-quarters, and C. Guiney should have been included as fiveeighths along with R. Evans. Another suggestion is that M. L. Page should go in as half-back in place of Burson. “ The selectors have failed again, just when we thought they were striking form,” writes “ Onlooker.” How would this do for a back team: Full-back, Evans; three-quarters, Kane, H. Dahev, H. Mullins; fiveeighths, Henry, R. Evans; half, Guiney. Then we wovild have some sting on attack. If this were not the end of the season, I would mention tho names of two of the forwards who aro too slow to he line-umpires. They are finding it harder to get out of . the Canterbury team than they found it to get in.” “Keen” writes as follows:—“Now that the football season is just about to close, perhaps one is allowed to do a little criticising without harm irig players, selectors' or supporters of the good old game. The team to meet Southland in the final match of the season has been chosen, but with lots of room for improvement. The forwards are pretty fair and no doubt would be hard to beat, but the backs on the whole are a disgrace to the province, and it is as well for Canterbury that this is not a Ranfurlv Shield match. Just fancy good backs like G. Guiney, M’Cormick (2), J Mullins, Hardie and Kirwan being left out in place of R. Evans, Burson, Dailey, and Wilson. Surely there must bo something wrong, and it seems as though club selection has been playing a prominent part. It so, it is time that that sort of business ceased, because next year there is a possibility of Canterbury capturing the Shield. The material is here if the selectors will be fair and pick the right stuff. Of course, no doubt, it is rather a difficult task to pick a team to suit everyone, but this year the selectors seem to be worse than ever. The sooner the Rugby Union decide on a sole selector, the better for this province. Of late I have been talking to quite a number of Rugby enthusiasts who agree that many players here have not had a fair deal ; in my opinion the following have been harshly treated : M’Oormock (2), C. Guiney, Smythe, M’Cleary, Greatbach, Masters, Mullins (2), Kirwan, R. Hardie and Palgleish. Of these the unluckiest player is Kirwan, who seems to be the only half-back here this year. However, it is rather late now to do any good by changes. But just for Canterbury’s sake let us collect the muchcoveted -Shield in 1922.” ALL BLACKS V. WELLINGTON B That interest in the final Test match is already keen was shown on Saturday last, when an unusually large crowd assembled early at Athletic Park, Wellington, to see in action some of the men who will represent New Zealand. As a preliminary to the Ranfurly Shield game, a combination of the All Blacks, now in training at Day’s Bay, played two short spells with a Wellington B representative team. It was evident from the commencement that several of the All Blacks were not prepared to take too many risks, but there were notable exceptions. The most outstanding of these was the display given by Fea, of Otago, on whose play attention was most closely riveted, and there is no doubt in the minds of the spectators that, if fit and well, he will be found among the fifteen elect on Saturday next. It was notceable, too, that he and Roberts combined very well. The inclusion of Siddells ns wing-three-quar-ter in the All Black side was a welcome surprise to those who think that this player would do better in the three-quarter line than at full-back (says the £< Dominion ”). His display on Saturday holds out,interesting possibilities, and the try lie scored was the result of a clever and sensational run. Upon retiring at half-time, to prepare for tho shield match, he was given a flattering reception by the crowd. ilwerson, Ford and Algar were not over-worked, but did all that was required of them well. The one really sensational incident of the match was Fletcher’s try. Picking up the leather about mid-field, he ran straight for the touch-line, fending off several would-be tacklers with his hands. Besides being an excellent forward, he showed that he could very ably fill the position of second five-eighth. M’Lenn was outstanding among a pack of forwards who all showed fine form. REFEREES COY IPLAIN. Referees in the Auckland district are dissatisfied with the appointment of referees for the Springboks’ matches. Their complaint is that not one of their number lias been given a match, while three-fourths of the referees who had been appointed to the big fixtures have been from the Wellington district. The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union has passed the following motion on the matter :—“ That the New Zealand Rugby Union’s attention he drawn to the fact that of sixteen matches played against the Springboks, twelve were, controlled by referees from the Wellington provincial district. and that no other referees in the North Island were honoured by being selected for one of these matches, and, furthermore, this union emphatically protests against the high-handed and apparently biased action of the Referees’ Appointment Board in its method of selection.”