RUGBY TRIALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 8

RUGBY TRIALS.

THE COMBINED TEAM. i i BRILLIANT PLAYER PASSED OVER. The selectors of the combined Canterbury and South Canterbury Rugby team to play Otago and Southland at. Invercargill on Saturday week have j announced their team. As js cusJ tomary in the choice of representative ( teams, there are one or two surprises. I The exclusion of Harris from the full-back position is the biggest sur- . prise Canterbury supporters of the ' game have received lor some time. ! There has not been a more brilliant | and dashing type of player occupying I this position for yeara in Canterbury. 'Fhe Christchurch public have not had many opportunities of seeing Fairbrother in action. He is solid without being brilliant. He has not the speed of Harris, however, nor is he such a good tackier. There is a possibility of Harris being played in the Possibles v. Probables match at Lancaster Park to-day fortnight, but his exclusion in this instance may prejudice his chances of final inclusion in tho team to go Home. It cannot be said that the threequarter line is impressive. South Canterbury reports state that Storey is back to his best form, but this is hard to believe in view of the fact that he has performed so indifferently in til© past two or three seasons. Elvy’s inclusion is a surprise, if not an experiment. Evidently the selectors hold a much higher opinion of this player than anything he has done in Christchurch would warrant. ltobiiliaru retains the confidence of the selectors, and while he is young, and is worthy of consideration 011 this account, he lacks the dash necessary fur inclusion in a New Zealand side. The consistency with which the selectors pass over Werren is difficult to understand. He will be marking Robilliari '.n next Saturday’s game at Lancaster Park, and the public will then have an opportunity of judging for themwho is the'better wjn^. M’Gregor has been playing so well in club games that Ins inclusion was expected G. Lawson is one of the best backs in South C&nterbury, and so there can not be much fault found with this pair. S. R. Carleton would have been emergency back, had lie been available.

. Dailey will go well at half. In fact, he can play anywhere in the backs, and will be a useful tvpe of player to take on tour. There is not a great deal to cavil at regarding the forwards. J. H. Parker Masters, Milliken and R. Stewart have all shown such good form tins justify their inclusion. M Cleary was regarded as a certainty and should go well. There is not an outstanding front-ranker here, so South Canterbury were expected to provide a player for this position Fairbrother is a pretty good hooker M Bnde is a “find” from Waihi and is reported to be a fine dashing type of forward with weight, height and P ac>e - H. Parker (South Canterbury) fills the wing-forward position, and though a little on the light side he is a lively performer at the side of tho scrum.

The team should perform well against the southern combination. T( there is any doubt about any pnrticu, iar section, it appears to be in the three-quarter line.