Young Players Are Wanted For N.Z. In Third Test.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19116, 8 July 1930, Page 13

Young Players Are Wanted For N.Z. In Third Test.

BUT SELECTORS WILL NOT EXPERIMENT MUCH, OWING TO RISK SO LATE IN TOUR. (Written for the “ Star.”) THE BEST TEAM to represent New Zealand would lie one chosen for its dash and general versatility combined with solid tackling. The Dominion teams in the first two tests showed experience, but little else. The pity of it all is that if a younger side were tried in the third test the experiment might be much more risky than would have been the case had a youthful, dashing side been tried out at Dunedin. In view of'this greater risk, it is not likely that the team for the third test will contain more than four new players, though others may have their positions on the field changed somewhat.

The third test team, it ip understood, have not yet been selected finally, and Trill not be available for publication jntil next Monday at the earliest. In the meantime there is the British team’s match against the Maoris at Wellington to-morrow, and another against Hawke’s Bay on Saturday. In both of these games J. Ruru, the Hawke’s Bay winger, will be playing, and his form will be interesting to the selectors, who are on the lookout for a man for that position. It is not easy to read the selectors’ mindsT but the following team is advanced as being the most likely to be decided upon by them: —* Full-back—O. Nepia. Three-quarters—G. F. Hart, "A, E. Cooke, F. W. Lucas. Five-eighths—M. Nicholis, L. Johnson. Half-back—M. Comer. Wing-forward—C. G. Porter. Hookers—A. I. Cottrell, S. Hadley. Lock—l. Harvey. Supports—l. Finlay son, E. G. M'Williams. Back row—W. E. Hazlett, B. Stewart. Whether Lucas remains on the wing will depend upon the form shown by Ruru tomorrow, and possibly also on Saturday. The changes likely to be made are the substitution of Lucas or Ruru for D. Oliver on the wing, the playing of Cooke at centre and Nicholls at second five-eighths, and the inclusion of L. Johnson next to the halfback. In the forwards Hadley will probably replace Hore, and Harvey, the Wairarapa lock, is almost certain to claim priority over Steere. Whether the selectors will still cling to Porter as wing-forward is somewhat doubtful. If he is dropped, Solomon or Scrimshaw will take his place. W ith Porter out, Nicholls would be likely to be chosen as captain

Hadley, from Auckland, was a great success as a hooker on the South African tour. He is twenty-six years of age, is sft lOin in height and weighs about thirteen stone. Harvey is 6ft lin in height and turns the scale at over fifteen stone. He is stronger than Steere, who is inclined to double up when the weight is applied in the scrum. L. Johnson is thirty-two years of age and was in the New Zealand team for the South African tour. Johnson, though he has little penetrative ability, always impresses as being thoroughly reliable. He is one of the few first five-eighths who are on their toes when taking a pass. He can draw "his man nicely and give out fair passes. Lucas as Wing. Lucas played on the wing in most of his matches on the 1924 tour of England, and has played in that position a good deal in club games in Auckland. Many consider that Cooke is at his best at centre instead of at second five-eighths. Nicholls *fras at home in the second five-eighths position in England. This team should be a further improvement on those selected for the first and second tests, but many enthusiasts will still clamour for more youthfulness and dash. The trouble is that now that the older players have been tried in two tests, the fielding of an almost completely new team so late in the tour would be much more risky than would have been the case had the . younger blood been given a chance to ! prove itself in the first test. If they had then failed, there was always the older but less dashing men to fall back on for future games. The following team is suggested as likely to satisfy thosp who want youth and dash in the team:— Full-back—G. Nepia. Three-quarters—G. F. Hart, A. E. Cooke, J. Ruru. Five-eighths—G. D. lanes, W. A. Strang. Half-back—M. Corner. Wing-forward—G. Scrimshaw. Hookers—A. I. Cottrell, S. Hadley. : Lock—L Harvey. Supports—W. E. Hazlett, R. Stewart. Back row—E. Collett, R. X. King. Several of the forwards are on the aged side as far as football is concerned, but there are so few-younger forwards who have sufficient weight to hold the heavy British pack. Collett is a fine back-row forward from Otago, and King was one of the best forwards on the ground in the British match against Canterbury. There may be some who would prefer to have Carleton at centre, leaving Cooke at second five-eighths instead of Innes, who is on the slow side for Cooke. It is understood, however, that Carleton may not be available. Harvey, Stewart and Hazlett would have the necessary height in the line-outs.