RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18259, 18 August 1921, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON V. WANGANUI. (To the Editor). Sir, —The match will eventuate shortly, and it is up to local authorities and players to make the utmost endeavours to recover our lost prestige in the Rugby field. Representative games have been, with the possible exception of the Springboks match, sadly disappointing this season, chiefly owing to a lack of combination on the part of local players. To avoid this in connnection with the Wellington match, it is up to the selectors to get their team together immediately on the return of the touring team, thus giving players who w-ere unable to tour an opportunity of getting into form. No doubt failure to put up creditable performances this year is due partly to the selectors, although I could put it in another way, by saying that players selected have not shown the ability expected of them. However. I take this opportunity of discussing some of the players and theli possibilities of a game against Wei. lington. For the position of full-back there are several available including Campion, Head and R. Collier. I prefer them in the order mentioned. Good wing-threequarters are scarce, R. Scott being the best available. Brown is a good man, but his position is wing-forward as he himself should have realised long ago, and which position he should be playing. Svenson is the best, centre seen here this season, but if unavailable Potaka is a welcome substitute. Of five-eighths there are plenty—of a kind—including Tilyard, Peina, F. Collier, Jackson, F. Baddeley and Williams. These players can all be classed good on their day, but 1 snoutd like to see Tilyard and Peina in the positions. Jackson or Williams would go on the wing vice Brown. F. Collier has lately overcome the habit of holding on too long and should be held in reserve, as his conception of the five.eighths position is quite up to rep. standard. C. Baddeley and Hiroti are in the running for the important position, of half, and the former after his tour will no doubt prove the success of the season in this position. By the way Williams would make an excellent half, with a little coaching and a few games in the position. The best forward team we have seen this season was that which tacKied the Springboks, but Batley is not now available. However, with Brown playing wing-forward Bellis can go into his proper place, and I am not sure that the inclusion of Heeney, and A. Lockett would not be an improvement to the pack. Sinclair is not impressive and both Tuke and Murphy are patchy, but as Sinclair and O’Connell are used to hooking it would not perhaps be wise to include them, which also applies to Peina and Potaka. In conclusion I submit my selection of the best team available which with Tilyard as captain should extend the men from the Empire City. Tilyard will know their combined and individual play, and provided he gets into form himself and has a few hours with the team in training, should eventually lead our representatives to victory. Fulibaok: Campion; threequarters: Scott, Potaka and Jackson; fiveeighths: Peina Tilyard (captain); half, Baddeley; wing, Brow-n; forwards: O’Connell, Sinclair, Heeney, Murphy, Bellis, Ross and Lockett. Emergencies: Full.baek, N. Kane; three-quarters, R. Collier; fiveeighths, F. Collier; forwards, Cox and Tuke.—l am, etc., SPECTATOR.