ALL BLACK TALENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 6

ALL BLACK TALENT

PLAYERS IN RUNNING SOME TOPICAL ANALYSING. 1932 TEAM A BASIS. Eleven All Blacks will be fielded in the two teams to play in the Rugby trial match at Wanganui next Wednesday. The sides appear very evenly balanced, particularly in tho forwards, and there is every reason to anticipate good Rugby, notwithstanding the fact that all the forwards will be out to push and play hard, perhaps to the detriment of back play. It is not always a wise thing to judge players, particularly backs, on their form in a trial, and in making that observation one is pleased to know that Ted McKenzie has seen most of the likely players in action before. There arc certain fundamentals in a Rugby player which arc apparent to the trained eye, and even though a match does not bring a particular player into action selectors can often appreciate his worth. If he fails in fundamentals it is only natural that he should be passed by.

In next Wednesday ’s trial All Black inside machinery was to have functioned to try out both second five-eighths who arc making bids for the honour of representing the Dominion. Corner and Lilburne will supply Griffiths, the Ponekc boy, with his opportunities. Brog- i den and Page (Brogden goes in in place of Kilby who is unavailable) in unison behind the other pack will afford Ken Fookes, of Taranaki, to demonstrate his ability. On the one hand Griffiths will be linking up a very fast and impressive three-quarter line in Bullock-Douglas, Caughey and Smith. Fookes’ job will be to bring a trial line into action, all three of tho players therein, aspiring to the All Black jersey—Fuller, Killeen and Aspey. Collins, of Taranaki, and Davies, of Waikato, are to be the respective fullbacks. It is assumed that if the players who proved themselves in Australia in 1932 show form in keeping with that which won them places in the major matches of the Dominion just prior to the selection of that combination, they will be selected again. At the moment it looks as though both half-backs are to come from the North. Island—Kilby and Corner, with a possibility of Brogden or Sadler being considered, if cither of the others do nut muster up. Lilburne and Page look like certainties for the first five-eighth, positions and Griiiiiiis stands I every chance of getting away as a second. Fookes will need ail his prowess to account lor the Wellington lad. In the three-quarter line it is reasonable to assume that if Bullock-Douglas ami Caughey show form approaching their best they will get awu;. They have been proved already and the experience they gained on the trip to Australia in 1932 will be a factor in their favour. Smith, the Hawke’s Bay winger, will compete with Fuller for the right wing position in the North Island team and Bullock-Douglas’ opponent for the left position will be Aspey, also of llawKe’s Bay. Hart and Bolder, of the South Island, will be competitors with the North Islanders for the honour of going over the Tasman. If they reproduce the form of 1932 they will most likely be chosen and indications at present suggest that Smith will get the position rendered vacant through the absence of Nelson Ball. Assuming that the selectors, having had proof of what the 1932 team could do, and holding to the belief that it pays to keep a young team together as much as possible, it would seem that five three-quarters likely to be chosen for the trip to Australia this year are: Bullock-Douglas, Caughey, Hart, Holder and Smith. The sixth man would be chosen from Fuller, Aspey, Killeen and Smith (Otago). Collins, on present form, should be chosen again lor the custodianship and if Lilburne is selected, he will provide a good standby. In the forwards, Hore, Manchester, Max and Metcalfe of the South Island, and McLean, Barry and Clarke of the North, arc apparently still in the running, notwithstanding that Metcalfe has not been picked to play in the South Island trial team next Saturday and McLean is not appearing at Wanganui. Assuming that those seven are selected there will remain six places to fill, those previously occupied by Cottrell, Jessup, Palmer, Stcere, Solomon and Purdue. Andrews (Canterbury) on his form in the Inter-Island match last year, looks a certainty and there arc the three provincial players from the North who played so well in the Inter-Island match last year to be considered —Cooper (North Auckland), Leeson (Waikato), and McKenzie (Manawatu). Those, with Andrews,

would still leave two more positions to be filled and there will be very intense

competition among such players as McLeod (Taranaki), King (West Coast), Berry (Southland), Mclntyre (Wanganui), W. Hadley (Auckland),) Mataira (Hawke’s Bay), Lambourne and Dcllabarca (Wellington), Kirkpatrick (Poverty Bay), Orman (Buller), and Adkins (South Canterbury). How would this selection to make the trip do? Full-back: Collins (Taranaki). Three-quarters: Bullock - Douglas (Wanganui), Caughey (Auckland), Hart (Canterbury), Holder (West Coast), Smith (Hawke’s Bay), Killeen (Wellington) . live-eighths: Lilburne (Wellington), Page (Wellington), Griffiths (Wellington), Fookes (Taranaki). Half-backs: Kilby (Wellington) and Corner (Auckland). Hookers: Here (Otago), Lambourne (Wellington), Hadley (Auckland). Back of scrum positions: Andrews (Canterbury), Dellabarca (Wellington). Other forwards: Manchester (Canterbury), McLean (Auckland), Max (Nelson), Metcalfe (Southland), Clarke (Taranaki), Barry (Wellington), Leeson (Waikato), McKenzie (Manawatu). The above has boon suggested on a belief that the 1934 team will be based on that of 1932 and that only enforced defections will be filled. The selectors may prefer to leave some of the 1932 players behind and try out others. They would then have the satisfaction of being able to fall back upon those dropped in the event of the substitutes not mustering up in Australia.