FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 December 1927, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR. INTENSE AFRICAN INTEREST. (Received Friday, 5.25 a.m.) (Special to Press Association.) CAPETOWN, Thursday. As the tour of the All Blacks draws nearer, intense interest is being increasingly aroused. It is already predicted that none of the South African grounds will be able to hold the crowds hoping to see -the tests. Already applications are pouring into the Rugby Board from Hie remotest towns in the back veld. Leading Rugby experts arc of opinion that the All Black team is about the world’s strongest combination and the strongest '.side ever picked against South Africa. This view is confirmed it. six-column headings in to-day’s “Cape Times,” which asks whether the selection of the Springboks is to be by the selection committee or the captain. 1-: is emphasised that the selection committee would naturally select a captain who in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred would invite the matured wisdom of: the present most notable selection committee. Paddy Caroiin, international Springbok half-back, deprecates the innovation and asserts: “Ye have a hard row to hoe. Let us carry on as we have done in the'past and rely on the ability of our representatives to win through. Y’e are entering the greatest trial of strength we have ever undertaken. Special endeavours must be made to select the team at the earliest date. If we fail it will be because we arc beaten by a better side.” SOCCER' CODE. OXFORD BEATS CAMBRIDGE. LONDON, Wednesday. Oxford beat Cambridge at -Stamford Bridge in the rain on .a treacherous ground 1 , 6 goals to 2. In the English Cup re-play, Swindon beat Crystal Palace, 2—l.