THE ALL BLACKS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 8

THE ALL BLACKS

MATCH WITH WALES. INTEREST AT FEVER HEAT. .VISITORS’ CHANCES FAVOURED. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Dec. 20, 11-0 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. Because Wales is the only one of the Home countries ever to defeat a New Zealand side more general interest Is being taken inf Saturday s international match at Cardiff than m the tests against Scotland and Ireland, the match -being described as the rufeber ga-me of the three. Interest throughout Wales is at fever heat- Welshmen are hope.ul that their champions will repeat the 1905 performance. The chances slightly favour New Zealand, and their combination, back-ing-up and covering work on defence should again -carry Manchester’s team to victory. . . The New Zealanders are hoping tnat it will be a dry ground and a fine day. There is not the slightest doubt that they will do better with dry conditions. Everything Depends on Forwards. Again everything depends on the forwards winning the hall from the scrums and loose rucks. Where they were able to do it against the strong Scottish and Irish packs, there is no reason why they should not on Saturday, especially as the Welsh eight are not regarded as of the same standard as the Irish vanguardThe tourists are desperately keen to win the game, and the probabilities are that they will play above themselves. The Welsh selection Is in the nature of a gamble. May Not Stand Hard Game. There are rumours that Wooller, Jones and Tarr (hooker) may not stand up to a hard game. One report is that Wooller and Jones just managed to last out the University game. Jones may be disturbed by sound tackling at the baginning. He is a player of undoubted -brilliance, though he .did not -greatly impress the tourists at Cambridge. He will have a good partner in Tanner, who is able to give swift and sure service at the base of the scrums. Tanner’s selection is a foregone -conclusion- In many opinions Tanner's clu-b partner, Davies, should be preferred to Jones, Wooller should be home on the wing. He Is the fastes't man in 'the team, and is at present playing with great dash. If Davey plays as well as at Swansea Wales may win. It will be surprising, however, if Davey is allowed the same liberty on Saturday. Possible Changes In All Blacks. The New Zealand team will not be definitely known till Saturday. Even if the side is announced on Friday there may be last-minute changes. Caughey is still doubtful, and Dalton is suffering from a slight leg injury. The inclusion of Tindill might not weaken the team. He is now playing much more confidently, and his tackling has Improved. Pepper will undoubtedly be in action with Dalton.

The manager,. Mr Meredith, staled that the team is at. the moment in the lap of the Gods) During the training at Porthcawl special attention was paid to scrummaging, and New Zealand may surprise Wales with one or two tricks which they have been saving for the occasion.

The tourists will make every effort to gain an early lead, following the tactics so successful against Ireland. It is possible that the whole of the New Zealand back line may be reshuffled, as there is even less chance of Caughey’s fitness. The threequarters may be Ball and Hart (wings) and Mitchell (centre). Oliver may be second five-eighths and Griffiths first •five-eighths. Ground Covered With Snow. Snow fell at Cardiff, where the ground is thickly covered with straw. Bad weather is indicated, lessening the chances of the tourists.