VERY YOUNG RUGBY REPS.

Chronicle (Levin), 19 August 1946, Page 7

VERY YOUNG RUGBY REPS.

-Press Association

FIRST AUSTRALI&NS ARRIVE AT Auckland

By Teltgravh-

- V - . Ab-CELAN JL), August 18. • Membera-,- of tb.e first Australian Rugby L'nion te'fim' to visit New Zealan.d since 1936, arrivcd at Auckland duriug the week-end. The team is "being lidwn from Syduby in three groups* the first arriying on Saturday afternoon, the Second'-today while the third is expeeted on .Tuesday,' •„ The AustralianJs, wiii leaye toiiiorrow i'or Whangarei- where. they t will play ihe first iiiat ch of .'" ihe -tour • against North Auckland on Wedhes'day. • Inter viewed, ; the " assistaht-manager, Mr. H; Crow, kaid the team was compo'sed chiefly oi y-oung players but a number of experienced footballers had also bee'n . iiiciuded. and although men had been selected they hud had , llttle opp'ortunity. to play together, . having- been chosen early this riionth. J Ile was sure they would give a good ' aecount of theinselves. . Owing to the drought in Queensland and New Houth 1 Wales, the players were used to hara 1 grounds aud a dry ball and thus inight ' have difticulty i'n bec'oming accustomed ^ to eonditions they were likely to meet » in New Zealund. ' Mr. Crow said it was difiiculty to i assess the present standard of Aiistra- : lian ltugby owing -to the lapse il'i big ! football during the war vears. .Hoy;- ; ever, he was, sure the. team was as good as the CoinmonweaHh could produce. 1 The only -membera of .the team . who ■ haye" played . against 'New Zealanders ar.e K. AVindon, ,J. McLean and Cooke. i Windon "was a member of the .Afistra- : liaii representative t'e'im Which visited ' the Dpininipn in .1936 and C.ooke played - aghiitst the All Blacks in Anstralia in 3932. McLean, played .against New Zealanders in Britain dtirin'g the. war when he was serving in 1-heTloyal' Auetraliah Air Force.. ' ' . ^Vith the xi'ithdraWal of 11. Rankin, f'uliback, through ihjurv,- . the visitiug baekline. is iinusuaily ypung for an iriteniational • team. .The. oldest baclt is B. Schblte. . the. Qqeensiand halfbaek, who is'28 but '.inoSt of the -otfi'ers are ,between'.19 and 23. ■' Of the three players- who are 39„Mv.H'owel] whose birthday was'on Jund-Sy is the "baby" bf the team. " ;•