AUSTRALIANS FAVOUR DRY CONDITIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 August 1946, Page 6

AUSTRALIANS FAVOUR DRY CONDITIONS

"It's quite a fair side — as good as we could get," was the conunent of Mr. Harry Crow, assistant-manager of the Australiau Rugby Union team, who arrived with six of the piave rs by flviug-boat ou Saturday afternoon. Thc remainder of the teain is expected to arrive ou Sunday and Tuesdav. " Tliey haveu't had much of an opportunity to play togother as yet," said A1 r. Crow, "as tliey were only selected last month. "There is a drought in Australia, of coui'.se, and tliey 've .becn used to liard grounds and a dry bait. Tliey slunved plentv of speed in Australia, but wheti it conies to wet groimds and a greasy ball it liiay be a differerit story. " M r. Crow griiined and refused to eoinment when he was asked how the team lined up witli previous Australiau fifteens. "Too dangerous," he explainod. He was satisiied, however, that the side was as good as the countrv could produce. The seleetors had gone to great lengths in touring every State where Rugby was plaved and a series of lest matches had becn played, eulminating in two games — Australia v. The Rest, and New South Wales v. Combined States— from wliicli the liual sere-'tion was made. The team played.. typical Australiau footliall. Tliey were a niixed iot as far as ages were concerned, ranging from Trevor Allen, who was the "babv" at the age of 14), to the veteran 34-year-old Graham Cooke. The players who arrived with Mr. Crow were: W. M. AlcLean (captain), J. McLpan, A. Livermore, R. E. AlcMaster, K. Hodda and G. Cooke.