N.S.W. GAME WILL TEST ALL BLACKS' POWERS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1947, Page 7

N.S.W. GAME WILL TEST ALL BLACKS' POWERS

Press Assn

By Telegraph

I —4 .-Copyright "

Reeeived Monday, 7.0 pftn. • • SYDNEY, May 26. Australian Rngby Union players and officials are almost cockily confident of beating the All Blacks in the inatehes for the Bledisloe Cup. 1 * Typical of the optimism is that of Mr. W. H. McLean, eaptain of the 1946 Wallabies in New Zealand. He says: " We will win provided we out-ruck the New Zealanders. We can hold o.ur own in the scrums and lineonts and our backs will be more than a match for theirs." Never before have sneh extensive' preparations been made to ' beat New Zealand. ' Four interstate games have already been played and another will be played on Wednesday. . The candidates for the New South Wales team have been in practically continuous traimng for over a month. It is generally considered that the New Sonth Wales game on Jnne 7 will be the hardest the All Blacks will have in Australia, possibly harder than the tests against Australia. The New South Wales team 5is •practically an international side with the great advantage of combination and eonfidence developed by their suc-* cess in interstate games. Brian Piper, Charles Eastes, Max Howell, Mick C-remin, Cyril Burke (backs) ; and Col Wiridon.- Arthur Buchan and Eric Tweedale, (forwards) from the 1946 Wallabies are all playing again. Big and fast, Eastes is having a tremendous season. He has scored 17 tries in four first-class games so far.

Trevor Allan (centre) and Pliil Hara-' eastle (forward) are injured at present, but are sure to play if fit. Allan may go to the wing because of the rise or the speedy and clever new centre, the 22-year-old -Alan Walker, an artist at making openings for the wings. fhree forwards new to New Zealand seem certain of selection: I. V. Turnbull, front-row forward of the 1939 Wallabies who visited Britain without playing a game because of the outbreak of war, and has made a suecessful eomebaek; Ken" Kearney, R.A.A.h'. hooker in Britain during the war, who has displaeed Wai Dawson, the hooker in New Zealand last year; and Koger Oornforth, a vigorous, fast 15-stone back-row forward who missed the New Zealand tour last year through injuries and who is now one of the best players in Australia. It seems certain that New South Wales will field a pack averaging around 14 stone and it will be very fast. Hardeastle will be eaptain if fit, otherwise Cremin. New South Wales specxalise in a venturesome spectacular style of football. They have been earefully coacned to feed the fast clever backs at every opportunity, relying on the speedy wing three-quarters to score tries. The five-eighth hardly ever tries to make an opening but concentrates on getting the ball out as quickly as possible to the wings, especially to Eastes. Attacks are launched from any and every position, the movements frequently covering three-quarters of the length of the field. New Zealand 's marking and tackling will have to be close and constant to nullify the daringly dangerous game perfected by New South Wales. New South Wales is almost certain to play the 3 — 2 — 3 scrum instead of the 3 — 4 — 1, and it is possible Australia will do the same. Johnny Wallace, eaptain of the 1927 Waratahs in Britain and coach of New South Wales, believes the 3 — 2 — 3 scrum gives a clearer passage for the ball to the halfback and also holds together better for pushing. The forwards have been coaehed in this formation night after night. New .South Wales used it in all the inter-State games except one. Keen public interest is being shown in the match and seats are already in strong demand.

The Australian teSt team is certain to be mainly New South Wales players while Queensland will probably contribute three or four" forwards, the leading candidates being Bill McLean, Ron JVicMaster and Kev Hodda who were all in New Zealand last year with the Wallabies. It is doubtful if any Victorians will win selection. The backline is sure to be predominantly New South Wales. The All Blacks ; first match will be at Canberra against not too strong opposition, and it will be good preparation for the game against New South Wales. 'The Canberra fullbaek is R. N. Rankin. a member of the 1936 Wallabies in New Zealand. He missed the .trip to New Zealand last year through an injury after selection and 'is making an eifort to gain a place in the Australian team to tour Britain later this year. It is possible he will be the Australian fullbaek against the All Blacks. ' The weather has now turned in New Zealand 's favour. After a long- dry spell the winter rains have started and the grounds are losing some of their concrete-like hardness.