Changed Policy For Pre-Test Game

Chronicle (Levin), 26 August 1949, Page 5

Changed Policy For Pre-Test Game

(N.Z.P.A.-

■ — -Reuter.

. Copyriant)

Received Thursday 1U.4U p.m. Al.lWAL NORTH, August 25. ' The All Blacks' selectors have not followed the policy before previous Tests in the ehoice of the side for ba tnrdav's game against Orange Free State which is the eve of the third Test. 11 itherto 41 virtual Test side was iieided iu pre-Test matches, to givo it eonfidcnce and bal'anee. The only dvsadvantage of this procedure has been that it meant other players had to stanu down for sometimes as long a three and four weeks. Next Saturday seveia; players who may still be in the lUiimus, for honoars are being given a further opportunity. Black has been retained as serum half. Delamore, is outside him and Elvidge is alongside Morrie Goddard iu the "centre back position. Botting has been showing line dash, is again on the wing. In the pack, Wilson, who has Late ly been moving well in the loose, is also having another trial. In' favour of the selectors' policy is the fact that there has never been ain big margin of difl'erence in the abilitv of the majority. of players among whom this comprehensive trial policy is not popular. It is naturally not a perfect svstem and someone may still miss out such as Gudsell. With ordinary fortune he might have been one of the big successes of the tour but had had a bad run through injuries. ■ Allen and Dalton are standing down for Saturday 's game and the side will be led by El-vidge with Simpson as vice-captain.

There was a feeling that Skinner might have been given a trial on the back of the scrum on Saturday but no move bas been made in this direction. At this stage it would appear thai the third Test side , will be choseu from Scott, Aleates, Godda-rd/ Ilender son. Elvidge or Allen, Ivearney, Blac's or Savage, Simpson, Catley, Skinner or Dalton, McNab or Grant, Harvey or AIcHugli, Willocks, Crowley, Johnstone. 1 To meet Orange Fi;ee State on Saturday is Scott, Aleates, Goddard, Botting, Elvidge, Delamore, Black, Simpson, Wilson, Skinner, Crowley, Harvey, AlcIIugh, Grant, Johnston. The Orange Free State team has three changes from the side which drew with the tourists 9 — 9. Two of these changes, namely the left wing and scrum half, are considered to strengthen the side but the • ihird change, namely, the hooker, 1 is due to an injury. " The' team is: FuP-back, Meyer; three-qu'arlers, ■ Brink, Pienaar, Du Piooy, Leeb; halves, Joffe, Strydom; front row, Sladen, Wessels, ■ "Wilken; mid'dle row, Botha, : Jaco»:sz, Geel, Roets; back row, ! Fui\er. The weather is again fine and hot and the ground should be fast for Saturday's game.