TARANAKI TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 120, 22 May 1937, Page 23

TARANAKI TEAM

SELECTION CRITICISED

Commenting on the selection of the Taranaki team to meet Wellington en Wednesday, "Side Row:' in the "Taranaki Daily News" states:—Although it is well known that the policy pi the selectors is to keep the team together as much as possible once it is selected, to enable the development of combination, that is not to say that the team to meet the South Africans will be the same, excepting accidents, as that selected'to play Wellington. It is under : stood that the fifteen to take the field at Hawera on Wednesday is the selectors' idea of the best combination to cope with Wellington's traditional fast, open game; When July 31 approaches Taranaki enthusiasts may expect- to see weight and thorough' reliability on defence given preference to brillianpe should ii't- be a question of- one or ,the other.-

Only two of the fifteen selected, J. Sullivan and C. O'Dowda, were not in- the trial match, it being-stated that both were nursing injuries. The same, reason' was given for. the nonappearance of/Ri-Young and R;Clarke, who Were "chosen as emergencies with j. Armstrong, absent owing to exigencies of work".'' YoungI.and Armstrong were two/of the most reliable regular forwards last year, and have been playihi.yweil.this.year;.one wonders, thereifdre^tfithe selectors' -warning to amybitib^sy playersj to attend trials has 'al-ready-feeep given effect to; Youhg.was: m the stand, but? both the others, with; o;Dovirda;;and;^Sulliysip, : were at work; it^is-uriaerstOttd.y- '■■ :'■■'.'■' '•• ':. '■ y4-

Richards was easily the best of the full-backs- in this week'fe trial, although he is not so polished nor. so effective as Collins, who, convalescent after a serious illness, was a spectator at Eltham. The three-quarter line chose itself, O'Byrne/-Martin, and1 Ross lacking the initiative and finesse of Smith and Ford, while Clifford-Jones, though more penetrative and Sure in handling than Paterson and Hayman, has not: yet reached Sullivan's level of brilliance. Brown was the only logical choice forflrst five-eighth; although Bourke was sound, Brown was sounder. Spectators at the trial will not be in complete agreement with the selection of Hunter outside Brown., While his defence is not W question, he did not show the penetration and speed that made Lehmann reminiscent of yGalbraith. The Stratford man was nervous in the first spell, ■ but when he settled] down later, he played splendid football. Huntef may be the man for the position against a formidabletcombination such as the Springboks, against whom Taranaki cannot hope to score many tries, but in. a bright. encounter such as the Wellington match usually is Lehmann would be a.jusliflable selection between Brown and Sullivan.

To have been consistent, the selectors should have chosen Guy as half-back. He served Bourke with splendid passes all day, and was strong oh defence. Arnold, however, combined initiative with accuracy in handling and feeding Brown and well deserved his selection.

The luckiest forwards are Fowler and McClenaghan. Fowler did not show up much, and his -strong point being following up in the loose, he will have to improve by next week. In the tight Armstrong is a better man for the place. Roger Young is a forward 1 for whom the Wellington selector has a wholesome respect, and with Fastier, O'Dowda, Richards, and E. Smith in the team and all playing worthy football, an extra line-out forward of Young'^ ability would not have been amiss. Coull's selection will receive, universal approval, and R. Clarke will' have to play very well to deprive him of a place in future matches.