SECOND RUGBY TEST

Evening Star, Issue 22441, 11 September 1936, Page 5

SECOND RUGBY TEST

PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW'S GAME BOTH TEAMS CONFIDENT tfIOSELY CONTESTED MATCH ANTICIPATED On the result of the second Rugby test at Carisbrook to-morrow afternoon will depend ipossession of the Bledisloe Cup for this year. Australia is the present holder of the much-coveted trophy, but New Zealand, by virtue of its win in the first test at Wellington last Saturday, has only to hold the

Australians to a draw to-morrow to lift the cup. Should Australia win, however, the cup will remain in its possession.

Both teams arrived in Dunedin last night, and in bright sunshine this morning the Australians had a practice, the All Blacks also visiting the ground, though only a few members had a run. Given another fine day, the ground should bo in. excellent order for the game, which promises to be very closely contested. The All Blacks will probably go out favourites, but the Australians will not be affected by injuries to the same extent as was the case in Wellington, and should bo dangerous from start to finish, and no surprise will be occasioned if they do manage to reverse the result of the game in Wellington. Both teams are very confident, and to the ‘ Star ’ to-day Mr W. H. Cerutti, who will be unable- to take part in any further games on. the tour

through injury, but who is acting-man-ager of the Wallabies on account of the illness of Mr Gordon Shaw, stated that if there is no further rain, the condition of the ground should suit the Australians admirably.

The personnel of the teams was announced this morning, and the Australian pack will be identical with that which played in Wellington. It will average round about 14.5, and will have an advantage of nearly half a stone a man over the All Black forwards, and another interesting duel should be witnessed between famous hookers, E. T. Bonis (Australia) and W. E. Hadley (Auckland). The names of eight backs have been announced by the Australian manager, and one is to be omitted to-night when it is known whether K. P. Storey will be able to play. He has been included in his customary role at full-back, but owing to the muscle injury he suffered at Auckland it is still doubtful if he

will be well enougt to play. Five threequarters have been- selected, one of whom is to be dropped. In the event of Story not taking the field, R. Rankin will be played at full-back. W. M'Laughlin, the Australian centre three-quarter, has not shown his Sydney form on the tour as yet, but, given a good- ground, his team-mates expect great things of him to-morrow. Lewis and Kelly, who have been feeling _ the effects of injuries, are well again, and Mr Cerutti is confident the team will be in much better condition than at Wellington, where last-minute changes took place. It was not until noon on the day of the match that it was decided definitely that Lewis would be unable to take the field. “ I think we can win,” said Mr Cerutti, “we are feeling very confident.” He added that if the side could reproduce the form it showed last Saturday, with the addition of the players who had recovered from injuries, it should be a very good game. The Australians would try and throw the ball about in true Australian style., “ We know the All Blacks are worthy opponents,” he concluded, “ but we are not afraid, and only hope for a dry day.” The manager of the Wallabies (Mr Gordon Shaw) and T. P. Pauling are still in Auckland, and neither Pauling nor Cerutti will play again during the tour. Pauling is a son of Tom Pauling, who represented New Zealand in 1897 and New South Wales in 1898 and'lß99. Doug. M'Lean, - who * represented Australia as a wing three-quarter in 1933, and- against South Africa and against New Zealand in 1934, is another who has followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a wing three-quarter in the Australian' team which played a test in Dunedin in 1905. Another link with the 1905 Australian team is provided by Mr Harold Judd, who is accompanying the present party. included in the touring side in 1905, and also visited New’ Zealand in 1901 as a member •of the New; South Wales team. '

The,visitors will be captained in tomorrow’s match by R. J. Walden, who is 28 years of age and the oldest member of tho Australian team. This is Bon Walden’s first visit to New' Zealand, and by’ being chosen to -captain Australia last Saturday and again tomorrow he has realised the ambition of his life. ■ He has been striving for eight years to make a trip to the Dominion, and has reached his goal by leading Australia in the two test games. He plays for the Manly Club,, and is a former, amateur heavy-weight boxing champion of New South Wales.

The “ baby ” of the team is Frank Hutchinson, who is 18 years of age. He stands 6ft 2Jin, and weighs close to 15st, having put on weight since coming to New Zealand.

, M'Lean and Kellaher both made names for themselves in South Africa m 1933, and of that side, those taking part in to-morrow’s match are M'Lean, Kellaher, Hodgson, White, Bonis, and Bridle, while Cerutti also was a member of the Australian team in South Africa. Bonis, Bridle, and Cerutti are the only members of the 1931 Australian team with the present party, and Cerutti the only member of the 1928 side. It may be recalled that the 1931 team opened its tour in Dunedin by playing a drawn game with Otago in the mud, each side scoring 3 points. The Wallabies carry with them a “ Teddy bear ” as a mascot, Tbis was presented to the team by Mr Gordon Shaw, (fhe manager, and is made of the finest kangaroo skin. It will be finally disposed of in the same way as the mascot which the Waratahs carried with them in F.ngland in 1927. It will be given- to the first member of the Wallabies who is presented with a son. The winner of this trophy among-the Waratahs was Syd. King, who was presented with several daughters before a son arrived on the scene. ALL BLACKS HOPEFUL. The manager of. the New Zealand team (Mr Mark Nicholls) stated this morning that the All Blacks were eagerly looking forward to to-moirrow’s game, and the players are equally as confident as the Australians. R. M'K-enzie, the brilliant Manawatu forward, is still suffering with a bad leg, and he is replaced by R. Ward, one of the finest forwards Southland has had in years. Grand forward though "M'Kenzie is, the team should not suffer to any extent by the inclusion of Ward. Lockington, who was an emergency in the first test, . has a broken hand to remind him of the game with South Canterbury,- and the reserve forwards for the New Zealand team tomorrow will he (a member of the 1935 All Blacks) arid F. Green (thb University and Otago player who was in the South Island team in 1935 and again this year). There are two alterations in the New Zealand rearguard, and there will be, general satisfaction in, Otago that C. C. Gillies has gained selection as first five-eighth.- The University player should provide plenty of speed between Sadler and Griffiths, and if the ball comes the way of the All Blacks the three-quarter line should not complain of lack of service. The centre three-quarter berth will be filled by N. A. Mitchell, who played both as a wing and centre on tne All Blacks’ tour or Great Britain in 1935. He was not available for the first test on ~account of an injured hand, but it was generally anticipated he would find a place in the team for to-morrow’s game, and he went in ahead ’of the promising Taranaki three-quarter, J. Sullivan, who is again a reserve, the other emergency back being B. A. Killeen, the Auckland and North Island captain, over whom Gillies has been given preference. - The team are all fit and well, and a brighter showing than was given at Wellington can be anticipated.

Mr W. Pearson is assistant manager of the .New Zealand team, and other New Zealand selectors already in Dun-\ edin for the game are Messrs J. T. Burrows and Alan Adams. Messrs E. M'Kenzie and G-. W. Nicholson are expected to-might.

Associated with the All Blacks as trainer is Mr Sid Murray, who is rwell known in athletic circles in Wellington.

THE TEAMS. The teams have been selected as fol-. lows:— —New Zealand.— Full-back.—H. R. Pollock (Wellington) 10.0. Three-quarters.—G. F. Hart (Canterbury) 11.7, N. Mitchell (Southland) 13.3, j. M. Watt (Otago) 12.6. Five-eighths.—J. L. Griffiths (Wellington) 10.5,- captain; C. C. Gillies (Otago) 11.7, . Half-back.—B. S. Sadler (Wellington) 10.0. Forwards.—E. Jackson (Hawke’s; Bay) 14.0 W. E. Hadley (Auckland) 13.2, D. Dalton. (Auckland) 14.0, J. Wells (Wellington) 14.0, R. R. King (West Coast) 14.4, S. T. Reid (Hawke’s, Bay) 14.13, R. Ward (Southland) 13,9, J. G, Rankin (Canterbury) 13.0. Reserves.—Backs: B. . A. Killeen (Auckland), J. Sullivan (Taranaki). Forwards: F. Vorrath (Otago), F.: Green (Otago), . • —Australia.— - Full-back.—K, P. Storey 12,5. Three-quarters. W-. M*Laugblin 11.0, A. D. M'Lean 12.6, V. Richards 12.2, R. Rankin 12.10, J. D. Kelaher 11.2 (one to be dropped).

Five-eighth.—L. S. Lewis 11.6. , Half-back.—E. Gibbons 10.4. Forwards.—R. J.- Walden (captain)' 14.6,, E. T. Bonis 13.8, J. H. Malone 13.10, F. E. Hutchinson 14.4, W. G. S. White 16.0, 0. L. Bridle 13.7, R. L, F. Kelly 14.3, A. J. Hodgson 14.4. Reserves. —Sacks; R, W,. Dob 12.8, J. D. Hammond 11.4, B. Egan 12.7. For-t wards: A. H. Stone 13.10, K. M, Ramsay 14.7,’ K. S. Windon 13.0.-’ The referee is Mr H. J. M'Kenzie, Of Wairarapa. _ , The kick-off is at 3 o’clock, and the Payne Trophy match between Southern (Dunedin) and" "Sunnyside (Christchurch) will begin at 1.15. A junior curtain-raiser between Clutha and Pirates fourth grade teams is to 'be played at 12. ■