AUSTRALIA’S TASK

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S TASK

PREPARING FOR SPRINGBOKS DIFFICULTIES OF SELECTORS Australia's next task is to face the Springboks. Its record in New Zealand is not promising, but that requires the analysis it deserves (says an exchange). What Australia mostly needs at the moment is a halfback and five-eighths of international standard. It has the other material. The forwards must have learned a good deal on their tour. They did their part well, and should be capable of revealing/something even better next season. No forward pack in the world could keep going with backs continually letting them down. It was obvious the Australian selectors made some errors, and these will have to be rectified before a real international fifteen is found. On what the tour of New Zealand showed the best team in Australia at the moment comprises: Storey, M'Lean, M'Laughlin % . Hayes, Kelaher, Rankin, Richards", Cerutti, Bonis, Malone, Hodgson, Walden, Kelly, Bridle, Pauling. Rankin has been included as fiveeighths, where he was not seen on the tour. He may be a little slow for a position so close to the scrum, but he has unquestioned ability to seize an opening and a powerful fend enables him to break past many attempts at tackling. Fit and well, Pauling would be able to play creditably in the threequarter line, thereby making room for another forward. However, early form next season may solve the difficulties which at present appear to face the selectors of Australia's test teams.