SOUTH ISLAND RUGBY TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 14

SOUTH ISLAND RUGBY TEAM

EIGHT FROM SOUTHLAND TREVATHAN'S OMISSION SURPRISES WELL-BALANCED PACK CHOSEN

[By Hooker.]

Southland, holders of the Uanfurly Shield, have provided more than half of tho South Island team to meet the North Island on Saturday week, and no doubt their performances this season led to such a preponderance of Southlauders being chosen for the .big game.

. There are eight Southland men, throe from Otago, one from North Otago, one from West Coast, one from South Canterbury, and one from Canterbury. On the face of it, Southland may appear to have been generously treated, but when it comes to omitting any of its selected players a difficult task arises.

On the other hand it was thought in many quarters that Grace would be selected as second five-eighth, where ho has played this season, and that D. Trevathan, by reason of his consistently good form throughout the season, and especially on Otago’s northern tour, when he was one of the mainstays of the side, would be first fiveeighth. Trevathan won high praise from many northern critics during Otago’s recent tour, and no doubt some of tho unfair criticism that has been levelled at him in certain quarters prejudiced his chances in the eyes of the selectors, for it is without question that he is playing better football now than at any other stage of his career. Grace has shown promise dt first fiveeighth previously, and apparently it may have been the selectors’ policy to introduce some new blood, and now Willis Perriarn, likely Otago second five-eighth, gets his big chance. * Perriam’s type of play is better suited to the centre three-quarter position, and the South Island team would have been in no way weakened had Trevathan been played at first fiveeighth, Grace at second, and Perriarn at centre. Wesney is a reliable utility type of back whose defence is perhaps more outstanding than his attack, added to which he is a good goal-kick. The wingers are T. Ci Morrison and A. G. Sutherland. The former is an All Black and the latter has figured in All Black trial games previously. Morrison has had few chances this season to show his paces on attack, but, nevertheless, is an outstanding player in his position. Saxton was the logical choice for half-back, and does not look to have a serious rival in the Dominion at tho resent time. Easton, who gains selection as full-hack, ranked next to .Taylor for his displays in the All Black trials in 1937, and he may yet make the grade. The forward pack is particularly well balanced, being composed of big men who are also fast in the_ loose. G. M'Donald and A. A. Parkhill, the two Otago players, did not make the northern tour with the provincial side hut both have shown outstanding football during the past few seasons, and they would he well in the running if a New Zealand team went to South Africa. , _ Southland has Ward, Herron. George, and Sherriff in the pack, and the first three particularly are strong candidates for higher honours. King and Williams, both All Blacks, make up a strong pack, which should be more than able to hold the North Island forwards