HOPES OF BEATING ALL BLACKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 27 May 1947, Page 3

HOPES OF BEATING ALL BLACKS

AUSTRALIAN SIDES N.S.W. OPTIMISM INTENSIVE TRAINING USE OF DARING TACTICS fi) a.m.) _ SYDNEY, .May 27. i Australian Rugby Union I plnyois and officials ave almost j i ly confident of boating flip I All Dlacks in the matches for the I Iledisloe Cup. Typical optimism is that of TV. li. MeFean, captain of (he 1946 Walla hies in New Zealand. Ue will win provided we outruek tli? ine\v Zealanders," lie said. "We can hold oar own in scrums and lineouts Our backs will be more than a match for theirs." Never before have such extensive prepara.ions been made to be a t New Zoo.and. Four inter-State games ha\e already been played and another will be played on Wednesday. Months’ Continuous Training Tne candidates for the New South Wales team hu\c been in practically continuous training over a month, it is generally considered that the New Soutji Wales game on June 7 will be Ihe hardest the All Blacks will have in Au.ia.ia, pens, by harder than the tests against Australia. Few bOLi.lt p'aies is practically an international side with uie great advantage oi computation and confidence developed by their successes in interstate games. Brian, riper, Charles Eastes, Max Hewed, Mick Creniin. Cyril Burxe (backs), and Coi Windon, Arthur Bucnan, Eric Twee-dale (iorwards) from the 19-10 Wallabies are all plavin« again. The big last Eastes is having a tremendous season. He has scored 17 trie; in four first-class games so far. Trevor Allan (centre) and Phil Hardcastle (forward) are injured at piesent, but are sure to play it they are fit. Allan may go to the wing because of the rise of a speedy, clever new centre, 22-year-old Alan Walker, who is an artist at making openings to.- .the wings. Three New Forwards Three forwards new to New Zealand seem certain of selection. J. V. iurnbuil. a iront-row forward o. tne lyil) Wallabies ■ who visited cn'ilain witnout playing a game because ot tne omoreak of war, has made a successful comeback, Ken ivta.ncy., an R.A.A.F. hooker in jjiiia.n during the war has displaced Wa: Dawson, who was a hooxer in New Zealand last year and Roger Ccrnlori.n, a vigorous, fast 15-stone bccK-rovv forward wno missed tne New Zealand tour last year through in-’ jurieo and vwio is now one of the best piaycrs in Australia. I- seems certain that New South Wales will held a pack averaging around 14st and will be very last. Hardcastle will be captain if lie is tit, otherwise Cremin. New South (Vales specialises in the venturesome, speecacu.ar style of l'ootoau Iney have pee.i caretuily coached to feed the last, clever backs at every opportunity, relying on the speedy wing three-quarters to score tries. The five-eighth hardly ever tries to matte an opening but concentrates on getting the bail out as quickly as possible to me wings, especially to Eastes. Tne attacks are launched from any ana every position, the movements frequently covering threequarters ot the lengui of the held. New Zealand’s marking and tackling will have to be close and constant to nullify the daringly dangerous game penected ov New South Wales Three-Two-Three Scrum Likely New South Wales is almost certain to plav the three-two-three scrum instead of the Ihree-four-one and it is possible that Australia will do the same. Johnny Wallace, captain of the 1927 Warataiis in Britain, the coach of New South Wales. believes that the thrce-two-tiiree scrum gives a clearer passage for the ball to the halfback and also holds together better lor pushing. The lorvvards have been coached in this formation night alter night. New South Wales has used it in all interstate games except one. Keen public interest is being shown in the match. Seats are already in Strong demand. The Australian test team is certain to be mainly New South Wales players. Queensland will probably contribute turee or tour forwards, the leading candidates being Bill McLean. Ron McMaster and Kev Ilodda who were all in New Zealand last year with the Wallabies. It is doubtful if any Victorians will win selection. The back line is sure to be predominantly New South Wales. First Match at Canberra The All Blacks first match will be at Canberra against not too strong opposition. It will be a good preparation lor the game against New South Wales. Tne Canberra fullback is R. N. Rankin. a member of the 1936 Wallabies in New Zealand. He missed the trip to New Zealand last year inrough an injury alter his selection, rnd is making an effort to gain a place in the Australian team to tour Britain later this year. It is possibie tie will be the Australian fullback against the All Blacks. Tne weather nas now turned in New Zealand's favour. After a long dry spell, the winter rains have started and the grounds are losing some ol' their concrete-like hardness. Tiie New South Wales Rugby Union team, which beat Queensland on Saturday, has been chosen to train for the match against the All Blacks at Sydney Cricket Ground on June 7, with the addition of Dr. Phil Hardcastle and John Fuller. The others are B. Piper, C. Eastes, A. Walker, M. Howell. A. Tonkin, J. Cremin, C. Burke, C Windon. R. Cornforth, A. Buchan. N. Shehadie, E. Tweedale. J. Turnbull, K. Kearney and D. Keller. The coach. Mr A. C. Wallace, is in charge of the team. The concensus of opinion in Rugby circles is that the tactics successfully employed against Queensland will be tried against, the All Blacks. Teams from New South Wales and Queensland will meet again at the North Sydney Oval on Wednesday in another match which will have an important bearing on the New Zealand visit. The Australian centres in New Zealand last year. Trevor Allen and Terry Macßride. will be included.