THE THIRD TEST

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1937, Page 5

THE THIRD TEST

RUSH TO AUCKLAND Thousand Beds Offered fPer Press Association], AUCKLAND, September 21. As the result of a lead given by the Mayor, Sir E. Davis, offers to take paying guests in suburban homes, are pouring into the Special Bureau Office of the Tourist Department. and upwards of 1,000 beds are now available for Rugby Test visitors. Already two hundred beds have been allotted.

Requests for accommodation are pouring in from all parts of New Zealand. PROBABLE TEAMS. AUCKLAND, September 21. Probable selections for the Test are now mooted. It is stated Du Toit is likely to go into the Springbok fifteen. Reports indicate the following as the likely New Zealand team: —Taylor; Sullivan, Mitchell, Caughey; Hooper, Trevathan; Simon: Dalton, Lambourne, Jackson; McKenzie, King, Reid, Ward; Parkhill. THE REFEREE. WELLINGTON, September 21. Mr. J. S. King, of Wellington, has been selected by the Manager of the South African team as referee for the Third Test at Auckland. ALL BLACKS’ PREPARATION. [Per Press Association]. AUCKLAND, September 21. The All Backs to-day rose early, had deep breathing exercises, a walk along the beach, and a hearty breakfast. Pearce and Mitchell, more daring than their companions, had an early morning swim near Takapuna camp. The men played golf all the morning, and trained this afternoon. Five Auckland forwards are packing down against the All Black pack. The manager. Mr Burrows, is confident the All Blacks will get more of the ball than in the second Test.

Wallace, in charge of the backs, has every conlidence in the New Zealand three-quarter line. Yesterday the All "Blacks were taken across the harbour to their quarters at Takapuna, where they are accommodated this week. All the players are in the best physical condition. None is suffering from colds or minor abrasions. It was revealed that every member of the party has had strenuous match practice since the second Test, most of them having taken part in representative games last Saturday. This is considered by the manager, Mr Burrows. to be a satisfactory feature.

3000 WATCH ALL BLACK TRAIN. AUCKLAND, September 21. Indications of the likely personnel of the All Black fifteen which is to meet Springboks in the third and final test at Eden Park on Saturday were given this afternoon at the first full combined training operations of the 21 players at present assembled at Takapuna. After all of the players had done about an hour light training work on the Takapuna Football Club’s ground, the following fifteen practised solidly as a combined unit for the final 20 minutes: —Full-back, J. M,. Taylor; three-quarters, J. L. Sullivan, N. A. Mitchell, T. C. H. Caughey; five-eighths. D. Trevathan, J. Hooper; half-back, H. Simon; forwards: front row, E. S. Jackson, A. Lambourne, D. Dalton; middle row, R. M. McKenzie, S. T. Reid, R. R. King, R. H. Ward; back row, A. A. Parkhill. It now appears certain this team will represent New Zealand on Saturday, following the precedent established at the training camps for the first and second tests, when the actual team to take the field practised together throughout the final week.

Great interest was shown in the practice, approximately 3,000 spectators crowding the sidelines to watch the players in action.

SPRINGBOKS REACH AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, September 21. The members of the Springbok team, who arrived from Rotorua this afternoon, were obviously delighted to reach Auckland. The players looked a little weary, which was not surprising after the amount of travelling that they had done during the past, few days. The Springboks will train at Eden Park to-morrow afternoon, after which an announcement will be made of the team to play the All Blacks in the third test match.

Ten Thousand Rail Travellers TO SEE THE MATCH. NEW RECORD EXPECTED. WELLINGTON, September 21. Although he is not yet able to in l dicate the amount of the revenue which the tour of the South African Rugby team has brought to his Department, the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, expects records to be broken. He said that the arrangement for the third Test at Auckland has eclipsed anything that has been done before. It was expected that the bookings would create a record for any sporting event in New Zealand. The Department had arranged for fourteen long distance special express trains to travel to Auckland from various parts of the North Island. These would include five trains with an aggregate of fiftyseven carriages, which will run from Wellington, and which already are almost fully booked. It was estimated, he said, that ten thousand people will travel to Auckland by train to witness the match.

SPRINGBOKS MANAGER. AUCKLAND, September 21. Mr. Percy W. Day, Manager of the Springboks team, left for Sydney by the Aorangi to-night, c-n route to South Africa. Mr. Day was compelled. for business reasons, to return home before the conclusion of the tour. The members of the team, in 1 charge of Mr. A. De Villiers, Assist-ant-Manager, carried Mr. Day shoulder high from the lounge of the

hotel to his car. There the entire party stood and sang the Hawaiian melody “Aloha—oe”. There was a large and representative assembly on the Aorangi. Owing to a postponement for an hour of the departure of the Aorangi, the All Blacks were unable to be at the boat to join in the farewell.

CANTERBURY MAORI Tel AM

The following Canterbury Maori Rugby football team has been chosen to play against West Coast Maoris at Arahura, on Saturday:— Full-back: H. Hadfield (North Canterbury) ; three-quarters, J. Tainui ''Peninsula), M. Hutana (North Canterbury), and R. Palmer (Ellsmere); five-eighths, M. Reuben (North Canterbury), and W. Tini (Peninsula); half-back, R. Fiki; forwards, T. M. Donald (Hurunui), R. Ellison (Ellsmere). B. Webb (Peninsula), S. Reuben, (North Canterbury), Wesley (Christchurch), R. Bunker (Peninsula), S. Manihera (North Canterbury), and P. Pitama (North Canterbury). Emergencies: Backs: J. Robinson (Peninsula) and J, Watson (North Canterbury); forwards, W. . Run (Peninsula) and C. Rule (Peninsula).