ALL BLACK TALENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 131, 19 June 1937, Page 17

ALL BLACK TALENT

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PLAYERS WHO HAVE HOPES PAVINa THE WAY TO THE TRIALS WHO WILL BECOME THE LUCKY FJFTEEN

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Tlifc closing of nominations of players for tbe Ali Black trials and for tbe inter-Jsland Rugby matcb bas qui?kened interest in tbe selection of tbe All Black team to mept the Springboks in tbe first test, whieh is to be played at Wellington on Angust 14. It would be .fairly s^fe to say tbafc tbe six New Zealand selectors — Messrs. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), G. Nicbolson (Auckland), M- F. Nicbolls (Wellington), J. T. BniTows (Canterbury), A. A. Adams (West Coast), W. Pearson (Otago) and H. Masters (Taranaki)— haye already formed in their own minds a nucleus of a team. Tbe wbole of^last seasqn, when tbe Australian team was in this country, bpfore then and afterwards, that selection committee, together with certain advisers approved by tlie New Zealand Union, kept constant watch on the talent offering. Before tbe trials begin next month every one of tlie players called tp Wellington will haye been seen by one or other pf the New Zealand selectors or tli.eir advisers. At the moment of writing that call has not been made, and difficult though the task is this artiele will endeavour to list the mo§t likely looking talent on the hqrizon pn Juue 15.

Npminations closed on June 15, but until Jvine 30 it wili be permissible to adjust the lists of nomineeg, either to suit the requirements' of the New Zealand selectors, based on their visits to various outlying centres, or to determine whether players overlQoked at present have re.covergd sufiiciefitly ffpm iniuries tp pgrmit tliem beihg piqyed in ihe trials. The writer has "npt thp corriplcte list pf npmm^" tipbs t° wprk pn' and has taken gqme for' granted. The FuU-backs H, R. Ppllpck (Wellington), Q. Gilhprt (West Epa§t>, J. * hL Turner (Qtago), i/l. Q'Gonnor (Sputh. Ganterhury), G, T. Nplan (Gauterhury), G. Hook (Wanganui and ex-Aitck-land),- This appears to be tfie iaient qffering tp tfie selectors fpr the fifilpack ppsitipn. Pollpck looks likely to come ihrpugh ihe trial ordeal best, and there is a belief that he will he tripd agamst the Spriaghpks in the first test. His iighiuessj Is his only handicapThrperqpafters For the wing positiops there are offgrjng J. Qick (Auckland), J- . M. Watt (WelUhgtop),' L. H. Edwards (Wellington), DY G. Barton (Wanganui),' H. Waugh (hfanawatu), E. Epsey (Hawke's Bay), .R. White (Hawke's Bay), A. McAnehy and E. Grant (Poverty Bay),- EriP Smith (Taranaki). D. G. Cobden (Canterbury), T. Morrison' (South Canter-; bury), W» A. Black (Otago), N. Mitchell and A. Sutheriand (Southiand), and W. J. Phillips (King Country). Mitchell, Dick, Watt, and Barton stand the best chances of getting into the final hallot at the selectorial tablp. The centre position will be competed for by some who are also seeking berths on the wipg. Mitchell* (for in-: stance) may be consi.dered as a potential centre or winger. Here are the compptitors sho\ying at the moment for the cpntre bertn: — N. A. Mitphell (Southiand), J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki), D. G. Barton (Wanganui), G. Gilbert (West Coast). Sullivan looks the likely choice. Fiye-elgliths It is upon the inside bapks that New Zealand will cqncentrate very largely in the big effort to win against the Springboks. At the moment the great search is for a reliable first fiveeighth. It will be interesting to sep whether the selection committee is to seek solidity there rather than brilliance and choose a player like J. L. Griffiths (Wellington) rathor than a lighter type such as Brian Thomas (Wanganui). If the Dominion can liven the five-eighths line against the evident weakness of the South Africans in that rqgion of the field, there will be every chance of New Zealand winning the tests. So, at the moment the cry of the day is "where is New Zealand's first five-eighth?" Here is the Jist of five-eighths, first and seconds, pu?Dlished to date (June f5): D. Solomon (Auckland), B. Thomas (Wanganui), L. Bradley and C. Robins (Hawke's Bay), C. M. I^e Quesne and possibly R. C. Veitch (Wellington), C, Crossman (King Country), J. A. Hooper (Canterbury), W, G. Brooks (Canterbury), D. Trevathan and T. Trevathan (Otago). It may be a safe bet to watch ,Le Quesne for the berth of second fiveeighths, with Crossman, Thomas and Bradley fighting out the contest for the link"nearest the half. And, in all probability, the selector of half will have a great bearlng on who is to become first five-eighth. For instance, if Sadler is chosen it is possible that choice of a Wellington player like Veitch would be the more readily considered. The same applies in regard to Clothier, If he gets the pivot's joh what better move could the New Zealand selectors make than preserve the 'Bay inside combination and play Bradley? At the moment the first five-eighth position is the most ppen of them all. It may fall to a player little heard of up to now. HalX-backs The talent offering for the position behind the scrum is as follows: B. S. Sadler (Wellington), L. Clothier (Hawke's Bay), L. Russell (Waikato), J. J. McAuliffe (Canterbury). -L Purdie (Southiand), H. Sinion (Otago), and C. Sa::ton (South Canterbury). Tho three who look likely at ihe n

■mqrrient are Sadler, Glpthier and Russell. Solidity rather than elusivpness rnay be the keynote of the selectors' cfibice. If that is the case the diminutjve Sadler will gp hy fhp bpard, but if the search is for g likely, tricky mov.ement at tho base of tfie scrum, t'hen the mantlp wili f$U tp the Wellington M- Sjmpn anfi Saxton have claim?. Haiveg vyho have done Wgli in Ranfurly Sfilpld a lot tp ppmmend th.em. Tfie FPF>vard§ Anybody setting out to pick a team qf fprwprds tp represent .Zpaland stqrts with a knowledge that thpre are tw° packs papahle of selection which would outdo each other in a repl test. It is hard to pick fprwards except by cdmparing heights, weights and their aptitude to fill'cortairx ppsitiops fn. the scrum. The layman forgefs that there is as much specialisation in the various §crum positions as there is in regard to the b.acks. The pppr4}ipn selection cqmmitfce may start with certain definite ideas as reggrds the hooker (centre man in frcint row) and the loose man at the back and then build something to suit those | extreme and exactly pppositp positions- Here are tfie hppkers in the pffing at the moment : W- E. Hadley (Auckland), A? Lamfieurn (Wellington), G, Qrmgn (Bifiler), H. Cr^w? ford (Manawatu), D. Dalton (Hawke's i3ay),.Q. T, Adklns (South Canterr bury), T. G. Fpwier (Taranalci). If Hadley is in form he will get the job. In a Nevv Zealand pack he has heen a pe^r of hookers in repent years. If Hgdley's form in the trjais is below his best Lambourn, Dalton and Orman will be fighting fpr the berth. In the front row, as - supports for the centre mgn, the talont available seems to bp: E. S. Jackson (Hawke's Bay), C. Pepper (Auckland), W, Thompson (Wanganui), F. C. Leahy (Wellington), J, Finlay (Manawatu), C. E. Quaid (Qtago), J. Leeson (Waikato), L- George (Southiand), O. Hattresly (Canterbury). Jackson and Hattersly look likely performers of that lot, bpt the selectors may take some Pf the nominated hookers and use them with Hadley, say, or Orman For instance, in last year's New Zealand team against Australia, Jackson and Dalton of the 'Bay supported Hadley. In the lock positions two men stand but — S. T. Reid (Hawke's Bay) and R. R. King (West Coast). In addition the trial talent will probably include Niven (Otago), A. Hull (Auckland), A. Dayidson (Wanganui), A. Bowman (Hawke's Bay), T. Thompson (Waikato), H. Milliken (Cpnterbury), J. J. Best (Waikato), R. Ward (Southiand), King and Reid look the likely tips. Fop sides of the scrum appear J. Wells (Wellington), C, Q'Dowda (Taranaki), G. Graham (Southiand), N. James (Wanganui), T. w. Loqkington (Auckland), and A. F. McLean (Auckland) — if the last two. are nominated later after getting of£ the injured list. Wells looks a certainty on present form. Who the other man will be is a very moot point. The three outstanding back row forwards in the Dominion to-day are J. G. Rankin (Canterbury), A- H. Andrews (Wellington) and J, McClenaghan (Taranaki). It looks like a bqttle between Andrews and Rankin. The Team So this ls ho\v the team looks at present: Full-back: H. R. Pollock (Wellington). Three-quarters: N, Mitchell (Southiand), J. Sullivan (Taranaki), D. G. Barton (Wanganui). Five-eighths: C, Le Quesne (Wellington) 2nd, Half-back : B. S. Sadler (Wellington). Loose man: J. G. Ranlun (Canterbury). . Sides of scrum: J. Wells (Wellington), R. H. Ward (Southiand). Locks: S. T. Reid (Hawke's Bay), R. R. King (West Coast). Front Row: D. Dalton (Hawke's Bay), W. E. Hadley (Auckland), E. S. Jackson (Hawke's Bay). Since the above was written comes word that the sole selector in Wellington, Mr. M. F. Nicholls, has no.t nominated either J. L. Griffiths or C. M, L.e Quesne. It may be that they will be called on later as the selector has a right to make further ominations until 30.