WHO WILL BE CHOSEN?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 13

WHO WILL BE CHOSEN?

(BY- 4

Galaxy of Rugby Talent Parades at Wellington i A POSSIBLE FIFTEEN

•MAGPIE")

Last Saturday Athletic Park, Wellington, was the stage that provided one of the most interesting afternoons of Rugby that it could be possible to see. For weeks follower? of the game have been reading of the doings of prominent players and their performances in every province in the Dominion and then saw them all in action on the one ground in three hours of wonderfully interesting Rugby. This is the first occasion that anything of the sort has been attempted in this country.

After watching the efforts of the players — and there were 60 on parade — it was apparent that some of the principnls had been unduly flattered. However, the Selection Committee is but human and as liable to make mistakes as nnybody. After witnessing all that there was to see, and it was very enjoyuble, " Magpie" left Athletic Park much inore satisfied with our backs than previously, but consideraoly perturLed in mind over the forwards. This may sound surprising, but despite what others may think, the fact remains that the play of the forwards was disappointing to me. Almost without exccption the forwards favoured high tackling instead of the traditional Rugby low tackle. The Springboks ure big fellows, and one shudders to think of the consequences to our forwards if they go reachiug for the ears ut' tho Spring boks instead of their knees. It is well known that a man put down on the ground is for the moment out of the game. If he is grabbed about the shoulders the prospect ia for the commeucement of a tight ruck and in ihis phase the Springbok simnly revel. The forwards on Saturday did not give their backs much assistance when it was noeded most, preferring to watch instead. Backing up was once a feature of New Zealand football. There was one particular exoeption tliough, and that was Rankin, the Oanterbury loose forward. He played on the side of the scrum, a somewhat unusual position for him and on that side of the field he gave his backs mueh-needed assistance at times. He is somewhat light as forwards gu and this fact may be regarded to his detrmient, but he is a splendid tackler and for that reason well worth a place in the chosen fifteen. *-In all four teams a big man was chosen for the back row position, so it van be taken lor granted that thA selectors are going to select one such for the Tests. This makes it pOsitively essential that botli flank forwards (second row) should be men who can move away from the scrums fast and get among the opposing rearguard. In the Press Association message of the inter-Island match it was mentioned that Lambourne hooked for the North1 and tOok the hoifours over Or* man, but this is incorrect. Dalton hooked for the North and the Buller man took the honours in raking, but the margin, was small. It was in heel* mg from tho rucks that the Soutb excelled. Hadley, in the early game, did not hook with his usual brillianee and he looked far from well. Possibly we have seen the best from him, but he ia only 27 years of age. One of the young players who performed very well was J. Findlay, of Jlanawatu. Whenever he came into a movement there was always headway made. Now a front or back-row forward, he haa previohisly represented Manawatu as a first five-eighth. v In the early game on Saturday the play of Dick, the Auckland wing threequarter, impressed me, Certainly he got scant opportunity, but he impressed as a quick-thinking player, and before this week is gone he may have shown his undoubted ability. Green, the Otago forward, is another who will come into prominence. All the Otago forwards who appeared impressed as sound scrummagers. • Although it is perhaps futile to mention it now, the changing of Sullivan,

of Taranaki, from centre to wing, and the substitution of Barton made tha difi'erence between winning and losing. With his great paco Sullivan would have curbed the activities of Mitchell' more than Barton did. To endeavour to select the flf teen that will wear the black jersey in tlie first Test appears a task of some magnitude, but whoever are chosen it appears certain that the South Island will bulk largely in it. For iflstance, the full-back position appears to be between Taylor (Otago) and Gilbert (West Coast). Taylor has filled out son%iderably and appears the better anticipator of the two, and he kicks powcri'ulJy. Dick . (Auckland), Morrison (South Canterbury) and Sullivan (Taranaki) are the main contenders for the right wing three-quarter position, but if he is recovered Sullivan may be given a trial against Mitchell at centre on. Saturday and on what has been Bccn, and anticipating that Watt may •iot be fit, there is a weakness on the lofl wing, and the placing of Sullivan at centre and Mitchell on the wing may appeal to the selectors. The fLviieighths line will be filled by South Islanders and the extra nippiness of Russell at half may turn the scales in hia tavour. The forwards present a problom, and there iB bound to be a aurprise? or two. A forward who must not be forgotten is H. F. McLean, of Auckland. Out of tlie game at present due to a broken Hnger, he has kept iu training, and in Wellington one of the New Zealand Selection Committee informed me that Ke had been playing as well as ever prioi tq the injury. He is bound to be considered. Here then. is the fifteen that may step out in ithe first Test at Wellington on August 14: —

'Full-back: Taylor (Qtago). Three-quarters: Right — Dick (Auckland), Mitchell (Southland), Watt (Wellington). Five-eighths: • Hooper (Canterbury), Trevanhan (Otago). Half -back; Russell (Waikato). Back row: 1'arkhill (Otago). Second row: A'cLean (Auckland), Reid (Hawke's Bay), King (West Coast), Rankin (Canterbury). Front row: Finlay (Manawatu), Orinan (Buller), Dalton (Hawke's Bay). However Wellington critics may attempt to disguise it, there is no doubting that Orman is the best hooker in the Dominion to-day, but he is light in weight still. Pessession is necessary from the scrums according to the selection committee, so Orman must be chosen. Finlay is a grand forward and has only to play good games this week to consolidate his claims. The forward line set out above is not heavy m the strict sense, but in any case we cannot match the Springboks in that iespect, so we needs must rely on skill.