RUGBY PROSPECTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 159, 23 July 1937, Page 14

RUGBY PROSPECTS

Our Own Correspondent.)

Officials Confident In All Blacks FORM SHOWN IN TRIALS

(From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Confidence in the ability of the 1937 All Blacks to emerge victorious in the three test matches against the Springboks was expressed last eveniiig by Mr. S. S. Dean, chairraan of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. T. Meredith, president of the New Zealand Bugby Union, and Mr. Frank Glasgow, a member of the New Zealand Kugby Union management committee and a 1905 All Black, who arrived in Auckland yesterday to welcome the Springboks this morning. Commenting on the recent All Black trials in Wellington, Mr. Dean considered that a great deal of fine talent had been revealed, whch was, in fact, well beyond expeetations, particularly in the inside back positions. Althougli the playing of so many matches in the short time had proved a mistake, the New Zealand Rugby Union would profit by this experience. A Great Exhibition. "The inter-island match was one of the finest exhibitions of first-class Bugby football that I have witnessed for many years," stated Mr. Meredith, "and the standard revealed in the trial matches provided a pleasant surprise." Mr. Meredith expressed the opinion that the fullback play was of a very high standard, both Taylor and Gilbert giving excellent displays, while Easton, of North Otago, was also a fine player with limited experience. In the threequarter line, Mitchell, of course, was outstanding. Without mentioning individuals, Mr. Meredith stated that the wing men were well np to former standards, and compared very well" with such stalwarts as Steel, the hero of the first' test against the Springboks in 1921 and a star of the great 1924 side. •Brilliant Pive-elghths. Diseussing the play of J. Hooper, the brilliant Canrterbury five-eighths, Mi. Meredith said that he rose to wonderful heights in the inter-island fixture, although he was not up to the same standard in . the final trial last Saturday, possibly because of the atrocious ground conditions. Mr. Meredith, however, considered that much of ' the brilliance of Hooper was attributable to the wonderful anticip'ation of Mitchell, at centre, who was possibly the only back in the Dominion who could have taken advantage of 'Hooper 's unorthodox play. Trevathan proved himself a fine allround and solid first five-eighths. Although the halfback problem was causing the seelctors most concern, Mr. Meredith stated that the standard was quife high. The New Serum Policy, Both Mr. Dean and Mr. Meredith, expressed their inability to discuss the new scrum policy of the New Zealand seleetors in the trials. This was. to replace the fast, loose type of forward in the back row with a solid and heavy packman, and to have the two sideflankmen in the middle row as the fast loose-raiding forwards instead, it being considered that tlris would give the pack more weight in the set scrums. Mr. Meredith, however, pointed out' that the New Zealand pack yould be fully tested in all departments of the game, no matter what policy was adopted. He stated that, in view of tha great strength of the Springbok pack, the All Black forwards would have to show their best form in every minute of play if- the visitors were to be held. He was, however, enthusiastic about the high standard of forward play revealed in the trials. "There has been far too much tinkering around with the rules in recent years," replied Mr. Meredith, when asked if he thought the international rules, under which the test matches against the Springboks would be played, would be to the All Blacks' advantage. "I am strongly of the opinion that any decline in the standard of New Zealand football in recent years has been largely as a result of needless alterations of the rules." Halfbacks Below Standard. Mr. Frank Glasgow, who will accompany the South Africans throughout their New Zealand tour on behalf of the New Zealand Bugby Union, also expressed his delight at the form shown in the trials particularly by the forwards, whom he considerc'd well up t'o the very best All Black class. Only in the selection' of the halfbacks did Mr. Glasgow reveal any concern. He was of the opinion that, while Sitnon, of Otago, had given a fine exhibition in tho final \match, the standard was not up to New Zealand 's best, However, the team should be very sound on defence, perhaps sounder than the 1935 team,xespecially in the back line, while it should also prove a fine attacking combination.