ALL BLACKS READY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 176, 12 August 1937, Page 9

ALL BLACKS READY

Press Association.)

Team Is Keen and Fit.

(By felegraph—

OTAKI, Last Night. Tho advance in Springbok favours for next Saturday 's Test as a result of the South African team's more convincing performance against Wellington has not caused any uneasiness in the New Zealand ' ' camp ' ' -at Otaki. Rather is there an optimistie note about the place, and there is certainly nothing wanting in thp matter of keenness. In the attitnde of the New Zealand^ trainees towards Saturday 'a Test there is no suggestion of "diekiness"; in fact, there is quite a strong feeling of confidcnce. Reports about the condition of certain of the players appear to have been exaggerated. Sullivan-'s leg is'all right. As a matter of l'aet, a suggestion ,that he had met with an injury in Taranaki 's match with Canterbury last Saturday appea^ to have come- about through Suljpan having sat dowu at one stage mL the match and pulled up one of his*ocks. "Hooper's ankle is reported to be "as good as gold." All the others also are reported fit. The best news in "camp" this morning was that Rankin had leffc Christchurch on his way to Otaki to join the party in training. It now seems improbable that the New Zealand selectors will go outside those already in camp for their Test fifteen. There was the possibility of another player being chosen this week, but apparently nothing has been done in this direction, except for choosing Phillips in Morrison 's place. There is to be no match with a local team at Otaki, as was the case with C. Gr. Porter's team in 1930. The. New Zealand representatives are carrying on with practices, and some players in t'he district may be used to assist, though there will be nothing in the way of serious match play. Every care is being taken to have the Test players fit.. No crocks are wanted for Saturday 'S! big event. The football practices are being held each afternoon, commencing at 2 p.m. or a little later. The players have the mornings more or less free for golf, walking, and other exercise or pastimes, and they are finding tho beach, very pleasant in the fine weather. Pietures are the popular ' entertainment in the evening, and the players are not up late, 10.30 p.m. beingf about the retiring timo. The Test Side. The selection of the Tesfc fifteen is being awaited with keen interest. Tkree of the selectors — Messrs J. T. Burrows (the team's manager), E. McKenzie and A. A. Adams — were at Otaki to-day, and Mr. W. J. Wallace also arrived to assist with. the coaehing, Tho Test team is to be released 1 by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and there is a likelihood of this being done by to-morrow. It is of partieular interest to note that Simon and Trevathan have been pructising extensively logether. Tho choice of the fix-st five-eiglith may depeud upon tho weather likely for the xuatch, and at the nxoment it looks like Trevathan being the first fxve-elghth it the weather is fine, with a probability of Crossman being brought in if the weather is wet.