INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1924, Page 4

INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS.

HARD GAMES AHEAD. (By .A. J. Harrop, .Special Itepresciilutive of “The 1 ’iok#''.) LONDON, October 0. After seeing the first right mntclici of the tour, and therefore seeing each one of the ’J!) All Blacks in action, [ have lieen endeavouring to sum up their clra'iices in the International matches ahead of them. The only other games likely to cause them serious trouble are the two London Clubs' matches, the United Services match, aild. perhaps the University fixtures. They will meet strenuous opposition in the north, particularly in Yorkshire, hut should account for all their opponents.

'file Ti’isli. Tiiternational will have been played before this is printed, so it is Useless to discuss the prospects of the All Blacks in this mulch. AVilh a. week’s rest beforehand the New Zealanders should be in lit condition to subdue the great Irish forward rushes. They will meet speedy wing-three-quarters and a side which was playing wonderfully well at the end of last season, but the All Backs should have eight or 10 points to spare. (They won by fi to 0.) WALKS PIMiPARIXO.

Wales has already started an intensive selection campaign in view of the match on November 20th.. and two teams have been selected in take part in a Wales v. The Best fixture on October 1l»th. In view of the Newport result, it is instructive, and a litlb disconcerting, to note that only two Newport men figure in the Welsh XV., while five are in the other team. In this trial match a rover is to he played in each side. The teams are as follows :

Wales - Ivor Jones (Neath); A. Stock (Newport). E. Finch (Llanelly), Graham Davies (Guy’s Hospital). Cyril Thomas (Bridgend); W. J. Delahay (Caidill). Kddio Williams (Neath); T. Johnson (Onrdilf); K. Morris (Cross Keys), I). Barker (Swansea). It. Dandill (Aheravon), .1. Gore (Dbtinn) % C. Pnjih (.Maosteg), A. C. Evans (I’ontvpool). (!. Hathaway (Newport).

The Best—Fred Baker (Newport); P. W. James (Aheravon). F.van Williams (Aheravon). K. Kitson (Newport); A. Bullock (Bancnavon); E. Dowdal! (Newport). I). John (Llanelly); f. Wetter (Newport); A. B. Rickards (Cardill'), J. Y. Waite (Newport). W. Friend (Newport). (!. White (Swansea). S. I.nwlenee (Bridgend), W. (Matthews (Blaenavoll), mill F. Stephens (Cardiff).

Bowe 1 raiding, the Welsh wing. who has not yet returned from South Africa is not included. The All Blacks will have a chance of testing his strength in the Cambridge match on November B2th. They will also see A. T. Young. Hie Foolish half, in at lion. though it is by no means icrtaiu that he will represent England ajiain tliis year. POSSIBLE NEW ZEALAND TEAM The Welsh side will naturally mak > great elforls to defeat the All Blacks, and their chances on paper are fairly jo >, .<l. P'ortimately l lie* match is -.1 Swansea, and not at Canlitf iimi the ground will have pleasant memories for the All Blacks. I think our International side on present form would he ;

Backs —Nepia ; Steel. Brown. Lucas or Svenson; Cooke. Nicholls; Barker or Porter; Dailey. Forwards Irvine, Donald or .Minim, Harvey. M. Browii’ie. Richardson, While. Cnpplcs. Rrown has not played brilliantly at centre, hot In 1 is sound in that position.

I.liens has always played well, and his ability to take tlie hall, even in the most awkward position, has at!ia: ted general fulmiration. Cocke ami Xh h ells are the obvious choice lor the liveeighths positions on | tl'seiit form. T am not able to <li-1 ingui -h l etwceo the merit ■ "f Boi ler' ami Barker, a-• till-;, play an entirely dill'eiout type of game, hut Barker has played well in all his matches, and "ill he very unfortunate if he dees not play in at least one International. (Barker „ played against Ireland). In the forwards it is very difficult to distinguish between several of the men. MeCleary lias played only one game, and he may quite possibly be included in the forwards. THE TEAM’S FORM. The team’s chief delect up to the present has been, as I have previously written, the inability to wen re the hall from the scrum. There are signs, however. that this is being remedied, and naturally it will vastly improve Hie All Blacks’ chances if a fair share of the hall is secured. The forwards so fur have played well individually, hut seem to have no recognised leader, and consequently their efforts tend to to .spasmodic. To the experimental stages of team-building perhaps this is inevitable. and when the best team is finally decided upon, an improvement in combination will probably he noth oil at Hie same time.

Tn the hacks there do not appear to he any very serious defects, except the growing tendency lo collar high an 1 run wide instead of straight. Dallev varies lii-s play well. Nicholls usually runs straight, and is solid in dolonco. Cooke carves out good openings, anu Brown gives his wings plenty of room when lie is playing centre. SUCCESS OF THE TOUR. Financially, the tour is already certain of triumphant success. The attendance at Leicester, for example, exceeded 20,(100 and the gate money was over £2IOO. The team is playing good, Bugh.v and stimulating interest, which will further increase the loom the gam' is experiencing in this country. Press criticism of the team has not been very .impartial, and the slightest infraction of the laws, fill'll as occurs in every game, is often seized upon as till text of a tirade. However, the All

Blacks, much as they naturally resent j nasty insinuations, preserve a discreet • silence in public, and the very effective method of ignoring fatuous criticism ' has silenced most of it. It must he stated, however, that .several of the I newspaper critics who have seen each

game have treated the team very well. Must of tlie sweeping generalisations of doubtful tactics are voiced by those who have seen only one o’r two matches. Nothing could he more- obvious to an unbiased mind than the fai t that the All Blacks are keen to play a clean game. The public recognise this fullv, hut sonic of the critics, if they have the quality of seeing with more than one eye, fail to give any evidence of the fact.