ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

TO-DAY’S GAME. The All Blacks will play tlie town clubs of the province to-day, and a much harder game than Wednesday’s is anticipated. No touring team has defeated this side since 1896, and AVest-ei-11 Province holds tbe championship of South, African Rugby. It has nine or ten players who have good prospects of being in the South African test side.

Among the town players will he B. Osier, who has been mentioned, along with Atostert, as a likely leader of the Springboks. He plays as fly-half, and is regarded as one of the most brilliant hacks in South Africa. Tindall will most likely he tbe Town’s full-back, and it will surprise many South African is he is not selected as the test full-back. Claimants to positions in the Town three-quarter line, are Starke, van Niekerk, S. Osier, Rousseau, Prinsloo and Slater, the best _ of whom will no doubt he in the running for test honours. P. de Yillicrs and Devine are half-backs with credentials, and among the stand-off halves are B. Osier, Francis and Sieff. It is probable that the strength of the Town team wili he in the hack division. Alostert, who was with the Springboks in New Zealand seven years ago, and AY n AYiik arc outstanding forwards, and they are bound to bo well supported, as during the past five weeks football has been in-full swing, and with early representative matches, the players have no doubt been striving particularly hard to win favour with those responsible for selecting the teams to meet the New Zealanders. A good line as to prospects for the tour should he gained from to-day’s match. The result will lie available to-morrow at 8.30 a.m.

TO-DAY’S TEAM. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph .—Copy right.) CAPETOWN, June 1. The New Zealand team for to-mor-row is:—Lilburno (Canterbury), Grenside (Hawke’s Bay), Carleton (Canterbury), Robilliard (Canterbury), Nichoils (AVellington).- Johnston (Wellington). Dailey (Canterbury), Scrimshaw (Canterbury), Hadley (Auckland), Swain (Hawke’s Bay). AT. Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay, Captain), Aliev (Canterbury), Finlayson (N. Auckland), Stewart (South Canterbury), AVard (Taranaki). Harvey injured his knee. The All Blacks will to-day play the combined clubs of Capetown which place is recognised as a Rugby stronghold, and as there is every possibility of players belonging to the famous Rugby school, Stellenbaseli University, being included in the combined team against the New Zealanders to-day, the All Blacks should have a good sample of the standard of* South African Fugby.

The average weight of the team is 13st 21b. ,while the average- weight of the (backs is list 12lbs, and that of the forwards 14th 21bs.