AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1931, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN TEAM

\. - . ■ :• TOUR. OF NEW. ZEALAND. . ;| ' SYDNEY,. July' 18.. As the season advances Rugby. Union enthusiasts in Australia; become • more ~ convinced than ever, that they .will - be able to dispatch to New Zealand a team that will -be able : to; try-’ out tne very, best of . the . All.. Blacks. ylt \is ij| practically- certain now- that it .will; be }j§ an Australian team in the full sense of the term, in that the three Rugby States—New : .South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria—will , be represented. Until two years ago .the Union game -..; ? was not 'of much' account outside New - it* South Wales and that is .why there has been no Australian tom- of New Zealand for eighteen years.:; The last Australian Rugby Union tour of New Zealand was in 1013, so more, than, ordinary interest will attach to the' team when it month’s time, .. AU along it has been doubtful whether Victoria would , have, any players wljo would reach the - high standard that . has been set by the Australian selectors. The selectors sent representatives to Victoria, amt as a result, three players are in tinrunning. These are Dave .Cowper. Gordon Sturtridge, and V. Bassity. Cowper is a. great athlete, a produt-j of Newington. College, Sydney, and i’equally at home on the wing' or in the 1 centre—a valuable qualification for r tourist. He was a sprint champion in liis school days, and lie has mot lost any of his dash. Sturtridge is captain of the Melbourne University Eleven. and he played against .New _• Zealand ' \ in the second Test at Brisbane las 4 year. He acquitted himself so wel;, .. that he worn the praise even of his opponents. Bassity is a back row forfonvard, and it was only an injury t-hat kept him out of ' the last Australian teams. . , Next Saturday the last of the InterState games, between New South "Wales and Queensland, will tgke place in .Sydney. After that the team - for the Domiuion will be selected. The selectors have two New South . Wale • * teams in training, and there has beer am all-round' improvement in form. each player having his eyes on the big prize ahead. The club games have -become very keen and great form has been shown by many of .the players. The selectors say that there will , be an embarrassment of richesy ' at an’ rate they are convinced that they wiL be able to send away( one' of this fipest teams that have ever crossed Tasman. . .■ 1 . Mr, T. Ci Davis, ' chairman of the. "Western Suburbs (Sydney) Club ha r been appointed manager. ,and he is oik of the most popular men eonnecte-' with Rugby to-day. He is, bound; t~ find favour in New Zealand,, for he he-' the reputation of being a great sports man and a> gentleman. ..■ .