DEVINE DROPPED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 15

DEVINE DROPPED

AFRICAN BACKS SAFE, BUT NOT BRILLIANT TEAM STRONG FORWARD The astonishment expressed by the South Africans at the exclusion of N icholls from the All Blacks selected to train for the test will probably be only equalled by the astonishment of New Zealanders at the dropping of “Dauncey” Devine, the Transvaal scrum-half, who was described in the cabled reports as a “master on attack and defence, and easily the best player the All Blacks have met on the tour.” The only possible explanation of his omission is a tendency to deliver hard passes. It is probably for this reason, and also the fact that De Villiers is accustomed to playing with Benny Osier, that he has been dropped. The Osiers—Benny, the fair-haired fly half, and his brother Stanley—were certainties. Earlier in the season it was considered by some of the South African critics that Benny Osier was on the decline. Others considered he was merely nursing himself. The latter would appear to be correct. A good deal of uncertainty has been expressed in regard to Tindall’s prospects for selection as fullback. Tindall, who was a fly-half in the team that toured New Zealand, also gave disappointing exhibitions at the start of this season, but apparently he has shown improved form in the trials. On the wing, Prinsloo is stated to possess a baffling feint and side-step, although not as speedy as the best type of international wing. Brand and Slater are both versatile players, the latter, who has played both as centre and wing three-quarter, playing particularly well in the trials. Brand can be played either as full-back or centre. Headed by the veteran Kruger, and Mostert and Van Druten, the forwards are a formidable lot, averaging 13.13. Altogether, this will be lighter than the All Black pack, but it is made up by men who can use their weight to good advantage in the tight work, in which the Africans excel. Nel, who hails from Natal, is also considered a very promising forward of magi ificent physique. Van Wyk was one of the first scrummagers into the Western Province team in 1925 and 1927. In the selection of the team it is evident that the South African selectors are relying on the forwards. In the backs the “safety first” principle has evidently been applied.