WING-FORWARD IN SCRUM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 1

WING-FORWARD IN SCRUM

ONLY ONE CHANGE MADE IN TEAM PLACE IN PACK FOR McWILLIAMS SCRIMSHAW DROPPED, STEWART REPLACING HIM «• ANLY one alteration has been made in the New Zealand U test team to -meet South Africa. The Aucklander, McWilliams, goes into the scrum, taking the place of Stewart, who replaces Scrimshaw at wing-forward. In scrummaging, Stewart will pack down with the front-rankers as the “loose head.’’ (Special to Press Association.)

Reed. 3.5 a.m. JOHANNESBURG, Friday. For the second test match between New Zealand and South Africa tomorrow, the teams will line out thus: NEW ZEALAND SOUTH AFRICA Lindsay Tindall Robilliard Tod Carleton fan der Westhuizen Grenside Dobie Strang Brand Johnson B. Osier Dailey Devine r-Stgiiig Stewart Mostert Swain Kruger --335. Hadley Van Druten -T: M Brownlie Daniel Alley Van Wyk - v Pinlayson Pretorious McWilliams Nel Hazlett Potgieter ia the New Zealand team, Stewart will play wing-forward, McWilliams going Into the pack. This is the only alteration in the first test side. In scrummaging, Stewart will go down in the front row as the "loose head.'* It is hard to understand the attitude of the Selection Committee, for it takes one of tne best forwards from the pack and plays him as rover. In the few matches Stewart has played in this position, he has caused the breakdown of many movements, frequently getting in the way of the five-eighths. In the match against Northern Provinces, his handling was palpably weak. Playing him as rover will probably tend to weaken the New Zealand test team. ALL BLACKS CONFIDENT The game, however, promises to be another glorious struggle. New Zealand is going all out for a win, and the team is confident. The picked 15 have undergone weeks of hard training. Every member is now said to be fit; but Grenside appears to be limping slightly. His knee is not properly healed. Yet he says that he is quite lit. TWO AFRICANS OUT The Springboks have been unfortunate in that Stanley Osier, the centre, and Slater, wing-threequarter, have both torn thigh-muscles while training, and will not play. Their places will be taken by Dobie and Brand. Discussing the prospects of to-mor-row’s matches, the Johannesburg “Star” says that South Africa's two distinct advantages over the All Blacks are its effective scrummagers and superior touch-kicking throughout the team. Despite the improvements the tourists may be able to show, these advantages should enable the Springboks to confirm the Durban result, though perhaps the margin may

, Slna ** e r than the 17 —0 score on th ‘ occ asion. Both advantages are r f, su h of South Africa's allegiance orthodox Rugby. s P*®. Surger," an Afrikaans paper, ■ , th e opinion of almost every that fw enth V siast ln the country is torini 8 Sp . rin Sboks will again be viclan, mainly because the New Zea- .. . forward pack cannot stand , tae cream of the South Afri“h forwards. ® oi ' d scrummaging,” says the per ’ “seems to be a lost art nitn aur ' ce Brownlie and his ’-hat to* l he Black forwards learu tight - Shove .and shove in the hard, scrums is the first considera-

tion, and spectacular, open play a secondary matter, they will not be successful in any of the remaining three tests.”

A crowd of about 35,000 is expected at Ellis Park to-morrow. Special trains are arriving from all over the country.

To-day the All Blacks went flying. Ali who went up were delighted with the experience. Harvey is ill again, and was taken to a nursing home last night. His complaint has not yet been diagnosed, but he showed improvement to-day, McGregor is undergoing special treatment for his injured knee, and is not likely to play for at least three weeks.

“EXPECT BETTER SHOWING’

HEALTH OF ALL BLACKS JPress Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. The New Zealand Rugby Union cabled the manager of the All Blacks the best of good luck for the second test, and asked him to cable a report of the health, of the team. The following reply was received from Mr. W. F. Hornig:— “Thanks for the good wishes. All the test team are fit, and we expect a better showing to-morrow. Harvey is in hospital here (Johannesburg) for observation. Kilby leaves hospital tomorrow on crutches. McGregor’s knee is improving. Burrows’s ribs are almost right. All the others are well except for a few- slight colds.”