Border Side Strong

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 9

Border Side Strong

ALL BLACKS’ OPPONENTS How Johnson “ Got the Bird ” A MIRACLE OF MARKSMANSHIP (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. EAST LONDON, Friday. THE Border side to play the All Blacks to-morrow is re garded as fairly strong, and it is expected to give the New Zealanders a close run.

The All Black team is as follows: Lindsay Lucas, Carleton, Grenside Nicholls, Lilburne Strang Scrimshaw Hazlett, McWilliams M. Brownlie, Alley, Finlayson Hore, Burrows Harvey has joined up with the team, and says he is feeling fit again. Today, he turned out to train, having a quiet work-out. It was his first run since before the first Test. Johnson is the great man in the team at the moment, not because of prowess on the football field, but because of his marksmanship. At Burghersdorp he shot a wild ostrich at a shoot arranged for a small party of All Blacks. The bird was said to be travelling 70 miles an hour when it was shot at I,oooyds. At least that was the story. The party cannot vouch for the speed, but all are definite about the distance, because they paced it. Swain hit an ostrich in the leg, but the bird got away. After spending most of the time chasing ostriches, the party finished off the day on another farm, where they shot a springbok. It was a great day, spent 40 miles from Burghersdorp on the open veldt, and the - members of the party regarded it as easily the best experience they have had in South Africa. GAME MAY BE HARD ALL BLACKS FIELD GOOD SIDE HARVEY RECOVERING Although the cables definitely stated that Harvey would not be available

for the remainder of the tour, it would now appear that his case could not have been as bad as was first thought. To have rejoined the team and have had a run now indicates that he has effected a recovery, but some time must necessarily elapse before the big lock fully recovers his strength and gets into sound physical condition. Apart from the cableman’s assurance that the Border is expected to run the All Blacks close, no indication of the strength of the side has been received. However, the game is to be played at East London, a coastal town, and there is no doubt but that a fairly strong side will be assembled from the surrounding districts. Judging by the team selected the New Zealanders have apparently anticipated fairly strong opposition. Although not the best side it contains ten test men. Lindsay will play at fullback, and the only difference in the threequarter line is that Lucas is playing on the wing instead of Robilliard. With Carleton at centre and Grenside on the other wing, this should make for a solid scoring line, with more variety of attack. Strang, who successfully relieved Dailey on Wednesday, will again follow the pack, with Lilburne as his first five-eighth. This is a new combination, but there is no reason why it should not work well. The team is strong forward, and should be able to add to its winning list.