ALL BLACKS AT PRACTICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1032, 24 July 1930, Page 1

ALL BLACKS AT PRACTICE

STEWART NOT IN TRIAL SCRUM LIGHT FORWARDS FOR THE TEST AT Eden Park this morning: the All Blacks had their last serious work-out before the Test match on Saturday. Light work only will be done tomorrow. This morning, considerable attention was given to scrum work and it was significant that both Batty and McLean were used in the scrum, Stewart packing with the backs against the forwards.

Although no official statement has been made by the selectors, it is understood that some doubt exists as to Stewart’s fitness to take the field in the big game on Saturday. While playing in Christchurch on Saturday the big Canterbury forward injured his shoulder, and, although on his arrival it was not considered serious, there now appears to be some question to its soundness.

When the All Black 3 were putting down a scrum yesterday and this morning Stev./rt was not included. Although this may mean that Stewart is being rested, it seems extremely doubtful that time would bo wasted putting down a scrum which would be altered on the eve of the match. With the loss of L Finlayson, Stewart’s failure to take the field will be a severe loss to an already light side. As was the case yesterday, Hore and Cottrell were the hookers, with Steere locking the scrum. McLean and McWilliams went down at the sides and Batty and Hazlett were the back row men. In comparison with former New Zealand sides, the pack looked very light. Coached by C. G. Porter, the forwards practised hooking against a pack composed of Stewart and the backs, Strang, Nepia and Nicholls going down as the front row of a 3—2 —3 scum. In addition to heeling to the half, the back also tried holding the ball and screwing the scrum to break away. In the lineouts the forwards passed back to the half, and for defensive work, put the ball at their feet after gaining possession and dribbled through. Kicking across field to the forwards was also extensively worked. Under the direction of Mark Nicholls the backs engaged in sharp passing bouts up and down the paddock and across-fleld kicking. Nepia, Strang and Corner also practised place-kicking, Nepia concentrating almost solely upon this. Messrs. A. McDonald (Otago), A. J. Geddes (Southland) and W. Maxwell (Canterbury), members of the New Zealand Selection Committee, have arrived and will be joined by Mr. Nor-

man McKenzie (Hawke's Bay) either tonight or tomorrow morning. With Mr. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), who has been here since last Saturday, and Mr. G. Nicholson, the Auckland member, the selection committee will then be complete. It is considered that the formation of the backs on Saturday will be: Corner (half), Strang and Nicholls (five-eighths)', Hart, Cooke and Lucas (threequarters), and Nepia (fullback). The British team will return to Auckland this afternoon and will be quartered at Hotel Cargen. The test side will carry out its final training at King’s College tomorrow morning, after which the team will be the guests of the Auckland Golf Club at lunch.