FINAL TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1938, Page 5

FINAL TEST

ALL BLACK TEAM FOR TODAY MITCHELL NOT PLAYING. AUSTRALIAN HOPES OF VICTORY. By Telegraph —Press Association. Copyright. SYDNEY, August 12. The All Blacks’ team for the final Test here tomorrow has been finally selected as follows:— Full-back, J. M. Taylor; three-quar-ters, J. Dick, J. L. Sullivan, T. C. Morrison; five-eighths, J. L. Griffiths, T. Berghan; half-back, C. K. Saxton; front row forwards, L. George, A. Lambourn, E. S. Jackson; middle row, R. M. McKenzie, R. R. King, H. H. Milliken, A. W. Bowman; back row, A. A. Parkhill. The Australian team will be:—Fullback, Hayes; three-quarters, O’Brien, Carpenter, Ide, Kelaher; five-eighth, Collins; half, Ramalli; front row forwards, Wilson, Stone, Lang; middle row, McDonald, F. Hutchinson, Ramsay, Oxlade; back row, Hodgson. Kelly is unable to play because of an; injury. Close followers of Australian Rugby are hopeful rather than confident of checking the All Blacks’ triumphant march in the final Test tomorrow. The optimism is mainly due to Australia’s great effort in the second spell at Brisbane when the backs, for the first time, showed glimpses of concert-, ed aggression against the tourists.

The home back division will be stronger because of Kelaher’s reappearance. Rankin has now been omitted from the team. Nevertheless, the chance of an Australian victory depends on whether the team can get the major share of possession of the ball from the set scrummages. The home pack is sure to show even better form than at Brisbane, where Lang and Wilson were experimental front-row men. They filled the position admirably. The pack is bound to be the most solid the tourists have yet met. The coach of the All Black team, Mr A. McDonald, is fully aware of the Australian plans and capabilities and will complete the formation of the All Blacks to meet the situation.

One sphere in which neither side has the advantage and in which the standard is exceptionally weak is the line-out play. Once the source of many New Zealand scoring moves, line-outs are now generally abortive. With an even share of the scrums and rucks Australia is likely to risk everything on three-quarter moves, attempting to get the ball out to the speedy flank men. To date New Zealand has been easily able to counteract this-policy, mainly because of the slowness of the home halves. At fiveeighths and centre New Zealand will be definitely superior both in speed and skill. Saxton, Berghan, Sullivan and Mitchell have been the brains rust in innumerable downfield.thrusts, and the All Blacks’ inside back generalship will probably be the telling factor in-a match which is expected to produce spectacular bursts. fine Weather DOUBT ABOUT McKENZIE PLAYING (Recd This Day, 10.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The weather is fine and ground firm for the final Rugby Union Test match. If McKenzie, who has an ankle injury, cannot play, either Griffiths or King, both former All Black captains, will lead the side.