FIRST TEST MATCH TO-MORROW.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20271, 13 August 1937, Page 11

FIRST TEST MATCH TO-MORROW.

ALL BLACKS SELECTED.

EXCELLENT GAME EXPEOTED. HONOURS VERY EVEN. Honours in the Rugby Tests between New Zealand and the Sprinboks over i the two tours, the Springboks in New Zealand In 1921 and the All Blacks in ] South Afcrica In 1928, are even so more j than usual significance will be attached ! to the meeting of these two great teams , In Wellington to-morrow. Athletic i Park will be packed with the greatest crowd in the history of the game as ; interest in any tour has never been as great as the interest that has been I taken in this tour. Prior to the last week it was con- , sidered by most critics that the All Blacks would not have much difficulty in winning but after the Springboks’ latest displays most have changed their j opinion. At present the issue is very i open with the odds in favour of Springboks if the day is fine and with the | All Blacks having a slight advantage on a heavy ground. The Springboks team has not yet been selected and the state of the ground will determine several of the places. The fullback, if he is fit, will be Brand and on a dry ground his boot will be a source of trouble to New Zealand. Turner and Williams, two of the finest wingers ever seen in New Zealand will be on the wings for sure. The inside backs will present a difficulty and at the time of writing it appears as if Babrow and White will be selected. These two are magnificent defenders, with Babrow also a star attacker but with the penetrative ability of the wingers sound defenders and good connecting links are the essentials of the inside backs. The halves are hard to pick but on a fine day de Villiers and Craven may go in or de Villlers and Harris. It would be hard to leave Craven out on his form in New Zealand and on a wet day he would be a surety. Very Good Forwards. The other fly half, van der Vyver is better than Harris on defence and on a very heavy ground will be preferred. However, whatever team is chosen the All Blacks will he extended throughout. The team will have speed and nippiness and a very solid defence that will be hard to penetrate. This is evidenced by the fact that only two tries have been scored against them. The forwards arc going to give the New Zealanders a shock if all are fit. The team lias been unfortunate with Injuries to the forwards but all are now progressing and a fast heavy pack capable of holding the All Blacks should be fielded. The front row will probably comprise Fanie Louw, Lotz, Martin or Jennings and this will he the best they have yet fielded. The middle row wiil probably contain Bastard, Berg, van der Berg and Strachan if Nel follows the precedent set by Porter in 1924 and does not play himself. This he may do if thm others are showing better form. There are two fine forwards in the running for the back man. van Reenan and Watt. Both are good loose forwards, fast with fine handling

ability. Van Reenan is the tallest player in the team and is also a good tackier so he may be preferred. Injuries Weaken Team. The All Black team has been announced and although it is early to express a definite opinion the team does not look as formidable as the All Blacks of other days. Injuries have, of course, weakened it to some extent but with many trial matches played the selectors should have picked the best team available. The only fault that can be found with the team by critics of the north is the failure of Crossman to get a place. Last season Hooper’s defence was not all that it could be while Solomon often broke past him in the trials but he may have improved and on a dry day may be the star of the match. The forwards *are a solid and fast lot only slightly weakened by the withdrawal of Rankin, the best loose forward in the Dominion to-day. Lambourn could not get the ball against Lotz in the match against Wellington last week and it is doubtful whether he will have that more weight to-mor-row. The All Black team Is as follows: Fullback. —J. Taylor (Otago). Three-quarters.—J. Dick (Auckland), J. Sullivan (Taranaki), D. G. Cobden (Canterbury). Five-eighths.—J. A. Hooper (Canterbury), D. Trevathan (Otago). Halfback.—H. Simon (Otago). Front Row. —D. Dalton (Hawke’s Bay), A. Lambourn (Wellington), E. S. Jackson (Hawke’s Bay). Middle Row. —R. H. Ward (Southland) n. R. King (West Coast), S. Reid (•Hawke’s Bay), R. M. McKenzie (Manawatu).. Back Row: A. A. Parkhill (Otago). Reserves: Forwards. H. Milliken (Canterbury), T. H. Pearce (Auckland. Backs, C. A. Crossman (King Country), W. J. Phillips (King Coaintry). R. R. King has been appointed captain and H. Simon will be vice-captain. THE SPRINGBOKS. SEVENTEEN PICKED. BRAND INCLUDED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The following 17 players, from which the Springbok team to play the All Blacks in the first Rugby test match on Saturday at Athletic Park will be chosen, ■'fere announced this Fullback.—G. H. Brand. Threequarters.—F. G. Turner, P. J. Lyster, L. Babrow, J. White, D. 0. Williams (one to be omitted). Halves.—P. de Villiers, D. H. Craven, T. A. Harris (one to be omitted). Front Row. —S. C. Louw, J. W. Lotz, C. B. Jennings. Middle Row.—W. E. Bastard, M. A. Van den Berg, W. F. Bergh, L. C. Strachan. Back Row.— G. L. van Reenen.