MARK NICHOLLS Selects Some Five-Eighths

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 13, 22 September 1939, Page 51

MARK NICHOLLS Selects Some Five-Eighths

OR the five-eighths positions in his World H Rugby Fifteen, Mark Nicholls found he had to review a long list of famous players. As might be expected, his selection was made with much less certainty than for the centre three-quarters in the preceding broadcast. He found himself with three fine players, all coming up to standard ‘as men of genius; each one suffering injustice if not selected. Bert Cooke, he found, had dominated the centre and second five-eighths positions in New Zealand Rugby from 1924 to 1930. He was " terrifically fast off the mark," he had wonderfully good hands, a fine turn of speed, a remarkable swerve with changes of direction concealed until the very last minute, and he was unselfish to a degree. It was delightful to play outside him. Bennie Osler had the hands and the speed, could punt, drop and place kick, was a master tactician, a match-winner, and a great Rugby footballer. In 1928 the South African backs were by no means outstanding, but Osler managed to play a lone-handed game. His playing methods naturally attracted the public’s eye. Had Osler not played in 1928 Nicholls thought it highly probable that New Zealand would have won all four tests. One other was idealiy built, played with his brains, had excellent hands, could place-kick outstandingly well, bluff with the best, was a great player in all respects-Carl Ifwerson. It was Ifwerson who made the choice difficult. Leaving him out would be an injustice, Nicholls said; but nevertheless he selected: Bennie Osler Bert Cooke His team so faris: Nepia iad Steele MacPherson Jauréguy Osler Cooke