RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 176, 26 June 1937, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ALL BLACK POSSIBILITIES. . SEARCH BY SELECTORS. (By “Front Row.”) Two of the North Island selectors (Messrs M. F. Nicholls and H. Masters) attended the match in which King Country overwhelmed Waikato l>y 25 points to 0 at Taumarunui. The King Country first five-eighths, C. A. Crossman, who is regarded there as an All Black hope, at tunes was dazzling, and at others poor. He appeared nervous. Conscious, perhaps, that the eyes of All Black selectors were on him, he dropped passes, fumbled the ball and did not pass accurately. Gradually, however, Crossman got on to his ga.me, and towards the end of the first spell he was settling down and played constructive football. With the opening of the second spell came a new Crossman. He was responsible for several brilliant bursts and scored a sensational breakaway try.

Possessing great possibilities, the King Country Maori wing three-quar-ter, W. J. Phillips, a. 113.8 winger of great pace, was prominent in the match against Waikato. He was reS]K>nsible for several thrilling bursts down' the touchline. and the crowd cheered him wildly whenever he was in possession. Phillips has great possibilities. Keen interest was taken in the play of L. T. Russell, the Waikato half-back. Ple was last, year’s North Island half, and has this year been nominated for the trial matches. He was in fine form, sending out beautifully accurate passes. Trials Not Favoured.

“I am of opinion that we have unlimited material in New Zealand at the present time to cope with the Springbok invasion.” said Mr J. W. ibtead, famous All Black, during the course of some reminiscences, “hut I do not hold with the idea that we should adapt ourselves to their game or that, because they pin their faith in giant forwards, New Zealand should pick men indiscriminately for their size. I have enough faith in the New Zealand standard and type of play to have supreme confidence that we have a type of play and players who will worthily uphoid New Zealand’s prestige,” said Air Stead. “I am not in favour of trials, however,” he added. “You don’t get the right temperament in trial games, and I claim that with shrewd judges of the potentialities of players giving their opinions, a team of the best can be chosen without any trial.” Former All Black.

Dr. W. It. Fea, of Timani, who retained his New Zealand squash rackets championship at Palmerston North recently, is identical with the noted Rugby player who was one of the best five-eighths New Zealand has produced in the post-war period. He was one of the most famous of the Army players ■who won the King’s Cup and afterwards toured South Africa, being highly praised by the British and (Springbok critics. 'He played for the South Island against the North in 1920 a.ud 1922. Preferred to Bush.

The selection of W. Hare (Training College) in preference to R. G. Bush (University) for the full-back position in the Auckland team which met Waikato in a return match at Auckland recently, caused some surprise. The question is being asked in Auckland whether lie has been definitely dropped. Bush has been suffering from a.n injury Lately, but lias not missed a great deal of football on ..this account, although it lias been stated that he would have been better advised to have a spall off earlier than he did.

Otago Champions Simon. Playing a. 9 well as lie hats done at any stage ot a brilliant career, Harry ,Simon, the Southern and Otago halfback, should take a prominent part in the lorthcoming All Black trials in connection with the selection of the team to meet the Springboks in the tests, states the Dunedin Evening Star. In Otago Simon’s worth as a halt-back has Jong been recognised, Out he lias not always.bad the credit he deserves in the north, despite the fat that he has rarely turned on a bad game. He has all the qualifications that go to make the half-back of class, and bad he gained selection in the New Zealand team that toured Great Britain in 1935 there is but little doubt that he would have been one of the suecesses of the team, since lie tJnives on hard work and would been an ideal man for such an extensive tour. Gilbert in Form.

Playing centre for A\est Coast against Canterbury, G. Gilbert was not only impassable on defence, but lie showed much more speed and agility ou attack than when he filled the fullback position tor the (South Island against North last season, writes a southern critic, it was evident, in fact, that he had fully recovered the allround form which won him his place in the 1935 All Blacks to tour Great Britain. Gilbert is bound to figure prominently in this year’s All Black trials, tor Lie is a player ot powerful physique and able to stand up to the battering charges of heavy forwards. Claims by Waikato.

Cattley, the Taupiri and Waikato hooker, has strong claims for inclusion in the All Black trials, states the Waikato Times, which advances the suggestion that he is superior to Hadley, New Zealand’s leading hooker for three seasons. Standing six feet, weighing 13st 101 b, and only 21, Cattley has pace, handling ability and iootball brains, while Hadley, although undoubtedly a good hooker, is only a mediocre forward and has been injured too frequently of late to be particularly safe against the burly Springboks, adds the Times. Victors Over Springboks.

Averages for the New South Wales team which so soundly beat the B]>ringboks were : —-Backs : Age, weight, 12.34 j height 0.10 I’or wards: Age, 24; weight, 14.3; height 6.0. The official list of the Springboks showed that their averages were :—Backs: Age, 24; weight, 12.0; height, 0.10. Forwards: -Age, 2/; weight, 14.11; height 6.0. Thus the average weight of the New South Wales backs was only slightly less than that of the Springboks’ backs; but the foiwa-ids averaged 81b less than the touring forwards.

Test At Auckland. Advice has been received in Palmerston North, in response to an inquiry made from this centre for reservations, that the Auckland Rugby Union regrets that it is not possible to reserve seats through unions outside its own district for the third Test against the Springboks, becaii.se after the requirements of its own unions and sub-unions have been met there will be only 400 scats available to the general public.