MANAWATU TEAM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 30 July 1937, Page 7

MANAWATU TEAM

TO .MEET SPRINGBOKS. PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED. ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE. Surprise features are associated with the announcement, made to-day by the selector (Mr J. A. Colquhoun), of the Manawatu representative tPam to meet the Springboks at Palmerston North on Wednesday next. There are several important changes in the backs, steps having been taken to strengthen the defence which, admittedly, has been a weakness in the Manawatu team’s play this season. The average weight of the forward pack is 14st. 4jlb., which is heavy tor a provincial side, being about half-a-stone over the usual figure. There are some tall men in the forward division, and they should be able to give Manawatu good service in the line-outs. Though individual weights are available for the forwards, they are not yet obtainable for the backs. The locks for the scrum have not yet been determined, though the players to fill each row have been selected. The personnel of the team, with field positions for the backs is as follows : Waldin (Feilding). Waugh (F. 0.8.), Nicol (Feilding), Bpick (0.8.1. Le Quesne (O.B.) J. Finlay (F. 0.8.) Edlin (St. Patrick’s). Newman (Feilding), *13.11. Terry (M.C.), 14.7; Williams (Ivia Toa), 13.11; W. Powell (St. Patrick's;, 13.10; R. McKenzie (Kia Toa), 15.1. E. Fell (St. Patrick’s), 14.10, Ewart (F. 0.8.), 14.4; Sullivan (Feilding), 14.10.. Emergencies.—Forwards : L. Findlay (St. Patrick’s) 13.7; Fleming (O.B.), 13.9. Backs: Thomas (Kia toa), G. Wasley (Kia Toa), R. Gillespie (St. Patrick’s). McKenzie will lead the team as captain, with Le Quesne vice-captain. It was found, in the match against Hawke’s Bay last Saturday, that the Manawatu inside backs, on defence, did not go down quickly enough on the ball to enable the forwards to get round them. Although the fiveeighths in this match did well, it has been considered advisable to strengthen these key positions by putting in men stronger physically to stand the buffeting which may be expected from the big Springbok forwards. Two years ago, when Manawatu beat all the leading teams in the North Island, including Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki, the two strongest, Jack Finlay (the Feilding Old Boys forward), was played as a fiveeighth, and his remarkable display in this position was largely responsible for bringing about the defeat of Hawke’s Bay on that occasion. Though a little slow off the mark, Finlay is very strong on defence, handles beautifully, and generally has football brains, besides the necessary physical make-up. Prominent in the All Black trials, Finlay, who is 21 years of age, breaks very fast in the loose and has already scored 22 points for Manawatu this season. He played as hooker against Wanganui, where he gave a great all-round display, but hi* usual position has been at the back of the scrum, in close collaboration with the five-eighths. Consequently, Finlay goes in as first five-eighth, and T.« Quesne, the former Hawke's Bay captain, a stronger player with plenty of experience in fir.- t class football, as second fiveeighth. Nicol. who is a dangerous penetrating player when properly on his game, is moved out to centre-three-quarter, where he should have opportunities to show his initial ire in attack. H. Waugh, the Feilding Old Ifovs winger, who was nominated tor the Ail Black trials, returns to the team alter being out since lie broke a collar-bone in the Inst lew minutes ct fKe match against. Wanganui, on June 9. , Ihe Manawatu backs appear to be a very strong combination, particularly for defensive purposes, iv.iiic the association of Le Quesne and Nicol should give the attack plenty o. thrust. . Two new forwards, Williams ant Newman, enter the team compared with that which met Hawke’s Bay where it was'found that a little speed was lacking in the vanguard and as j these arc two of lire fastest forwards j in the Manawatu they should speed up j this division, though no tault could be found with the weal in the tight. Now man is the back row mar. in the scrum. The three.rent row men are those who did so well against , the Hawke’s Bay lookers, and gained more than their share of possession from such a fo mutable trio as Hannigan, Daltc and Jackson, the latter two of whom am in the running f or All rack honours. . ScaUig 15.1. All Black, McKenzie, ■ u tile heaviest man in the Mannaatu pack, ami '“UO) ti» lightest, so that it will a po'K-rfui forward division which takes the held against the Springboks. , Four thousand seats have so far been booked, for tbe match .and there are still about another thousand available. MANAWATU REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Manawatu’s team for tbe fourM. and most important representative fixture of the season is about to Ixj],'selected, and after the very jioor showing made hy the Manawatu barks against Hawke’s Bay last Sirturdny some changes will he necessary if our team is to put up a showing worthy of a representative side. If Finlay is put in as first five-eighth, as the writer understands the selectors intend doing, his ability to make openings will be restricted, and if this player were played inside Waugh a strong attacking and defensive combination should result. The writer suggests that the following rearangements he made in the team: Forwards.—Fell, JCwart, Sullivan; Williams, Terry, Powell, McKenzie; Fleming. Half-back—Edlin Five-eighths. — Waugh, Finlay, Buick. Full-hack— Waldin. Emergencies Gillespie. Newman, Findlav, Wasley.—l am. etc., F uiuinj, j gn)E LINE. The above letter was received before the Manawatu fream was announced.