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Earlier Misgivings Allayed
By Our Rugby Correspondent
New Plymouth
Seven changes made in the New Zealand team for the third test against South Africa at Christchurch next Saturday bring the number of players called upon for the three tests to the extraordinary total of 24. The announcement by the chairman of New Zealand Rugby Union council, Mr C. S. Hogg, that the team had been chosen on the Sunday after the second test is disturbing in its implication that such performances as were given by some Taranaki forwards are not to have any bearing upon the selection..
Apart from this, the team as announced will command a livelier satisfaction than seemed justified over the choice of either the first or second test teams.
A weakness of the tests so far-the want of a No. 8 forward of the type of Nola or Pryor to combat the raids of Lochner-has not been remedied and it would be interesting to know whether this is because of a policy in the selection committee and whether such a policy has the support of the council as a whole.
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Welcome Return
In spite of some fine efforts in the first half of the second test and a most intelligent breakaway into the wind in the second half, W. H. Clark has not got the grim determination of a Nola, and accordingly can be accounted lucky to supersede the honest and hardworking D. N. McIntosh.
The pack will obviously be much strengthened by the welcome return of one of the greatest of All Blacks, K. L. Skinner, and the fieriness which was so strangely wanting in the second test should develop from him, from Hill on the flank, and from Jones at the rear.
But there may be a certain want of agility combined with mobility and hard tackling in the pack as a whole, and in view of the high qualities of the Springbok midfield play in recent games this will need attention.
It remains to be seen how Reid and Archer will fare as a combination but they are both experienced, cool and courageous players, and they should certainly not fall guilty of the ponderously slow movement which characterized the halfback play of the second test.
D. B. Clarke’s selection will, one can only hope, be justified in an improvement in the goal-kicking alone.
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seems no doubt that the Springboks will attempt to probe his supposed weakness in gathering the rolling ball, for this was the method by which Ulyate reduced Baker, the Lion’s fullback, to inefficiency in the fourth test last year.
Baker on the other hand, was a fly half playing out of position, and Clarke, with all his lumbering gait, is a fullback of five or six seasons of experience who should know most of the tricks of a kicking attack.
Taranaki Sets Example
Taranaki rendering a great service to New Zealand by its superb display on Saturday. P. S. Burke and his men with their unconquerable vitality exposed not for the first time weakness of the Springbok defence in the face of a united and fearless attack.
In consequence, an initiative which had seemed entirely lost in the inept display of the second test has been partially regained.
Given strict training and a clear-cut tactical plan-given above all the kind of efficient tackling which Taranaki Produced-this All Black team could becapable os seizing a vital lead in the rubber.
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