SEARCH FOR RUGBY TALENT

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1946, Page 8

SEARCH FOR RUGBY TALENT

COUNTRY PLAYERS GIVEN CHANCE The play of Rugby forwards in some centres of the North Island, .and especially in Auckland, in regard to paclcing in the serums and tight work has been the snbjeet of considerable controversy since the sound defeat administered to the North Island team by the SontlT Island last season at Eden Paris. It v/ill be remembered that a flne South Island paek, which was well supported by the backs, carried the team to a convincing victory by 31 points to 19. The defeat pf the Auckland forwards at the hand's of the Waikato vanguard in the match at Hamilton on the King's Birthday has again revived the subjeet. President's Suggestion When the teams, were entertained after the inter-island fixture, ATr. E. V. Phillips, then president of the New Zealand union, said that no stone should be left unturned to cornb the country districts when the selection of New Zealand teams came up for consideration. Mr. A. McDonald, former All Blaek captain and North Island seleetor, -referred to the fact that as far as the South Island team was concerned players in the country were no doubt coming into their own, as instanced by the inclusion of J. Haig, half-baek, and C. Willoeks, forward, both of South Otago. It i^ interesting to note that besides Willoeks there were two other forwards in the South Island team from .country unions. , They were W. Mumm, Iluller, and .J. Pegley, West Coast. Among the backs L. TI. Edwards; Marlborough, and a former Taranaki player, fi 1 1 e 1 a wing-three-qnarter position. Two Waikato forwards, V. A. Ensoi-and E. II. Catlev, were cUosen in the North Island vanguard. Apparently heeding the advice of Mr. Phillips, oue of the main discussions at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington last month was the preparation for the tour of South Afriea in 1948. It was stresscd that* measures should be taken to ensure an efTective selection and a thorough eombing of the country centres. Several country delegates maintained that the best forwards had always crnne from the country districts, but there had been a marked tendency to neglect thpm. In the words of Mr. N. M c IvenziOj former All Blaek selector: ' ' Many of them ai'e horn to Idush unseen as far as big football is concerned." Australian Team's Visit Tlie tour of the Australian team in August will serve as a good preliminary to Ihe choicc- of players to visit South Afriea. II. is pleasing that the New Zealand union in its wisdom has included many country centres in the i ti n erary. The tour will open with a match against North Auckland at Whangarei oi l August 21. ' Matches will also be played at Taranaki, JTawke's Bay, Wanganui, Westport, Timaru and Hamilton. In most of these eontests the Australians will play against combined teaiiis. Everv opportunity will therefore be given to tlie country players to make good. It is safe to say that in no previous tours have the . country players received rnore consideration.