NO DUDS CHOSEN

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1948, Page 6

NO DUDS CHOSEN

Press Association)

Selector Hopeful Of New All Blacks

(Per

WELLINGTON, Oet. 4. The opinion that the All Black team which would go to Africa would be a goodk oue and would probably become : netter was expressed by,. the ehairman of the New Zealand selection committee (Mr. A. McDonald). Among other tliings Mr. McDonald said that he expected the players to average anything up to half a stone hea'\ ier by the tirne they reach Africa. ' ' I am satisiied that we have selected no 'duds,' " said Mr. McDoiiald, "and I thinlc that several of the players will come back xnuch better than they are novv. They have all shown ability, keenness and intelligence and they look as if they will be friends among theinselves and make t'riends among the people they meet on the tour." No Fear oi T*at. In commenting that he exjxected the players to becouie heavier between now and wlien they coinmenced playing, .Mr. McDonald indicated that he had no fear that the extra poundage would comprise useless fat. The players had just linished a hard and gruelling season and many of them would be all the better for a few pounds of firm liesh. The selector expressed full conlidence in the forwards. "We will no longer be at the clisadvantage in respect to the 3-4-1 scrum which has handicajiped us against the Springboks in tlie'past," he said. "We can now use it just as well as they can, and our chances sliould be all the better for that. ' ' Another criticisni of New Zealand i'orwards which has been lieard in the past is not anticipated in this instance — at least not to the same extent. This is in respect to failure to pack low and vigorously in the scrunis and rueks. On what was seen iu the trials IMr. McDonald is conlident tliat the All Black forwards will do their tiglit work well. Versatility. At the same tinie Mr. McDonald appreciates that an intemational forward sliould be able to do more tlian tlirow his weiglit into the tight play and bury liimself. He has alwavs had a prei'erence for the all-round forward ratlier than tlie one wlio is an exuort I only over a limited range. He feels | sure tliat some of the Otago rueking speeialists will learn to vary and expand their play so tliat. they can play tlieir part in the opou wlien necessary. One thing tlie tourists would have to do, added Mr. McDonald, would be to develop a third hooker. The selectora liad not felt inclined to send three

hookers if it. meanc ineluding a player who was uothing more than a hooker. Nevertheless, more than two wmuld probably be needed and stejxs would have to bc taken to train oue of the otlier forwards as a reserve. Portunately the party included, some who sliould soon be able to master the art. "No Ernie Todd." Mr. McDonald made little secret of the fact that the linding of suitable back-row forwards had caused the sclectors some conceni. "There just isn't an Ernie Todd in the country todav," he said. Tliough real stars iu the backlinc may be few, the chairnian of the sclectors had little doubt that the meii selected will do their work well. They had pace and ability and could liandle well. The Test baeklihe sliould be weK up to the best New Z-ealahd' istaudards of tlie nast. * ■

Mr. McDonald was conlident tliat the touring party would be a harmoiiious one. All the young meu selected had likeable personalities and there Was no indication that any oue of tlieni would lind it difficult to lit in with tlie . . i t,.... .it.ii i! »(. I 1 n rest. By the same token he was sure the players would make a good iinpression on their South African liosts. They could be depended upon to behave lilce gentlemen wherovev they were. Sympathy. Mr. McDonald concluded by- expressiug sympathy for those w-ho had failed to gain selection. With so inany -good players of even calibre olfering it was inevitable that some would be unlucky. "I am partieularly sorry," he said, "for those who missed their chance of pJaying through the trials because of illness or injury. t can only hope that any such players will get their opportunity in the future. " In this connection Mr. McDonald mentioned W. E. Crist, the Wellington forward who had to have a spell on the liank 'for some weeks just before the Wellington seetion of the trials eomuienced. It was Crist 's misfortune that he was out of forin when he made his lirst trial appearance, on top of whicli, like the other Wellington players, he did not arrive at Napier until the night be- , fore the trial on McLean Park. Even ' then he had had the chance to play for only one spell.