Long Journeys Play Havoc With Enthusiasm

Chronicle (Levin), 16 June 1949, Page 5

Long Journeys Play Havoc With Enthusiasm

—Reuicr

(N.Z.P.A.-

CaDuriffht)

Iieceived AVednesdav, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, June 15. "Train travelling may cause the Maoris ' downfall iu tlie third Rugby TJnion Test at tlie Sydney Cricket Ground on Satuiday week, says the Rugby Union writer, Mr. E. AV. Ivann, in the Sydney Sun. Instead of leaving Brisbane yesterdav for Newcastle, they lelt today and will arrive at Broadmeadow at 5 a.m. tomorrow to be taken on to Newcastle by bus. When they had to reniain the extra day in Brisbane in a badly arranged itinerary, coach T. French ordered a training ruu. After playing on Saturday and Monday, however, the Maoris put 110 heart into their work. Unless they buek up again in New South Wales they will not beat either New South Wales or Australia. Next week they will have to spend Tuesday in a train travelling ti'om Sydney to Orange and Thursday nturning, preventing training runs on those days. The roport of the manager, Mr. S. Ileather, to ' the New Zealand Rugby Union, is certain to advocate that 110 team from the Dominion agroe to similar travelling in future. In his speeches at othcial functions he has always commentcd 011 tlie train travel arranged for his team. The Australian Rugby Unions miust take the blame for dissat isfaction over excessive traih travelling 011 this tour. Much of it conld have been avoided had the New South Wales Rugby "Union substituted air travel on some trips instead of being eoncerned about tlie saving of nionev. It added to the Maori diseontent when Australian players were flown from Sydney to Brisbane for the seeond Test, in under three hours, while the Maoris had 29 hours in a train.