RUGBY COME-BACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 10

RUGBY COME-BACK

BETTER N.Z. STANDARD POTENTIAL ALL BLACKS SELECTOR IMPRESSED PREPARING FOR AFRICA (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “New Zealand Rugby is staging a definite and rapid come-back. There are players, backs and forwards, around the country right up to the best All Black .standard."

This encouraging statement was made on Saturday by Mr. E. McKenzie, the New Zealand sole selector, who was in Christchurch for the North v. South Minor Unions’ match. The selector was greatly impressed with the form .shown by players in the recent Ranfurly Shield match between Southland and Otago. He is optimistic about the standard of the team which will go to South Africa next year. ,

“Some of the play was right up to the best All Black class,” said Mr. McKenzie. “The forwards were particularly good and the backs distinctly promising. There was a weakness in the play of the forwards Speaking'generally, the forwards do not go off the ground in the lineouts. They do not jump, but that is a phase that can be corrected" Tour of 14 Unions By hard and constant 'travelling over both islands. Mr. McKenzie has now seen the representatives of 14 unions in action this season. Next Saturday he will be in Gisborne for -the Maori Prince of Wales Cup match. He will watch the Auckland-Wellington match on September 16. That night both the North and South Island teams for the annual match will be chosen. After that Mr. McKenzie’s real task begins. When the North and South teams have been announced he will pick two trial teams to play as a curtain-raiser to the North v. South match. Wellington Trials

On September 23, 70 players are to be assembled in Wellington for the trial series, which will be played on September 23, 27 and 30, Saturday, Wednesday and Saturday. When the rials are over the sole selector should have a fairly clear idea of the 29 Ah Blacks who will tour South Africa next year, but no members of the team will be announced this season, for further trials are to be played early next season before the team leaves for South Africa.