COMMENT ON SELECTION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 72, 12 April 1937, Page 9

COMMENT ON SELECTION

'Omni-")

29 Instead of 31 Players Chosen

(By '

The first striking feature of the selection of the South Africani team to tour Australia and New Zealand is that only 29 players have been' chosen. It was the announced intention of the South African llugby Board to send a

party of 3l players away on this tour, but apparently the board at the last minute, paid. due regard to the representations of the New Zealand and Australian Rugby authorities, who desired that only the eustomary 29 players be selected. Turner, who has been chosen as one of the full-backs, is one of those rarities in any sport— a good all-rounder in any position on the field with the exception of S'crum half. So far as New' Zealanders are concerned, the surprise selection in the wing three-quarter division is Broodryk, the remainder all being prominent State players. This applies also to the centres chosen, and in this regard .it is worth noting that Babrow, who is one of the younger players, is also a splendid il\-half. t'he fly-halves, as announced, are more or less unknown at this distan«'e A feature of the forwards, apart from their physieal proportions, is tliat thcy include a " number who are getting on in years. The two Louws, E. and M., are 81 and 32 yeais respectively, Nel is 34 years, Strachan 30 years, Bergh 28 years and Van Reenan 27 years. Among the surprise omissions, judged on reports received l)eforehand from South Africa, are two forwards, E. Mejlish and John Apsey. It is apparent that the seleetors have clung to the traditional habit of fielding heavy forwards. They seem to have outshone grevious efforts in this respect.