VIEWS OF NOTED CAPTAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 125, 12 June 1937, Page 13

VIEWS OF NOTED CAPTAIN

THEO B. PIENAAR. SOUTH AFRIGA Theo B. Pienaar, who captained the Soiith African RiiS'by team which toured New Zealand in 1921 and managed the South African side which visited Great Britain in 1931-32, comments on the 1937 Springboks who are now in Australia en route to New Zealand. "If this team does at least as well as the 1921 side we can be thoroughly satisfied," he writes in "a contribution to The Cape Argus and associated newspapers, after a comprehensive reference the qualifications of all the players. t ' "I must say that I cannot agree with the selectors' policy of taking ,15 backs and 14 forwards, for on the latter^ will fall the heat ari the burden of the day. They are meeting some of the toughest forwards in the world," comments Mr. Pienaar. "I can with confidence state," writes Mr. Pienaar, "that every player in the trials will have received a fair chance (by the selectors) . . . We may disagree with some of their findings. Selectors expect that . . . but let us respect their judgment, which has been given without fear or favour." Mr. Pienaar also mentions the names of. some of the "unlucky" players who have not been included. ,'But who could you leave out," he asks, Interspersed with his comments are some personal — and previously unpublished — stories of previous touring sides and players.