THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1925, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

ALL BLACK TEAM TO VISIT NEW SOUTH WALES. IST TKI.KriUAPU I’KKSS ASSN., COPVItUtHT. WE1,1.1 NGTOX, May IP. The -elector- have chosen the team mi they knew of their form last year. Geographieuly. the team is very repi'e-entative. and n eoutttins at I -a-. 1 ..,11 -a-:!■(/.:-n men who. I,ad they l'iiiii- in England. would have mail" name- a- ■r. 11 a- inc-l o! tln.se who did in,. A I lea-t six of the All Blacks- Porter. Sveirmn. Steel. West. Master-. He.hiHiard v.i", nominated, hut they were not i on-iilered hy the .selectors, for at least two reasons: <1 ) Net all I tie provincial unions under-tinni t hat All Blacks init;lit lie nominated: C-U the tour in New South Wales will lie followed hv a tour in New Zealand by the New South Wales representatives. and the selectors wish to give as many first class players its possible expot ienee in hie matches. The All Blacks have had amide match experience. and after the tour across the Tasman the selectors will know the capacity of the twenty-three players, additional to the twenty-nine All Blacks. With this knowledge they hope to lie able to select the strongest lentil New Zealand can produce to face the New South Wales team.

Apart from members of last year’s New Zealand team, ninety players were nominated for the twenty-three places in the leant to visit New South Wales. The nominations came Irom till parts of the Dominion, and they were such its to provide it good sprinkling of players for every position. Tho unions to secure representation in the team and the number of representatives are:--Auckland live. North Auckland one. Ilawkes Bay lour. Taranaki one. Mannwatii one. Wairarpa one, Wellington two. Canterbury three. South Canterbury mu'. (Mage mo and Southland two.

Questioned regarding flu i-inolu--iun of last year's New Zealand representatives. Mr E. M' Ken/.ie staled that, the select imi eominiltee decided unanimously to exclude those nienihers of the 1021 team, who had been nominated. It was not because I hoy were tint, good enough, hut the idea was In give the younger players an opportunity of -bowing themselves. Mr M' Ken/.ie added that a number of the unions were evidently under a mi-apprelieii-ioii about the matter, as only live had nominated members of last year's New Zealand team. The players in the leant for Australia now had a rliance to prove thetns.'lves.

and with this and the knowledge of lasi year's New Zealand representatives the selectors would have a. wide range for tho selection ol the leant to meet New South Wales dining the latter’s visit to the Dominion later in the season.