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Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1927, Page 2

lx referring to the final choice of the All Black representatives for the tour of next year to South Africa, an exchange remarks that a, foreign observer might say that if New Zealand chose its legislators with half as much care as it chooses its footballers, it would be much better governed. But, of course, football is with us a desperately serious business compared with which, as a rule, politics is a mere game. The selection for the South African tour will not please everybody; no selection over did. There is bound to bo a certain amount of feeling in all the provinces among the more fervid enthusiasts, and no doubt dark things will be thought and said. “It. is a ease, however, of “Don’t shoot the pianist; lie is doing his best.” The selectors have had a very difficult and thankless task, and the public should acknowledge that they have been at least, thorough and impartial. No doubt luck enters into such choosing. A player may play brilliantly when tlic selectors arc not present, and badly in front of them. Such unevenness, however, is inevitable, in the game, and the final result should bo taken in the spirit of true sportsmanship. In the past, enthusiasm for a particular player lias been known "to outrun discretion and become a laughing-stock. There will, we hope, bo nothing of the kind between this and the departure of tbo team. As to its prospects, bow much is there to base a forecast upon ? Wo confess the high scoring in the trial matches makes us a little uneasy about the defence, but the team may rise lo the occasion when the occasion is greater and the national honour is at stake.