THE ALL BLACKS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1928, Page 4

THE ALL BLACKS

TOURISTS LIAIITED TO 29. WELLINGTON, March 9. Air S. S. Dean, chairman of the Alanagement Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, in reply to a letter urging that more than 29 men he sent with the New Zealand team, to tour South Africa this year, said tho rules of the International Rugby Board had for some years past fixed 29 as the maximum number of players for tours. When arranging the itinerary of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa this year, the question of hard grounds and high altitudes had exercised the minds of the Alanagement Committee, and this was the reason they had reduced the number of matches from 25 to 22. lie considered that the New Zealand team this year, with 29 men. should he able to carry through aprogramme. of 22 matches all right. The New Zealand A! ilitary Rugby team bad played 27 matches in South Africa in 1919 with 27 men. The number of matches played in South Africa by British teams had varied from 19 to 24. Tn 1891. AY. E. AlaoLagnn’s team had played 19 games, o! which all were won. 4. Hammond’s combination in 1896 had played 21 matches, of which 19 were won. one lost, and one drawn. Alark Alorrison’s team in 1993 had had 22 games, winning 11. losing 8, and drawing 3, and Dr T. Smythe’s team in 1910 had engaged in'24 matches, of which 13 were won, 8 lost, and 3 drawn. The British team which had fared worst in South Africa for casualties was Cove Smith’s 1924 combination, which out of 21 matches, had won 9, lost 9. and drawn 3.

Art- Dean pointed out tliat'the 1905 AH Blacks, who only comprised 27 men, had played 33 matches in Britain and France, of which only the game against AA ales wast lost. It had to he remembered, too, that Toe AVarbrick’s 1888-89 Alnori team which toured Great Britain had played 7-1 games, of which 49 were won, 20 lost, and 5 drawn. A. E. Stoddnrt’s British team of 1888 had played 19 matches in New Zealand and 15 in Australia, with only 22 men. He did not see, therefore, that the New Zealand team was being asked to do too much in South Africa this year in playing 22 matches with 29 men. In his opinion it would be a mistake to take more than 29 men on any Rugby tour, as players become disgruntled if they were kept too often on the bank. The Afaiiagenient Committee of the New Zealand Union had given careful ■consideration to the South African programme, and were confident that the 29 players selected would see the programme through satisfactorily.