IS THE BEST

NZ Truth, Issue 1183, 2 August 1928, Page 14

IS THE BEST

Selector T. IVlcK©nzie Speaks His Piece •- ■ . . ■■ ■ •?, . (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) In ah exclusive interview with "N,Z. Truth's" Rugby correspond- > ■'. *ent, the chairman of the All Black Selection Committee (Ted. McKenzie) expresses the opinion that the- New Zealand team at present m South ■ Africa is still? m his mind; the: best side that ever left New Zealand.. ..;,,; THE. New. .Zealand, fifteens have been '*■ "so consistently "a winning combination that "their defeat is> regarded as the biggest national calamity next to the death of a monarch, was his opening'remark.' - ' •T;believe that South. Africa and ourselves are. the boss. Rugby dogs of the world, and we must give them credit for being great ■ players, which they undoubtedly are. ■ "But the 1928 New Zealand team has had to face far greater handicaps than any other side which has left these shores. , On climatic conditions alone they are* confronted with the biggest problem ?that' any- All Black team has i encountered*' ""■ "The 1924 team found m England a climate bearing a similarity i. to. our own, whereas the South • Afrloan o|imate has played immeasureable havoc.with the health of some, of .the best players m this 1.,: year's tourists. ' '-"'■ 'H believe that we have been meeting South Africa, un till the present, at their zenith, and? we-'are, just coming to ours. I am extremely hopeful and optimistic ,that the New Zealand side will wmjthe rubber." „:", "■ . , Questioned ', regaining,-, the change m acrum formation "early' m the tour, McKenzie said he was surprised to see such panic when things were going against the team." He thought they should have "gbne^ down, if such was necessary, with their colors .flying. No doubt, however, what . they did was done m the , belief that it was for the best.^ ;j ; ; ';. ■• ■■;/ v^JV- , -