"THE BIG SIX”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 139, 2 September 1927, Page 9

"THE BIG SIX”

CHOOSING ALL BLACKS

“ted” Mckenzie in Auckland SELECTORS TO BE BUSY WATCHING the Auckland team 1 in action to-morrow will be Mr. E. McKenzie, the chairman of the New Zealand selection committee, who is sole selector and manager of the Wairarapa side. Already this season he has seen nearly every first-class team in the North Island in action. A KEEN and discerning student of contemporary form, “Ted” McKenzie could probably. at the moment, say how every leading player in the Dominion is playing. But he is not prepared to discuss individual form. The name McKenzie has always loomed large in New Zealand Rugby. This particular family hails from the Wairarapa, and the present chairman of the New Zealand selection committee represented the North Island in 1902. ‘THE BIG SIX” His brother, H. J. McKenzie, who won later fame by ordering Maurice Brownlie and Quentin Donald ofl: the Solway ground on July 9 last, also wore the North Island colours, and still another brother is Norman McKenzie, selector for Hawke’s Bay. and one of “the big six,” who will choose the next All Blacks. As footballers, the three brothers possessed the same characteristics—great size, and wonderful accuracy in handling and kicking. To-day they are better known as Rugby administrators. In the next six weeks Mr. McKenzie will see, from day to day, an almost endless parade of footballers, aspirants to All Black honours, and to next year’s wonderful South African trip. Some noted performers, said Mr. McKenzie this morning, had already informed him that they would not be available. Among them were Cooke, Irvine, and Q. Donald, of the Wairarapa side. Those three would therefore not be selected for the first trial match, Hawke’s Bay group versus Wairarapa group, to be played at Napier a week from next Wednesday. POSITION OF LUCAS Of course, he added, any one of those players might change his mind, though there was not much time for vaccilation, and in the case of such proven players arrangements would doubtless be made to give them a game in some of the later .trial matches. Asked about the position of Lucas, he said he had heard reports that Lucas would not be available, but had been given no official intimation. How far Mr. McKenzie is in a position to gauge current form, in the North Island, at least, may be estimated from the matches he has seen. He has watched Hawke’s Bay in action twice, as well as Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawhenua, Bush Districts and King Country, and lias also witnessed club football in Wellington. Further, he is remaining with Wairarapa for the rest of its tour, and will therefore see Waikato and Taranaki play next week. STRENUOUS PROGRAMME After that he will bo joined by the other North Island selectors, Messrs. N. A. McKenzie. Napier, and W. A. Ling, Hawera, and will pursue the following itinerary: September 17.—Napier. September 21.—Wanganui. September 24. —Auckland. September 27. —Palmerston North. For the match at Palmerston North, which will be between the North Island Possibles and Probables, the North Island selectors will be joined by the South Island trio, Messrs. Davis, Milliken and Geddes, and after the match they will motor to Wellington and board the Southern ferry so that they can see the South Island Possibles and Probables play on September 28. After that there will be two more matches. North Island v. South Island, on October 1, and New Zealand Possibles v. Probables, on October 5., both at Wellington.

“No policy has yet been adopted with regard to the announcement of the team,” said Mr. McKenzie, “but some names, at least, will be announced after the last match, and probably the composition of the whole team will then be made known. It will have to be selected practically entirely on this year’s form.”