ALL BLACKS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 6

ALL BLACKS.

METHODS OF SELECTION.

Taranaki Rugby Union Proposals.

Disagreement with the New pealand Rugby Union’s proposals for the selection of the team to play against the South Africans next year was expressed at .the meeting of the Taranaki union at Stratford last night. Alternative suggestions made by Mr J. S. Hickey, president of the Taranaki union and chairman of selectors in 1934, will be sent to .the New Zealand Rugby Union with the Taranaki union’s recommendation for adoption.

The proposals sent forward by’ the New Zealand union were summarised as follows: (1) Unions to submit nominations from their selectors; the New Zealand, selectors to choose from the nominations 66 players to be assembled in a centre; from these players, North and South Island teams and four trial teams to be selected. (2). The North v. South Island match to be played on the first Saturday and trial matches to be arranged on the following Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (3) The New Zealand selectors to draft the players into four teams A, B, G and D, to play two games on each day of the trials, the. selectors to rearrange the players ..throughout the series or during the games as they see fit, the intention being to build up.on ‘the A team through the series of trials. At the end of the third day the A team would be, as near as possible, the New Zealand team.

“I am still strongly of the opinion I formed in 1934,” said Mr Hickey, “that the method of combing the provinces f<jr talent was not nearly thorough enough, the fault .then in evidence of players'being selected or eliminated at the outset, on the ‘blind,’ being still apparent. I believe this can be avoided. “I would suggest .that the group system of trials used in 1934 should be retained,” he continued, “with the difference that the selectors choosing these group teams be given opportunities of seeing the players in action. For instance, in the TaranakiWanganui - Manawatu - Horowhenua group the annual Taranaki-Wanganui match could, be played perhaps on Saturday, June 19, and the Mana-watu-Horowhenua game on June 26,

each, union to appoint one selector io see both games. Nominations would be unnecessary and the four selectors, possibly with a disinterested fifth, could select their team to play the Wellington-Wairarapa group. That game would be witnessed by the New Zealand selectors as in 1934.”