FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 127, 25 November 1938, Page 10

FOR SOUTH AFRICA

N.Z. RUGBY TEAM

SELECTION NEXT YEAR

TOUR IN 1940

On the subject of Rugby tours, with particular reference to New Zealand's visit to South Africa in 1940 and the selection of the team for that undertaking, there was considerable discussion at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union today. A decision was made that the team to go to South Africa be selected next year, and a series of trials as a means of finding the best side for the big tour was preferred to a proposition that a New Zealand team be sent on a tour of New Zealand next season, playing a series of matches to be regarded as trials and to be viewed by the New Zealand selector. Council members present were Messrs. S. S. Dean (chairman) A. M. Ongley ("Manawatu). president, of the N.Z.R.U.. G. A. Maddison (Hawke's Bay). A. St. C. Belcher (Waikato), A. E. McPhail (Canterbury), A. A. Adams (West Coast), and D. M. Spedding (Otago). Dr. G. J. Adams (Wanganui), Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Roache, and Messrs. A. C. Kitto, F. T. Glasgow, W. J Wallace, A. McDonald, and J. Prendeville. members of the N.Z.R.U. executive. Also in attendance was Mr. E. McKenzie. New Zealand selector. METHOD OF TRIAL. The question of sending a New Zealand team on a tour of the Dominion next year, as had been mooted, was important, said Mr. Dean, in that consideration had to be given as to what was to be the basis for the tour to South Africa in 1940. The New Zealand team would have to leave for South Africa somewhere about May, if not in April, and it was a question as to whether there would be time for trials in 1940. Easter, he pointed out, would be early that year—March 25 would be Easter Monday. Some selections for South Africa [might, he suggested, be completed in 11939, and the remainder made early in 11940, with the announcement of the team probably deferred until the final selections had been made. That was one idea, but that raised the question as to whether the players already chosen would be required to piay again in trials in 1940 should any be held. The main question, however, was whether trials as well as a tour through New Zealand should take place in 1939. Several members agreed that there would be little opportunity of staging trials before the team left in 1940, and it was urged by Dr. G. J. Adams that a tour by a New Zealand team through New Zealand next year, from about the middle of August to the end of September, would serve a very good purpose in finding the right material for the team to go to South Africa, as well as giving the public, especially those people in outlying districts, the chance of seeing All Blacks in action. The New Zealand selector would have the advantage of seeing the rest of New Zealand players up against odds in the team he would choose for the Dominion tour. Then, too, the touring team, which would no doubt be the nucleus of the team for South Africa, would have the opportunity through this tour of developing combination. There was no doubt that the team for South Africa would have to be picked on next year's form. QUESTION OF LEAVE. After various. members had expressed views on the suggested tour, Mr. E. McKenzie (selector) was invited to express his opinion. "It is an excellent idea," he said, "provided you can get the best New Zealand team. If places in the team have to be filled up with other players the object of the tour is likely to be defeated. The tour will take quite a time if it is to be done properly, and the question of leave comes iftto it." Mention of the subject of leave gave rise to a good deal of comment, most of which was on the line that there would be considerable difficulty about piayers getting leave, which would be required by many of them not only for this proposed tour next year but also for the much longer tour to South Africa in 1940. "Things are changed in the world today so far as the question of leave is concerned," remarked one member. SELECTION AND FITNESS. On the motion of Mr. B. M. Spedding, seconded by Dr. G. J. Adams, it was decided "that the New Zealand Rugby team for South Africa in 1940 be selected at the end of the 1939 season." "Once the team is selected," said Mr. Spedding, "I do not think there is any need to withhold the names." This opinion was endorsed by some membxs, who agreed that it would give the players ample time in which to make plans for the tour. The question of fitness of players for the tour was raised by Mr. A. C. Kitto, who suggested that the selected men be put through a fairly stringent medical examination a month before the team's departure. Mr. McKenzie: I think you will have to tighten it up as much as possible. With regard to the furnishing of nomination forms, Mr. A. A. Adams (a South Island and past New Zealand selector) stated that something should be done to make it imperative that correct information be given on the forms. Dr. Adams also stressed the fact that sentiment should be disregarded entirely. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. A. M. Ongley, "that the selected players be subjected to an examina-j tion by medical officers appointed by the New Zealand Union, the examination to be made a month before the team leaves." N.Z. TOUR IMPRACTICABLE. Reverting to the suggested tour of the Dominion, Dr. Adams moved: "That it be a recommendation to the annual meeting that the decision of the last annual meeting be suspended for 1939 and that a New Zealand team, to be selected after the North-South match, tour New Zealand and play a series of matches, the final match to be New Zealand (touring team) v. The Rest, the teams to be chosen by the New Zealand selector, and that the team be accompanied on the New Zealand tour by the New Zealand selector." Dr. Adams proposed also that the grouping system be applied in furnishing teams to oppose the touring team. ' After Mr. Ongley had seconded the motion! the pros and cons were discussed at considerable length. The idea of the tour was viewed with favour but the consensus of opinion was that the time was inopportune. Eventually, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. G. A. Maddison thought that for a tour of the Dominion the selector would get no better than a B or a C New Zealand side. Much better results would be gained in the matter of selecting the team for South Africa from a series of trials. The following motion, proposed by Mr. Dean and seconded by Mr. A. St. C. Belcher, was carried:—"That the ■«"'mcil, having thoroughly investigated