RUGBY SCHISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 8

RUGBY SCHISM.

DIVIDED ALL BLACKS. DISSENSION IN TEAM. AMAZING SELECTION METHODS. UNPOPULARITY OF CAPTAIN. "The tour of the All Blacks in South Africa threatens to be the biggest comedy—or tragedy—that the Rugby world has ever known," states an exAucklander now resident in South Africa, and former keen follower of Rugby football in New Zealand, writing to a friend in Auckland from Johannesburg on the eve of the second Test match. The ex-Aucklander, who writes in a kindly yet most candid way, says that Rugby followers in New Zealand have probably been surprised by the strange reversals of form by the All Blacks, and thinks when the full and true inside story ia told on the return of the team the people of New Zealand will get a decided shock. He adds that he has been in close touch with members of the team, and there is not the slightest doubt that Maurice Brownlie has not been a success as captain. Some of the members of the team have not been on speaking terms with him for some time,

"One of the South African selectors told me," says the ex-Aucklander, "that Maurice Brownlie was all that was wrong with the New Zealand team, and another of the shrewdest Rugby brains in South Africa has expressed the opinion that he could make the All Blacks into a team of world-beaters in a week—but without Maurice Brownlie in the team!" The writer says that the methods of selecting the All Blacks have been amazing. The selection committee consists of Messrs. Hornig, Nicholls, McGregor, Stewart, and Brownlie. The man who knows the most about the strategy of Rugby is Mark Nicholls, but he has conssitently been ignored. They have never accepted his views, and there seems to be a conspiracy to keep him out of the teams. Proceeding, the wri#»>r says that the AH Blacks admit thali from the playing viewpoint they have b«en "up against it" by reason of the fact that the South African forwards are superior in the scrummages. The loss of Kilby through injury has been severely felt, as he was playing in great form. In conclusion, the writer says that some of the members of the team have got disheartened through the dissension in the team, and there will be some plain speaking when they get back to New Zealand.