ALL BLACKS FOR FIRST TEST

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 5

ALL BLACKS FOR FIRST TEST

SELECTION PANEL’S POLICY “WILL WATCH A NUMBER OF PLAYERS” (New Zea Lana Press Association;

WELLINGTON, June 7. When choosing the All Black team | to play South Africa in the first test I at Dunedin, the New Zealand selec- I tors will not necessarily confine them- ; selves to tne players who took part ; in the trials. 'I hey will centinue to watch a numoer of players. The chairman of the selection panel (Mr . C. Morrison) saij this when he returned to Wellington alter watching the final trial at Christchurch. Besides watching representative and other matches, the selectors would attend the Springboks' first match on Saturday, and they would see as many of the other games as they could. Mr Morrison said that the selectors had nc wish to announce a team before they were required to do so—on July 11. The-e were still some players of whom they wished to see more, and in any case he did not think a team should be announced more than a week before a match. Discussing the performance of the Dew Zealand fifteen which was outplayed by a South Island fifteen in the final trial, Mr Morrison said the team had played one trial too many. The players were physically fit for it. but the mental strain of game, selection. game, selection, had begun to get them down. “I could see it at practice before the final trial,” he said. “They were just doing what they were asked and no more. Soon after the game had started they were dragging their legs Nothing he said, however, should be taken as evidence of any desire to detract from the credit due to the South Island for its splendid win. Mr Morrison added. But the psychological factor involved in the performance of the players in the New Zealand fifteen against fresh opponents would be taken into consideration in the selection of the All Blacks, Mr Morrison said in reply to another question. Through all the trials the players ' had been magnificent, and he was ■ convinced that after their spell away ! rr . the national Rugby scene those ' : -looted for the test would be really repdv for action.

His call last season for pyhsical fltnecs had been answered so well that there was nn question of the players not lasting through games for purely physical reasons. Not one pulled muscle was reported. Mr Morrison said the decision on whether the All Tracks would nlav a -r act ice game on the Tuesdav before the test was a matter for the New Zealand Ru?bv Union’s council. He would not express anv view whether

•his game against North Otago should be taken up. Tn general, such games fostered combination in a team, but the players tended to take car« of themselves because of the match to -ome. and it was in such conditions that injuries were incurred.