SOUND SELECTIONS IN RUGBY TRIAL TEAMS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28906, 28 May 1959, Page 16

SOUND SELECTIONS IN RUGBY TRIAL TEAMS

TTSUALLY the three Queen’s V Birthday week-end representative matches played,, by Canterbury Bugby teams are regarded by selectors, and players, as trials for the provincial team. This year the New Zealand Rugby Union’s council has asked that these matches should also be regarded as regional trials, with the result that even more interest than usual will centre round performances of the players, chosen to represent Canterbury. this week-end. The two. Canterbury selectors (Messrs B. C. Stuart and. P. B. Vincent) and the B team selectors (Messrs W. Wakelln and L. J. Russell) are to be congratulated on their selections. A few players are a little unlucky to miss selection for one or other of the two teams, but there are few, if any, who are lucky to have been included. Strong Side The A' team which is to tour the West Coast is a formidable one which, with about five of ‘hose in the B team to play MidCanterbury, should constitute the representative squad this year. Of those players unlucky to miss selection, undoubtedly the most unfortunate is the Christchurch half-back, D. Harding. He has played particularly well in club Rugby so far this season, and the only occasion on which he was not master of the situation was in the match against Old Boys, where he received a severe drubbing from D. J. Graham. Such was Graham’s form that day, however, that any halfback would have had difficulty in displaying top form. Last year one of the most oftrepeated pleas was for a halfback with a long pass. It is apparent that M. F. Whitta has tried to answer that call for already his long service has stood out. Until last Saturday he had some difficulty in securing the necessary accuracy. If he can maintain his accuracy of last Saturday. the New Zealand selectors cannot but be impressed. Half-Backs The other main contender for the half-back’s position, R. M. Taiaroa, will play in the B team. This selection cannot be regarded as a reflection or a comment upon his' play. It is likely he has been kept in Christchurch to pair with R. D. Hoskin, his club first five-eighths, who was not available to travel. Taiaroa, although not the possessor of such a long pass as Whitta, is an extremely fast half-back, conscientious and untiring on cover defence, and hardy enough to stand the knocks that must come the way of any half-back. The most obvious omission in the forwards is that of J. N. Creighton, who Jias gained aelec-

tion in the regional trial over the hookers, D. Young and K. J. O’Shannessy, both of whom will play during the week-end. Creighton’s selection in the regional trial is rather surprising. On form this season O’Shannessy is to be preferred. Unlucky The only other players a trifle unfortunate in not finding a place in the provincial teams are M. Hern and K. Orsbourn. Orsbourn played some outstanding games for Canterbury last year and he has been in good form this year. Hern, making a late start in club Rugby, was brilliant against Christchurch, and he always gives his best. There are some features of the trial selections that are extremely puzzling. One of them is the playing of Graham at No. 8 again—a position for which he is unsuited—when H. C. Burry, the best No. 8 forward In Canterbury and, on last year’s form, one of the best in the Dominion, is to be an emergency. Two of the South

Island selectors have already seen Graham in action as a sideranker and know how good he is. If, presumably, Young has been omitted from the trial team and included as an emergency because his place in the South Island team is practically assured, then surely the same thing could have been done to Graham. On his form he must be certain of his place in the second New Zealand trial at Timaru, so why not try out another player in the first trial?

The greatest surprise, however, was B. Watt’s nbn-inclusion in the team. As a product of the New Zealand coaching school this year Watt has impressed as a certain trialist. Here again, however, the selectors already know his form and he is probably being held in reserve for the second trial.