RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29548, 24 June 1961, Page 17

RANDOM REMINDER

Each year, Rugby teams from the two islands do battle in one of the season's major fixtures. Each year, for the 15-man SfMith Island team, the Canterbury Rugby Union nominates a large number of players. This season, the total was 18. Unions such as Southland and Otago put forward lists of comparable length, and there are nominations from elsewhere, too. All this must be very /Confusing for those charged with the impossible task of selecting a team to satisfy the supporters of the game in the various centres. It seems a shame that so many young player*

must be disappointed each time. On reflection, it seems that New Zealand's sporting record requires some building up, and if it may seen to some that turning back the clock is a retrograde step, New Zealanders are eager enough foi victory to swallow theii pride for a while. There was a time wher visiting teams in Neu Zealand played agains odds. Looking at the activities of the Englist soccer team this season the successes of th< Indian hockey players taking a brief shuddering peek at the cricket re cords, recalling that th< All Blacks have in recen time* been beaten bj

d France and South Africa, a, and examining the perj- formances of our wrestd lers, table tennis players, ig Davis Cup representam lives, and Canada Cup ig golfers, it is clear the > time has come for a 1- reversion to the old >r order. ir What a relief for the more parochial specta■n tors at Lancaster Park, w to be able to see so many st of their favourites when le a New Zealand Rugby ih team is playing in Christn. church Although from >e the complaints of the •s, worst of the die-hards, a ig Canterbury muster of 23 e- in the New Zealand le Thirty to play the ut Springboks might still >y seem insufficient.