LETTER BOX

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 15

LETTER BOX

Country Backs

“After reading your report of the Town-Country Rugby in “The Press”— with which I wholeheartedly agree—it must have been an unpleasant surprise to many Town and Country supporters to hear the result of the selectors’ deliberations, when they gave a very poor hearing to the Country players to train in the Canterbury training squad. “Most people will have no complaint with the four forwards picked from the Country, but the omission of all the Country backs is astounding to say the least. “Over the last three or four years the Country has had the advice and coaching of Messrs R. H. Duff and J. D. Stewart which was reflected in the standard of play produced by the Country, especially in the back line which in most years has been the weak point through lack of coaching generally. “But in the annual match both departments excelled themselves and scored two tries to Town’s one—one

try started by Smith (Country) who drew his man, and knew when to pass, for Johns to finish off a very good movement was the outstanding feature of the match. “Surely the Country backs do not have to possess the qualities of an A. E. Cooke to be picked for the Canterbury training squad. “It will be noted that the training squad contains all the Town backs who played against Country, including the three emergencies, and two other players unable to play on that particular day —and there may be others—and yet not a single Country back is thought good enough to add to the squad. “It would appear to a great many football enthusiasts (Town and Country), that the selectors (or is it just the backs selector?) picked his team of backs before the match was played, this match being recognised as the trial match from which to pick the nucleus of the Canterbury representatives.”—l am, etc., V. CRAW.