‘Merit-only’ ’Bok tours in future?

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 4

‘Merit-only ’ ’Bok tours in future?

From T. P. McLEAN Johannesburg

A condition of future tours of New Zealand by South African rugby teams would be that merit selection must govern the choice of the Springboks. The manager of the All Blacks, Mr N. H. Stanley, said this at a press conference yesterday.

Mr Stanley also took a stand against long tours. Future tours, he said, should be limited to 11 matches, including two tests. Coincidentally, the All Blacks’ coach, Mr J. J. Stewart, recommended that the differential penalty should be introduced into the game that players at the line-out should be permitted to stand shoulder to shoulder, that the team having the throw-in from touch should be allowed to throw the ball down their own line and that the mark for fair catch should be eliminated. Asked about New Zealand’s chances against the Lions next year, Mr Stewart replied: “I will probably be looking at the matches on television or else caddying for my wife while she is play-

ling golf—no New Zealand] 'coach has ever survived a j I tour of South Africa.” i To a questioner who (asked: "If invited, would you, Istand for next year’s selec-j ! tion committee?” Mr Stewart 1 (replied in good humour: “Up i to now this has been a plea-j Isant press conference.” Pressed harder he said: “A Hot of water will flow under the bridge before next year.” “I sincerely hope that relationships in rugby between New Zealand and South Africa will continue,” Mr Stanley said. “But the future is entirely over to South Africa. We in New Zealand have done all that we can do. “Coming here on this tour we have given them the breathing space they required. “Now it’s a matter for them to take the ball on from there. It’s entirely in their court. “I have no doubt a team (selected on merit will be required from South Africa.” i Mr Stanley said he had (privately discussed the I future of these relationships iwith the president of the South African Rugby Board, I Dr Danie Craven, but noth-1

jing had been done on an jofficial basisThe South Africans werr due to visit New Zealand r <l9Bl and there had bee (rumours of a visit in 1978 | But visits of this kin (would depend upon cor iditions being met by th South Africans. Mr Stanley said he couk’ not say whether the climab was right for a New Zealam Maori team to tour Soutl Africa next year. That was : matter entirely for the rugb' administrations of the tw< countries. “I still firmly believe did the right thing by com ing to South Africa,” M Stanley said. Mr Stanley was supporteby Mr Stewart in declarin' a six-week tour of 11 matches by 27 players to b ideal. Life was too competitive these days to permit Ion." tours, Mr Stewart said. The young men who made them were sacrificing career opportunities. Asked for views abou' South African refereeing, M Stewart said he would hav preferred the tests to I Irefereed by neutral refen