Key All Blacks unlikely to tour so readily

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 32

Key All Blacks unlikely to tour so readily

PA Auckland New Zealand rugby will have to face the fact that not all of its key players will be available for all overseas tours in the future, according to the All Blacks manager, Mr Russell Thomas.

Speaking after the team’s arrival at Auckland, yesterday after the tour of England, Scotland and Italy, Mr Thomas said there was likely to be more tours in the future.

“It is inevitable with more countries becoming involved in the game,” he said. As a result there was a likelihood of more players reaching international status, said Mr Thomas. “The players can’t go everywhere, but we will still have enough key people.” Although the touring side.

did not have some of the experienced players from recent years, Mr Thomas said that the team had still risen to the occasion, particularly in the test against England. Graham Mourie, the captain, who has announced he will not be available for the tour of Australia next year said there were always players wanting to tour. “You have to be prepared to make sacrifices.”

He said it was up to the administrators of the sport to decide whether or not they were committing the players to too much rugby. Although he will not be going to Australia, Mourie is still keen to tour Wales at the end of the year for that Union Centennial year. “But it is not up to the players to

choose what tours they want to go on,” he said. Mourie said he would not be surpised if some other players declared themselves unavailable for the Australian tour because of home and work commitments.

“But we have younger players coming on.” said Mourie. The rebuilding done with the touring side had brought several new players into prominence. He said the tour had been just as successful as last year. “We had a lot of young guys this time whereas last year most of us had been together in 1977.” Mourie was of the opinion that the tour was harder than last year because of more matches against the stronger combined sides and because several players had to play in most of the games.