N.Z.R.U. move expected by Colin Meads

Press, 7 May 1986, Page 1

N.Z.R.U. move expected by Colin Meads

From D. J. CAMERON in Cape Town Coljn Meads, the All Black selector, who is coach of the Cavaliers rugby team in South Africa, expects the New Zealand Rugby Union council to take some action against him when the council holds an inquiry into the tour. “It is hard to say what they will do,” said Mr Meads yesterday. “They may be sitting in judgment on me when they are picking the selectors next year. It will be a matter of the views of people whether or not we should have gone on this trip.” Mr Meads sees his tour coaching as an extension of his work as an All Black selector.

“I think it is imperative that a national selector should be keeping an eye on many of the best players in New Zealand.

“From a common-sense point of view we would be seeing for ourselves how they are playing.” Mr Meads plans to be involved in the choice of the players for the All Black trial at Oamaru in June.

“I have arranged a telephone hook-up with Brian Lochore, the All Black coach, on the Monday before I leave for home,” he said.

Mr Meads repeated his earlier assertion that he had not received the Telex message sent from.

London by Mr Ces Blazey, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union council, warning him of the consequences of the tour and pressing for it to be abandoned.

“The first time I saw the Telex was last Saturday when I received a copy of it from the New Zealand Rugby Union, relayed by the South African Rugby Board.

“When I heard that the original Telex from Ces had gone astray I sent him a message saying I had not received the Telex. Obviously it got tangled up among the Transvaal and South African authorities here,” said Mr Meads. “Had I received the original Telex immediately, I would have had to put it before the players and let them make the decision.

“Thinking back, I do not think the Telex would have made any difference to their decision to carry on with the tour, although that is only my personal view.”

With that problem passed, Mr Meads looks forward to the challenge of four “tests" against the Springboks on four consecutive Saturdays and possibly with the feeling that the odds are stacked against the Cavaliers. “The standard of provincial sides has improved a lot since I was last here in 1970 with the All Blacks.