Selectors on lookout for Colts talent

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 32

Selectors on lookout for Colts talent

PA Masterton The All Black selectors, Brian Lochore, Stan Hill and Colin Meads, a North Island panel member, Leo Walsh and the New Zealand Colts’ coach, Alistair Tait, will all be in Masterton tomorrow to watch the rugby match between Wairarapa Bush and the New Zealand Maoris. Mr Lochore said the five would meet after the match to discuss the nominations for the New Zealand Colts team which will make an internal tour. Players under the age of 21 at the beginning of January are eligible for the Colts and the touring party will be named after 60 players attend a coaching school to be held in Christchurch on June 29 and 30. The names of those to attend that school will be announced on Sunday. Mr Lochore considers the coaching school, which is an innovation bom out of discussions between himself and the N.Z.R.F.U., will enable the selectors to have a closer look at the available talent In the past the Colts team has been named after just the one trial match and Mr Lochore

said this lay the system open to criticism that some of the country’s most talented youngsters had little chance to force their way into the side. “I think it is fair to say that in some areas where there was a depth of experienced provincial players it was more difficult for younger players to get the type of exposure given to their counterparts elsewhere,” Mr Lochore said.

“Now we’ll be able be put 60 players through the mill and that should give us a team which fairly represents the best young talent around.” Mr Lochore said activity at the coaching school would be intense. While the national selectors will have overall supervision of proceedings, several other people with acknowledged expertise would be called upon to help and the skill level of each individual, plus their ability to listen to and absorb knowledge, would be carefully observed. "The aim is to have those who finally make the Colts team to be our All Blacks of the future and the school should be a big help in that regard.”