ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 95, 17 January 1924, Page 8

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

METHODS OF SELECTION PROSPECTS OF N.S.W. VISIT FINALISING ARRANGEMENTS The prospects of a visit to South Wales, en route, and arrangements for selecting the team for the All-Black tour of Great Britain and France, were discussed by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union last night.. An invitation was received, tlirougn th» High Commissioner in London, from the Newton-Abbott Urban Counci, where the 1905 All Blacks had their training headquarters, that the 1/--1 team should have tho same training ground. The 'matter wps referred to the chairman, to confer with Mi. lx. IL Duron, manager of the 1900 team. The representative of Now Zealand on tho English Rugby Union wrote, expressing the opinion that the New Zea'a';d Union was well advised to hare foregone the daily allowance in all the circumstances of the case. Reviewing the published (cabled) nxtures for the All Black tour, members drew attention to the fact that the last three matches arranged by the English Rugby Union were a lost match against England, and two matches against France (to tour). It was suggested tnat these weie severe fixtures with which to finish off the tour. - It was decided not to take action, pending receipt of olltcial advice, confirming the fixtures 00 The New South Wales Rugby Union wrote thanking the New Zealand R.F.U. for their decision that the All Blacks’ play three matches in Sydney en route to England. They ricked that a fourth match be played, making two Tests and two matches against the Metropolis. •, , Tlie chairman reported that he nrui written to the chairman of the New South Wales Union, informing him that the visit to New South Wales would have to be reviewed, on account, of the financial aspect and of the difficulty in making tha necessary connection with the Remuera, l y which it was intended that the team should travel. To meet the conditions of the New South Wales tour, Mr. Dean pointed .out that it would involve an extra charge of about £36 a man for the team to continue their journey to England by the next beet connecting steamer, the Ormuz, which had no second-class accommodation. The New South Wales authorities stated in their letter that they did not wish to underake any financial responsibiliy in the matter of steamer fares’. It was important that the expenses of transport should not be greater than those for which the English Rugby Union was responsible by the Remuera. The finances of the were, said Mr. Dean, paramount. After a brief discussion it was decided to defer the matter until the next meeting. Discussing the arrangements still further, the chairman said that they had a very satisfactory nrangement with tho New Zealand Shipping Company, which had reserved the' whole of one side of the vessel for the team. The committee discused the applications of three gentlemen to travel, with the official All Black party. Opinion was somewhat divided on the question. One member suggested that the number be limited to five persons. If this were bo, said another, ttje committee should wait and deal with all applications on their merits. The chairman suggested that the passage of a resolution, “viewing with approval the applications of tho three gentlemen,” would not definitely bind the committee. Eventually it was decided to approve the application*. Trial Matches. \ Two schemes were put before the Management Committee for trial matches for the selection of the All Black team. Mr. T. A. Fletcher proposed: —North Island: Auckland-North Auckland v, Waikato, Thames, Bay 'of Plenty, at Auckland (team A to be chosen from above players). Taranaki v. Wanganui-King Country,; at New Plymouth (team B to be chosen from these players). Team A to play team B at Wanganui. Hawke’s Bay-East Coast-Poverty Bay v. Wairarapa-Bush Districts, at Napier (team C to bo chosen from these players). Wellington v. ManawatuHorowhenua, at Wellington (team D to be chosen from these players). Team C to play team D at Masterton. South. Island.—Nelson-Golden BayMotueka v. Marlborough, at Nelson. Canterbury v. South Canterbury, at Christchurch. Buller v. West Coast, at Greymouth. (Select team from abort, matches). Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill. Otago-Southland v. tho rest, at Dunedin. Select two teams from South Island. May 31, Possibles v. Probables. North v. South, curtainraiser, at Wellington. June 3, Posslbes v. Probables, curtain-raiser, at Wellington.. He suggested a sole selector for each island and thb two together to pick the New Zealand team. Mr. E. A. Little proposed the following scheme :—That a selector, knowing representative < Rugby for some time past, should select fifteen “certainties” for the tour. With regard to the remaining members, a team, picked from districts outside Auckland, Taranaki. Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, to play a team picked from districts outside Canterbury, Otago, Southland. Team from Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Auckland, to play team from Otago, Canterbury and Southland. North Island v. South Island teams to be chosen from all playing in foregoing matches. Strong objection was taken to Mr. Little’s scheme, as it would exempt 15 “certainties” from, being tested it’ actual games. Mr. Little replied that there .would be 60, other players, from which the remaining All Black team would he chosen. Messrs. Dean, Little and _ Hormg were appointed a sub-committee to draw up a scheme. Mr. V. Meredith (Auckland) who was one of the New Zealand selecfd-s last year but did not act, submitt''T the following scheme at the spec l ’’! meeting in September last: —“That there should be one selector, wh< should be prepared to give the whoP of one month to watching a. series o' trying-out matches. For trying-oul matches each Island shall be, subdivided into two areas, and in each of these two areas two matches will be played on a Wednesday and , Saturday. The teams shall lie picked and assembled by tho selectors of the affiliated unions in the area. The matches shall ho ‘"•fimged in series, so that the solo V"'- Zealand selector shall be able to of them. The North Island and Island selectors shall view the rrvf-ig-out matches in their particular Island. From tho trying-out matches the teams to represent the North and South Islands for the annual match shall be selected. The players who are tried out should be men who are able to make the trip to England.” The union, at that special meeting, passed a resolution, approving the principle of Mr. Meredith’s methods.