FINDING PLAYERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1923, Page 11

FINDING PLAYERS

FOR INTERNATIONAL

RUGBY

NEW ZEALAND'S PRESTIGE AT

STAKE

WANTED: IMPROVED SYSTEM OF

SELECTION,

(By "Drop-Kick.")

No secret is made of the fact that a movement is on foot this season to find the players who are to be called upon next year to uphold New Zealand's proud place in the world of Rugby. In choosing the teams for the North-South match to-morrow, the selectors kept that in mind, and to those who have doubts about the teams being the best obtainable from both Islands, it may be explained that the selectors are of opinion that there are other players equally as good as, if not better than, those who participate* in to-morrow's match. The NorthSouth match is not serving its right purpose this year; it cannot bo said to be a real trial of strength between the two Islands; it is being used to some extent as a try-out for players who show promise of being likely aspirants for New Zealand representative honours next year. There seems to be a possibility, too, that the team to represent New Zealand against New South Wales shortly will he chosen from the players in. to-morrow's big match, but, as there is no doubt that, some players not- in the mutch to-morrow are worthy of a place in this year's New Zealand team, it is to be hoped that the New. Zealand selectors will not rely solely on the North and South representatives for the team to meet New South Wales. Last year New Zealand lost the "Ashes" to New South Wales, and to use this year's team for experimental purposes is going to court danger. Rugby is fast regaining. its strength across the Tasmau, and the New South Wales representatives .arc going to be hard to beat when they come across. The- very best team that New Zealand can produce must be put in the field against the visitors.

WAKE UP, NEW ZEALAND!

While it is satisfactory to know that a building-up process is under way, it is doubtful whether the method of bringing, out players is satisfactory; indeed, there is need of a. better system. As fay as Bugby is concerned New Zealand must wake up; the controlling body must be alive to the requirements for procuring New Zealand's best material fo" international contests. Prior to the war there was not so much cause to be concerned. From season to season there were older players staying in the game to acquaint the younger players with the secrets of the success of "the Dominion's best teams, and so there was always a sound backbone. But the' war broke that backbone, and since then it has practically meant that the game has had to make a fresh start. Thus, the building-up, of the Dominion's representative team to its former standard is going to take longer than in pre-war days, when each New Zealand team had a solid backbone of players who knew their game—the game that mad© New Zealand famous . -

A commendable effort towards "'bringing New Zealand Rugby on a par with its former greatness was made when the .Springboks visited this country two years ago. Before choosing the New Zealand team a Possible-Probable match was played, in addition to the North-South match, and that was of much "assistance to the selectors.

EXTRA MATCHES WANTED. _ What is wanted in order to find New Zealand s best players—practically two teams will be required next year for the tour- to England—is something more than •an inter-Island match. Two years ago tho selectors made a proposal which, it is regretted, has never been adopted- in spite of the fact that Mr. A. J. Griffiths, who has been a New Zealand selector foi' some years, has endeavoured to push the matter.' The selectors considered that two teams should be chosen from each Island—one from the larger unions, which might be called "A" (this team to be picked by tho selectors from those unions), and ono from the smaller unions, to be called "B" (the same to be picked by the- selectors in touch with the workings of those unions). Tho A and B teams in the South Island would meet each other; similarly the A and B teams in the North. From these games the North and South Island teams would be chosen. The extra expense entailed in carrying out such a suggestion would be amply warranted. New Zealand's prestige is at stake, and the financial part, of the business should be made a secondary matter. The North Island selectors this year are apparently not satisfied, and they have made a proposal, similar to that indicated above, to the New Zealand Rugby Union. It should b? adopted.

The onus is on the various unions to bring out their players. It is quite an easy-matter to pick players when teams are brought forward in such a way as to give the Kew Zealand selectors an opportunity of seeing all the best players from the minor and major unions in" action. Prior to taking their places in the A and B teams, the players would bo carefully scrutinised in various matches by their own union selectors, and, if the latter were capable judges, the players should be somewhere about the best. By bringing them together in A v. B matches, the island and New Zealand selectors would feel more satisfied that the ■players were the-best that could-be obtained from all tho unions, and, that being so, the New Zealand selectors

would have those extra matches to give them far more confidence in selecting their' team than they have at the present time, being now practically confined to the North-South match for their choice of New Zealand players. Conditions differ considerably from those of years ago, when there were many really good players. Every nook and corner must be searched at the present time, particularly for backs. It is quite apparent, even m Wellington, that the backs generally do not come up to the standard required for a New Zealand team that will repeat the deeds of the original All Blacks. For'some places in the North Island team this year the nominations were very poor, and it must have been disheartening to the selectors to find only two players actually nominated for the first five-eighth position There is need for a wider search, and it can be made in the mannir indicated— jiu A v. B match in each Island prior to the North-South match. Long and careful preparation is necessary for the big tour next year, and a start wßhLt'La? 16 ]mCS Sh°Uld be «**» "A STIFF PROPOSITION." "■Rugby Fan" writes as follows :-"I suppose, like myself, there are numbers \'\ \our readers who are anxiously waiti»jf to learn what kind of a team the •selectors are gom- to c |, oose (o ' sent, New Zealand in the .Rugby matches agamst New South WaleV 1 do hope tins year the selectors will 'wake «|» .and rea , lg l|w( . K<w Zm -Ke JSew .South \\ales team; they have improved out of Slg ht, and are now worthy TiTw wi hf vo seen thei" &*y.*& so know. What i s required is to select our team early, get them together for trainmg and team organisation, and so stand each other; not asi<;iisnili,r a the New Zealand selectors realise this fact or how can they be made to?" 7 T»rV In i]K llill!ds of the New Zealand R,,gbj; Union. After Z .Springbok invasion, 11, C New 'l^,l^ selectors reported to the New Ze , d Union ,-,« f o ii oWg : . <Th experience „ W had m connection witli our dut ™ M Now Zealand electors makes , ™ plmtic m our declaration th In inte " tels and allowing them tn w?li ! streets with thei? accompanying IL,t tions is useless." The Alnn a i™ i X -ittee approved of tL^ n" wCt has since been done in the matter?