REPORTED COMMENTS BY MANAGER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 145, 20 June 1924, Page 8

REPORTED COMMENTS BY MANAGER

ALLEGED INTERVIEW DENIED ' l • ■ ■■

In the course of an interview' which appeared i nthis morning's "Manawatu Daily Times," Mr. S. S. Dean, manager of trie New Zealand All' Black teaim for the British tour, is reported to have made some. rather striking comments on the personnel of the team, the choice of the selectors, and other matters connected with the tour. " " .■

He is said to have stated that Knight's exclusion had caused most comment.. "Apart from the principle involved in his being passed over for: West, some good judges claim that the Taranaki man got the credit for much ' of: Knight's good work at Wellington on 3rd June," he is reported as. having said.. "There is a resemblance between the two men." ' Further remarks of the manager of the team are quoted as follows :— "There is a feeling that the best lock did not catch the selectors-notice. Williams is regarded as the king-pin, in that position . . Bailey was undoubtedly/ better than Robilliard ■on attack, but many keen observers noted the lack of opportunity Robilliard had in both the. Wellington matches, and his good defensive work." '"■■■•. "What about, Carroll ?" asked the interviewer. ■>.-'.'.-...'.

"Are you trying to pulßmy leg? There is, to my knowledge, no reason for his exclusion but the fact that he is not in the best thirteen New Zealand forwards. ' Two New 'Zealand selectors (N. 1.) do not rate him as a first-class forward, and say heMs a'shiner." In regard to coaching, Mr. Dean is reported as'follows: —"A great deal of importance is not ■ attached to the presence of a coach. Duncan was not a success in 1905, and in,. 1921 Stead and Alex. M'Donald were called off after-the second Test. George Nicholsori tried his hand without startling results. ■ Griffiths got the most out of the men that year. The trouble is that players think they know enough,, and they won't take any notice of what a coach tells them."

The. interview proceeds :—.. ' : "Why^ doesn't the New Zealand Union find away, of paying that .'three shillings a day?"—rNo. answer, . "Won't it come hard on some of the men?"

"A few may, have difficulty in keeping going. In fact, quite a nuriiber- will, unless some workable arrangement can be made to ration out each man's pinmoney." , ■' ' . "I see what, you mean, and am, positively certain'a banker will be in the interests of all hands. You won't have to. pay rthe same attention to 'detail as your predecessor?" '. ',- / "No, but unless they manage the accommodation and entertaining better than was done by New South Wales in 1922, thinfjs.yrill be at sixes-and-sevens."1 1 "I ant keen to'know what is being done in the matter of I publicity at Home." : ,:'■-..

, "I understand that the Government is deputing a member of the Publicity Office to. go through the United Kingdom with the team, and give an illustrated lecture on' New Zealand in the towns, where fixtures have been arranged the night before the,match." .. ()'...' .'.. With.reference to the-Question of representation at .the Imperial Rugby Conference, Mr.' Dean' is auqted : as, saying ;that two ,deleaates;. woujd !?'o.

"The question will be finally rTecided; at next week's' meeting, and .indications^ are- for \a special representative being: sent aloriir." . ■;■■'. ■. t; . '

"Sam Wilson or Jim M'Leod??'.; :■■ "".Tim does not want.to go-"- . | That means good-bye to Billy Stead going Home as coach?" ... ". "Presumably." ■ .