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HIGH STANDARD

NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY

ALL BLACKS' PROSPECTS

Reports of the high standard of Rugby football in. New South Wales were confirmed by Mr. H.I. Austad, who returned by the Maunganui to-day from a visit to Australia. "The All Blacks," he said in conversation with a "Post" reporter, "will have to go very hard to win the main matches of their tour in Australia. Rugby football over there this year is of a particularly high standard, and the people generally are looking forward with confidence to the visit of tho New Zealand, team."

Talking with Mr. J. Noseda, secretary of the New South Wales Kugby Union, Mr. Austad gathered that the number of players taking on the Rugby Union game in New South Wales was increasing yearly at a rate, of somewhere near 100 per cent. This year the Rugby Union had the use of the Sydney Cricket Ground, and this seemsd to be a very big factor in advancing the game. "Sydney this year seems to have a number of very promising inside backs," Mr. Austad remarked, "and the New South Wales representative team should be brilliant in this department.-. Towers is an outstanding five-eighth; and is quite idolised by the Sydney crowds. He is a wizard. Tho play of the backs generally is on a high plane, and the forwards play the-usual fast: and open game. lam of the opinion that our forwards, if they play a good rucking game, should be afble to take charge in their particular department. ' After considering all circumstances, I think that the games, particularly -against Now South Wales, will ~be very even indeed, that is, if the New Zealand team plays up to usual standard. I cannot get away from the fact that the New South "Wales inside backs are a combination brilliant -enough to test but any team thoroughly." .:■■'•; CHANCE FOR COUNTRY PLAYERS. The series of. "Country. .W.eek" matches, a system which is adopted by the Rugby Union ancl League codes in New South Wales, was regarded by Mr. Austad as a very . interesting feature of Australian football. The players from the country districts are brought 'into town and for four or five days there ■ are town and country matches which give the selectors ample opportunity of seeing the players from the back disriets in action," he said: "The factt: that; the country players receive this consideration must be an, incentive to them to show their best form throughout the season. The system provides for form over a season being considered in the selection of representatives from the country districts; for instance those players who showed up well last year would be included in this year's country week matches. Country week this year has given the selectors an opportunity of picking -the best talent available for. the teams to oppose the All Blacks. The system is one worthy of consideration for Naw Zealand, where possibly a country week could be held in the four main- centres. It would no doubt be a great aid to'the New Zealand selectors in finding the\players to meet the British team next year.''

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19290617.2.93

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 139, 17 June 1929, Page 11

Word Count
518

HIGH STANDARD Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 139, 17 June 1929, Page 11

HIGH STANDARD Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 139, 17 June 1929, Page 11