NO GREAT APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 126, 30 May 1932, Page 10

NO GREAT APPEAL

SELECTOR'S DIFFICULTY

(By "Drop-Kick.")

In choosing the players to represent the North Island the selector has been dependent largely upoa the nominations made by the selectors, in the various unions; it seems, in fact, that the choice has been confined to the" nominees. That being the case, Mr. McKenzie has found I himself in the position of having little from which to pick and choose for certain places in the team. As has akjady been pointed, out in "The Post," there was a dearth of five-eighths! among the nominees, and this, no doubt, has accounted for the inclusion of Farmer as *econd five-eighths. Farmer, who played fairly well in the combined team against the British tourists at Gisborne in 1930 (it was stated in one report that he scored a brilliant try), was nominated as a centre three-quarter, a position in which he usually plays. It was mentioned, too, that 'he could play as a five-eighths, and this left him with practically a clearj run in for the . position. Lilburne apparently gained the first five-eighths position without opposition. There are players in Wellington, and possibly elsewhere, who have shown up conspicuously as five-eighths, and one of these is Pollock, the only Wellington nominee turned down by the selector. For his versatility Pollock -would be a handy man in any side. Then, there is Page, who has played his best football as a first five-eighths, and who is now playing splendidly in that, position. It seems that the North Island selector would have been quite justified on this occasion in not confining his selection to the players nominated.

The North Island team does not appeal as being a side of the standard required for the occasion. The selection, as part of the process in building .up the New Zealand team, does not promise any too well for the picking of a side of the right calibre .to send to Australia. Seeing that the New Zealand team is to be chosen immediately after the North-South match, and allowing for the fact that, in the opinion of the selectors the teams for the inter-Island match are the best available, there is a distinct danger of the team for Australia being made up of players participating in next Saturday's match, at Christchurch. Should that happen the five-eighths for the Australian tour would select tbemselves^-Farmer, Day, and Oliver* Lilburne not being available for. the. tour. That danger should be removed; it should be impressed upon the two New Zealand selectors that they are quite at liberty to go outside -the nominees for players likely to be of service in. Australia. Even'among the nominees there are players who appear to be better qualified for places in a New Zealand team than some.of_thpse who have been selected.

Collins" is quite a good full-back, but it is questionable whether he is superior to Heazlewood, Roach, or even Pollock. Ball has not had many opportunities of giving of his best as a wing-three-quarter, but should go well in good company. It is doubtful, however, whether he* will get the chances that should come his way. Caughey (centre) was regarded in Auckland as being lucky to be nominated on this season's form. Bullock-Douglas played towards the end of last year's interIsland match, but he will have to be a much-improved player to justify his inclusion this . time. An outstanding wing-three-quarter in Wellington this season is Hamilton, but he was not nominated. He is a "find," and it should not take him long to' make his mark in big football. So far as .the half-back position is. concerned there could be little doubt about Kilby's claim to the position ahead of Corner.'

The North Islaud forwards have been chosen with a view to having them packed in a 34-1 formation. Finlayson (Auckland) can be counted very unlucky in missing a place. Another member of the family from North Island has been chosen, and if he is as good as either of his brothers he should be well worth his place. Palmer is little more than a fair type of front-row forward, but Jessep is very solid. In the middle row Satherley (who is an ex-Auckland player) has been going great" guns in Eawkes Bay, and Steere is reported to be on the improve after an enforced spell. R. Clarke is a good forward from Southern Taranaki, and the other middle-ranker, McLean, is showing ■ excellent form locally again this year. Solomon, the back ranker, is included largely on his prominence previously ap a wing-forward. While the pack appears to be quite a solid one, there are some fine forwards in the North Island- who must be counted very unlucky in not gaining places. But that is usually the case, and with the number of players nominated for the pack it was evidently more difficult to pick and choose between the forwards than was the case with the backs.