FORTUNE'S HAND

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 22

FORTUNE'S HAND

NEW ZEALAND SELECTION

The most prominent fact to be deduced from recent trials, which led up to the selection of the 1935 All Blacks is that fortune played a strong hand in finally deciding who should receive the selectors'' nod (states "Scrum," a Hawke's Bay critic). In all probability the combination being sent to England represents .-Newv Zealand's Rugby strength, but it is doubtful if all the candidates for fern-leaf honours received adequate opportunity of justifying their' claims: .If they had, there is probability that; the personnel of the touring side would have contained a few names which • haye been discarded in the final shuffle.

Sight must not be lost of the; fact that the task lacing the selection com-mittee-was no light one. Nor> can. it be said that the Dominion was not adequately combed for talent in the early stages of the trials. But in the final stages I>ame bestowed < her favours on certain players and practically ignored others who might just as successfully have made the distance. • ■■'.'

DISTRIBUTION OF CHANCES. ' In the earlier games some players were not well paired with others, and consequently their play was affected. .This occurred in many cases during the trials,: and a number'of players who suffered in this way were dropped. Other players, however, were the victims of the same misfortune during the early trials, and yet were given further chances. A case in point was Solomon, the Auckland five-eighth,' for, after) -looking well o"ut. of the running in the Auckland, match, he was taken south and lined up in the final parade, with the result that he was included -in the final selection. It is reasonable to suppose that had other players received similar chances, they would have increased the selectors' problem.

' The selectors appear to have dropped some players altogether too iiurriedly. This applied particularly in the cases of players drawn from provinces not directly represented on the' selection committee. There is a weakness which becomes apparent immediately. In the selection of the All Blacks,' that match-winning factor, goal-kicking, seems" to have been neglected. Gilbert, is the recognised goal-kicker, but beyond that the combination is practically barren of talent in this direction. UNLUCKY TO MISS. The three Hawke's Bay backs, Smith, Apsey, and Le Quesne, all acquitted themselves well in the trials, and must be regarded as unlucky in missing the trip Home. Smith arid Apsey compared favourably with two of the three wing-quarters chosen, while, Le Quesne was one of the sufferers in the pairing bogy. . It was unfortunate for Smith that his shoulder injury kept him out of the final trial, for there seems to be little doubt that he only had to turn on one of the characteristic displays for which he is known in Hawke's Bay and he would have gone into the team with colours flying.

■The opinion held by some critics that Mataira was not up to All Black standard was not justified, and he must be considered unfortunate in being left out. In-the same breath, however, it must be admitted that players like Deavoll (Canterbury), Fastier (Taranaki), and Hattersley. (Canterbury) were equally unlucky. Deavoll's magnificent place-kicking was a fact which appeared to make his chances rosy, and his omission caused considerable surprise.