AN OLD CONTROVERSY

Evening Star, Issue 21193, 29 August 1932, Page 14

AN OLD CONTROVERSY

COUNTRY PLAYERS AND OTAGO RUGBY TEAM At the smoke concert tendered to tho visiting Otago team in tho Palmerston Town Hall on Saturday night Mr J. Hay wanted to know why more country players could not find a place in the Otago representative side. Ho pointed out that the only country representative in the Otago team this season had proved to be the outstanding player in the side. He referred to M'Skimming, and contended that there were other country players possessing equal football ability. Mr J. Gordon, selector of the Eastern Districts team, said he had been conversing with one of the Otago selectors (Mr Donald Stuart) on the matter, and he had learnt that, had an Otago team being going on tour this season, five to six country players would have been selected for the trip. Mr Hay: I am not seeking Mr Gordon’s opinion. I want to hear what the Dunedin men have to say. Cries of “ Sit down, Jack; you’re talking too much.” Mr W. Pearson, one of the selectors of the Otago Junior team, said that Mr Hay had raised a question which had been a bone of contention .foe about twenty years. With the object of trying to meet the country demands the O.R.F.tJ. had in latter years organised a country week in Dunedin, and this had brought the players before tho eyes of the selectors. This year the union had adopted a new scheme. The various country teams had played against one another, and a representative side has played the Southland country districts’ team. .Mr Pearson contended that it was impossible to pick a team that would meet with every individual point of view. He was certain, however, that had. an Otago team been going on tour quite a number of country players would have been included. Last year three country players had been selected to go on tour, but unfortunately all three had been hurt on tour and had been unable to play football since. From the point of view of the O.R.F.TJ. it was sure that the country could produce the goods, but unfortunately the selectors could only see the country players once in the season, and it might just happen that the. very players who should be considered were off form.. It was ridiculous to judge player on one day’s performance. The speaker drew attention to Faulks, the ex-Pir-ates and Alhambra player, who represented Otago while in town, but who seemed to lose his form after he went to the country. He did not know why. Perhaps it was because he was unable to get the same training and coaching as in town. This was one of the handicaps which country players suffered, while the selectors could hardly bo expected to make too many experiments with uncertain material.