The Hawera Star MONDAY, MAY 18, 1925. THE NEW ALL BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 May 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star

MONDAY, MAY 18, 1925. THE NEW ALL BLACKS

Delivered every evening by S o’clock -n Hawern, Manaia Nornianby, Okaiawa, Kltham, Mangatoki, Kapnnga, Alton. Hurleyvillc, Patea, Wnverley, Mokoia, W'nakamara, Uhar.yai. Meremere, Prater lfoa<l, an Ara’rata.

The New Zealand Rugby Union is in danger of earning- a reputation for fickleness. First of all it decided to exclude members of the all-conquering 192+ All Blacks from selection in the side to visit New .South Wales this season. Then, at the annual meeting of the union a few weeks ago, that decision was reversed, and: district unions were given to understand that the claims of 1924 players would be considered by the selectors, nominations being made accordingly. Now the New Zealand team is announced, and with it an explanation is offered that players who recently returned from Britain were not treated as eligible. This indecision is about on a par with the. mysterious “mistake’’ by which the New South Wales versus Taranaki-Wanganui mutch, to be played in September next, was originally given out as set down for Hawera when (we were told Inter) it really had been intended for New Plymouth all the time. Of course the two names are so much alike —just as London and Con-

stantiuople—that “mistakes” of this kind have to be excused. It will be - interesting to hear now why, apparently, the will of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union has been flouted in the selection of the team for Australia. There would have been no complaint had no 1924 All Blacks been selected —quite possibly the present team, with a little practice, could beat the returned heroes —but there is a difference between not being selected and not being considered for selection. The twin ideas at the annual meeting of the union, seemed to be that to exclude members of last year’s team from selection on this occasion would not be treating New South AYales altogether fairly, and would also tend to cheapen the honour of wearing a New Zealand jersey. Someone in authority seems now to have decided otherwise. Of the twenty-three players selected to go to Sydney one or two can be accounted lucky, but the selectors have wisely banked on youth, and it should be possible to choose from the party a XA worthy of the highest traditions of New Zealand Rugby. Harris, Bell and Wright were knocking hard at the door when the big team was picked a year ago, and Elvv, shifted out from centre to wing, developed real international form towards the close of last season in club and provincial football. Wise is one of the lucky ones, but he has a fine turn of speed and some determination. Johnson and Lawson are both young and keen; eighteen months ago they would have been ranked with the All Black McGregor, and this tour may show them to be still in his class. Hawke’s Bay unearthed Corkhill when Mill went up iiigher last year, and tiiere were not wanting critics who considered the change profitable to the Eanftrriy Shield team. Apparently Donald is to lead the All Blacks, and his selection in that capacity siioulo meet with general approval. He has played some sterling games for New Zealand in the past. The pack e.hosen is voting and speedy, yet not witnoiu weight, and should do well on Australian' grounds. Again perhaps one or two men are fortunate to win international honours, but all will be triers. It is not a satisfactory position that a New Zealand team should have to be selected so early in the season and before the first interprovincial matches have been played, and the selectors api pear to have, done the best possible in the circumstances. It will come as something of a blow to Canterbury that only three of her dozen or fifteen nominees were considered worthy of places, but the team chosen is proof i that'the selectors are not to be stam- ; peded by any province with large ideas of its own importance. Again some of the, best players in the game were not available, and again Toiere are good men left out; but the wisdom of last year’s choice was amply justified, and the selection committee remains practically unaltered, so criticism may be somewhat less free this time. There was an old player in Auckland who said that the 1924 All Blacks were the poorest lot who had ever left New Zealand. It might be, wise to wait for bis opinion of the new team.