FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 September 1936, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

SPRINGBOKS PREPARE. Although the South African Rugby football selectors held a meeting in Johannesburg when the dicussious lasted for a couple of hours, no definite decisions were made affecting the selection of the Springboks for the tour of Australia and New Zealand, writes .1. Sacks, in the Rand Daily Mail on July 6. Size of Team. Rugby football enthusiasts are wondering just how many players will constitute the team. This is undoubtedly a question for the selectors to decide. The 1906-07 Springbok team to Britain consisted of 29 players; they engaged in 28 matches. The 1912 —13 Springboks in Britain were 28 strong and played 27 games. For the 1931—32 tour of Britain 29 players were chosen for the 26 matches, though D. O. Williams made the thirtieth player being sent oversea after the. tour had begun.

For the New Zealand and Australian tour of 1921, when 2 4. matches were played, 29 players made the trip. ' But the 1937 team will probably have to play over 30 matches, so that it will not be surprising if the next Springbok team constitutes the biggest touring- party of Rugby footballers eversent overseas from this country. Injuries take a heavy toll on tour, and there are going to be come particularly gruelling matches next year. It would not be surprising to find as many as 32 players making the trip. Problem of Trials, Obviously the question whether trials are to be held and, if so, when and where, is certain to be considered. These trials are in many ways a dillicuit problem, and the fact that there is a Currie Cup tournament in progress this season does not facilitate matters. This year the leading players have had to make arrangements foxgetting leave to play the ‘ ‘ away ’ ’ matches. And then there is the problem —for those lucky enough to be chosen —of securing the necessary long leave next year. It is going to be very hard to arrange trials at the end of this season, and they may have to take place in 1937.

But if they are held next year, they will have to take place comparatively early, for the Springbok team will px-obably have to sail about the middle of May.

There is some talk that the selectors will choose the “certainties” for the tour at the end of the present Currie Cup tournament.

Whatever the foundatioxi for this rumour may be, the idea is one to be commended and is likely to be generally approved of if it were adopted.

After all, the national selectors are following the present Currie Cup tomiiament so closely that when it is over they should be able to name from lu to 20 players who have been outstandingenough to warrant definite selection for the tour.

“It should not be necessary lor these “certainties” to have to go through another series of trials to prove their ability all over again. Of course, when it comes to filling the balance of the places, trials will be almost essential, for the claims of a good many promising players will probably appear to be much alike. Trials would enable the selectors to feel much happier about the filling of places in the touring side.