ONUS ON PLAYERS, SELECTOR, COACH

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1947, Page 3

ONUS ON PLAYERS, SELECTOR, COACH

NORTHLAND’S challenge to Southland has imposed a tremendous responsibility on players, the selector and coach.

The first essential to success is mutual confidence and trust in the ability of all to play their part in a manner that will do justice to Northland Rugby.

The shield campaign must be regarded in the light of a practical undertaking. Sentiment must be foreign to the preparations. A full realisation of the task confronting us is a major requirement. Today the first trial game was played at Kaitaia. Next week the second takes place at Dargaville. Then the Maoris play the Pakehas at Moerewa.

The Northland representatives will have a full-dress rehearsal against a local team. That should serve a useful purpose to the players, and to the selector, coach and manager (Mr Roy Murdoch). It should show whether each man is fully aware of his responsibility. He must not flirt with the fundamentals of the game but must show the coach and his comrades that he can be relied upon to do what is required of him—all must act as the coach has told them to act. They are no longer Rugby stars—just one-fifteenth of Northland’s most important football formation. On the following Saturday, that formation is thrown against the might of Auckland —but we firmly believe that Auckland is no'- mightier than Northland. However, the Auckland match is just as important as the shield fixture just a week later.

A week after that Northland steps on to the field at Eden Park. Then, on that great day, August 9, the Ranfurly Shield may be ours if the team just pays heed to the fundamentals of the game and exploits its cohesive and individual brilliance as an intelligent football brain dictates.

Already candidates for the trip to Invercargill should be more or less fighting fit. That is the first essential as far as they are concerned. If they are not in the pink of condition how can they do themselves justice in the trials just a few days ahead? When the trials are over, the responsibility is thrown on the selector (Mr Archie Sowman) to name 21 players who embrace all the qualities which go to make the first-class Rugby side. Then comes another vital phase in the shield campaign. The players assemble in Whangarei, and the coach, Bunny Finlayson, becomes stablemaster.

There will be 21 contenders for 15 places' in the Northland shield side. The first essential at this stage is for every player to realise that he may be one-fifteenth of the combination which it is hoped will make history for Northland Rugby.

All become pupils under tutor Finlayson. All are reminded of the fundamentals of Rugby. All must bear in mind that perfect cohesion and understanding between every unit in the side is the most important adjunct.