ALL BLACK TRIALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 January 1930, Page 4

ALL BLACK TRIALS

FOR SELECTION OF TEAM AGAINST ENGLAND

AN AUCKLAND OPINION

(By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail")

AUCKLAND, 30th January. "If trial matches are to be played in preparation for the final selection of the All Blacks to play against the British Rugby touring team this year, the problem of obtaining leave of employment for players is going to be a difficult one, states Mr H. Frost, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union. Mr Frost considers the suggestion of Mr J. Prendeville, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union that the trials be not held, is a reasonable one. "Against this, however, must be set the special importance of the occasion," continues Mr Frost. "There may be grounds for every reasonable effort being made to produce the best possible team, for reports indicate that the visiting British team will be a very powerful team, both back and forward. In connection with the matches to be played in the test series, the records of the Australian tour last season, the inter-Island match of 28th September, and the New Zealand Maori match in October, should provide the main foundations necessary to team building." Mr Frost says the possibility of trial matches as early as those set down, namely on 14th'and 20th May, throwing any new light on the form of players fit to represent New Zealand, seems rather remote.

Mr Frost said Mr Prendeville had carefully set out his reasons why three trial matches were not necessary and the chief objection seemed to be that raised by the Wellington selector, Mr Norman" Milliard, who said that knowing the players' 1929 form, the selectors would want to know how nearly they were reproducing that form in 1930. It might be stated generally, said Mr Frost in conclusion, that a good many possible 1930 All Blacks would already have played against the British team in provincial and other games before they met them in the first test, and as far as the various districts were concerned it was obvious the selectors in the vicinity would be paying particular attention to the 1930 form of possible or probable All Blacks.