RUGBY FOOTBALL: THE OTAGO TEAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20185, 24 August 1927, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL: THE OTAGO TEAM.

TO THE EDXTOE. Sih,—Wo must all thank “Full-Back” for his unbiased criticism of country players picked to represent Otago against •Taranaki. But what about Marslin? surely it was an oversight on “Full-Back’s part that this player did not como in for his share of criticism, and surely there is some other man much better than ho is. Regarding the scathing criticism of the inclusion of Hannay in the Otago team “Full-Back” did not even utter a protest last year when Callender was tried in every position except half-back. Hannay is an outstanding winger in the country, and when ho becomes accustomed to the local grounds, which have, in the games that he has played, been nothing less than quagmires, I am sure ho will bo equal to any Dunedin three-quarter. On Wednesday’s play Hannay was up to the standard of any of the other backs. I noticed that “Full-Back” had nothing to say about Peterson’s display at centrothrccquarter. On the day’s play Peterson was in no way superior to Hannay, yet when both were picked for Saturday Peterson’s inclusion did not evoke a word of constructive or destructive criticism. “Full-Back” seems to bo judging Peterson’s play on his performance in club matches. While he has never seen Hannay perform in club fixtures, he sweepingly condemns him on This play in two matches, one of which could have been more correctly termed a mud fight. “Full-Back” must grant that if the country team did nothing else it won a moral victory over tho town players. Matched against players who had been training together for close on two months, the country team, which had but three days to get to know one another’s play, played a remarkably fine game, and completely dominated tho town pack. Yet “FullBack” states that a player who was only a towm emergency for that match is hotter than one of tho best country for-wards-—namely, Dougherty. If this is all the encouragement country players arc going to receive at tho hands of tho football plenipotentiaries of Dunedin, the best thing they can do is to sever their connection with the town and form a separate union of their own. Fortunately, the selectors are more broadminded in their views than “Full-Back” in regard to country football. While admitting there are apparent incongruities in tho selection of tho Otago team, I think the selectors have acted wisely in including tho country players.—l am, etc.. Another Full-Back. The following comment on tho above letter is supplied by “Full-Back”: No scathing criticism was made of tho inclusion of Hannay in tho Otago team. It may be just as well to reprint what I did say: “Then take the case of Hannay. Elannay did not get any chances in the match last Saturday, and ho did nothing yesterday to justify his inclusion in an Otago team. Yet tho selectors drop all their many previous emergencies and put him in the team. ‘Full-Back’ sincerely hopes that Hannay justifies tho honour done him by the selectors, but he fails to discover by what process of reasoning he goes into the team.” The whole point in my comment was that the Otago selectors were not justified in dropping many of our local three-quarters for Hannay, and I stand by that comment. As regards Marslin, he played a fair game in the match against the Maoris, and as the Otago selectors want weight in the forwards, and Marslin is 13.5, I offered no criticism against his selection. Marslin is still young, and with experience should develop into a sound forward. Then, as regards Dougherty, ho has a lot to learn yet about forward play. He kicks too hard, and ho does not get back to tho play quickly enough. Still, he. too, should improve with experience with town players. 1 would say, nevertheless, that there are two or three forwards in the town clubs who are better than he is. On what I have seen of Peterson’s play, I should say he is easily a better back than Hannay, and my experience of Peterson’s play is not confined solely to club football. Speaking from memory, I am very much inclined to say that Callander’s inclusion last year was not favoured by mo. “Another Full-Back” entirely fails to understand my attitude. My desire is to see the very best fifteen available playing for Otago. If the best players can bo found in the country, let tho whole Otago fifteen come from there. The country is just as much a part of Otago as the towns. Tho honour of Otago on the football field is the sole object I have in mind, and that is why I desire to see the very best team selected.”—Ed. O.D.T.]