RUGBY FOOTBALL: THE OTAGO TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22021, 2 August 1933, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL: THE OTAGO TEAM

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Kindly permit me to comment on the teams chosen to battle for Otago next Saturday. I wish to state that with reference to my remarks on Bathgate I assume that he was available for selection. Taking first the team to go south:—The selection of Taylor, in preference to Ruff, is a mistake, as the extra ability which I think the latter has, would have been an added security to our side. With Dunne and M'Skimming we find no fault, but with Smith the position is different. To my mind Smith is a vastly over-rated player. I had the opportunity of seeing this player in action last Saturday, and I do not hesitate to say that both as five-eighth and centre he gave one of the poorest displays which I have seen this year, being overshadowed by M'Skimming in every branch of play. On form, M'Skimming should have gone in as centre in perference to Smith. The former has been playing great football lately, and must go far in the game. In the fiveeighth position we find a real experiment. If the selectors were determined to try out Rae, surely the B team was the place for the'test. The passing over of Bathgate seems to be a great mistake. This player has been playing right up to his best form, and those who saw the Taieri-Kaikorai match witnessed one of the best exhibitions of football which we have seen this year. On his plav that day Bathgate should have been one of the first to be chosen, and we must remember that he is one of the most consistent players in the country—never playing a bad game, and frequently playing well above the average. I take my hat off to Bathgate, when I say that he is a real footballer, playing onlv for the game and not the honour and glory. Perhaps the selectors will see their mistake after next Saturday. Rae should have taken the half position, as Simon, on his form last Saturday, should have been dropped. Up against the fast laieri pack Simon failed, and. therefore, we cannot expect him to improve greatly against Southland. Coming to the forwards, things are not quite so bad. Hamilton, to my mmd, is a much better forward than M'Donald, and should have been chosen. In leaving Finlayson out to captain the B team, the selectors, no doubt, had in mind the necessity of having a .capable leader for this team, but was this wise? There is 110 better forward in Dunedin to-day than Finlayson, and what a great back row we would have had had he been in Uibson's place! One does not expect the opposition from Marlborough that will be given by Southland, and, therefore, the team to play Southland should have been of the strongest. It is my opinion that we are sending away, a badly-balanced set of backs, from whom we cannot expect great things on Saturday. On going to Invereargill Smith was written of as a super back. Taking a line, on tine it would appear that Southland .is in.a bad wav in so far as the back division is concerned, and, therefore, our own backs may not suffer in comparison. In considering Bathgate not even worthy of an entry in the B team, the selectors, must have a very high opinion of our inside backs, whom. I am sure must feel flattered. I sincerely hope that when our touring team is chosen it will be very different from what we have am, etc., .... Mosgiel, August 1.