CHANCE LOST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26933, 19 November 1948, Page 6

CHANCE LOST

MR CAVANAGH'S SERVICES

FORMER CAPTAIN’S VIEW “ I was extremely disappointed to hear the news that Mr V. G. Cavanagb, jun., had not been appointed to the position 1 of assistant manager of the New Zealand team to tour South Africa,” said Mr J. E. Manchester, captain of the 1935 All Blacks who visited England, when asked to comment last night on the selection of officials for the South African tour. “I feel that New Zealand Rugby has lost a great chance of capitalising on the undoubted ability of Mr Cavanagh as an excellent coach, psychologist, and a keen student of the game. He has the advantage of youth on his side and will be a great asset to the game for many years to come. “It is most unfortunate that Otago’s two nominees for the managers’ positions should have been pitted against one another for the role of assistant manager,” Mr Manchester said, “ and it is disappointing that the Otago Rugby Union did not stipulate that this should on no account occur Apparently, after the nominations had closed, the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union announced that the nominations for the positions could be interchangeable. I consider a strong protest should immediately have been lodged in an endeavour to obviate any chance of this taking place.”