THE REP. TEAM

Southland Times, Issue 18976, 25 June 1923, Page 4

THE REP. TEAM

What about coaching? WHERE ARE THE UNDERSTUDIES! EFFICIENT INSTRUCTORS SUGGESTED. (By “On-side Mac.”) One of the biggest representative Reasons within memory will commence in a little more than three weeks, consisting of twelve matches, six at home and six abroad. On July 18 Southland will meet the Maori team now touring in Australia and what it practically the combination for that occasion will be tried out on July 4. In this connection some very pertinent questions arise; such as: What provisions are being made for coaching? When is it to commence? Why has provision not been made for understudies, when it is well known that the selection for certain positions is very limited? The material from which to pick the team is as a whole very scanty. The loss of players of the class of Diack, St. George, Macdonald, Cockroft, Strong, Morgan, Blares, Morow and Jervis is a very severe one. Yet just as in previous seasons time is being allowed to slip by.

It is common knowledge that club football this season has been deficient in some important respects, a fact only to be expected in view of the circumstances quoted above, not forgetting that Southland has not the same opportunities as other places to replenish a heavy drain on prospective rep. playere. For the position of representative half back J. S. Oughton is the only efficient player available. For inside fiveeighth there is only one man in sight, J. Hazlett, who plays well in both five eighth positions, but who is the only man who can be trusted to uphold the honour of the province in the position referred to on a very strenuous tour ahead. As regards wing three-quarters, on the run of the play this season there are only four, with Hols showing the way. Hie others have yet to win their spurs. As the forwards are inclined to be on the small side again, there is an immediate necessity for the coaching of a pack in line out play, bunching and dribbling. In the latter aspect coaching is necessary to bring the individual dribblers of several clubs together in combination.

The following suggestions are offered for the preparation of the team: —That the front row coaching be entrusted to Mr A. McNie; the direction of dribbling operations to Mr P. Scully; tackling to Mr J. 8. McGrath; and the general supervision of the forwards’ preparation, including line out work, to Mr L. Cockroft, the latest high grade footballer practically retired from big football in France, England South Africa and New Zealand. The coaching of the backs seems to have been placed in capable hands by the appointment of Mr H. Grace, with the assistance of the selection com* mittee.