SOUTH ISLANDERS IN ALL BLACK TEAMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 9

SOUTH ISLANDERS IN ALL BLACK TEAMS.

To the Editor. I Sir,—l read with very much amusement in Tuesday’s “ Star ” an article signed by “ L.G.” on the selection of the All Black teams for the tests in Sydney, the chief complaint being in “ L.G.’s” opinion that South Island players are not getting a fair go. Apparently the writer knows very little about New Zealand football or he has only seen the game played in Canterbury, judging by his exaggerated opinion of Dailey and Robilliard, both of whom he thinks should have played in all three tests. v Of course it is only natural for one to stick to one’s own province, but at the same time it is always profitable to pick the best team, and it is absolutely ridiculous for “L.G." to think Dailey should replace Mill and that Robilliard is better than Svenson or Elvv, but there may be something in the remark that at least two of the Canterbury men are away for the purpose of earrving the baggage, and in my opinion Dailey wi Jlhave to do a lot of that before he is as good a player as Mill, who without a doubt is the best halfback in New Zealand, and the nearest to him is 11. E. Xicholls, as anybody who witnessed the recent match Canterbury v. Wellington will say, when “ Ginger ” had all his own way, although playing behind a pack comprising only two of Wellington’s best forward.;. If “ L.G.” had witnessed the North v. South Island game he would have seen where the best footballers were, and on that game only two players from the South Island team, viz., Stewart and Elvy, were worthy of New Zealand so the selectors were quite justified in playing these two in all tests. North Island football is miles ahead of the game in the South, as was proved in the inter-island game when North romped home by 41 to 9. a good indication of the game, although the halfcentury for North was in sight had M. Xicholls been kicking at all well; yet “ L.G.” has the audacity to state that South arc not getting a fair go with ) regard to the tests. He should remember that football in this island is very poor, more especially in Canterbury, where v it has deteriorated quite a lot, and is not to be compared with what it was five or six vears ago.—l am. etc., FAIR GO. It is onl\ r fair to say that “ L.G." writes with a thorough knowledge of New Zealand Rugb\ r standard, and has witnessed not only successive interisland games, but recent international tests as well.—Ed. “Star.”