“Maurice Brownlie Is Not Success As Captain.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 9

“Maurice Brownlie Is Not Success As Captain.”

FORMER NEW ZEALANDER DECLARES THERE IS DISSENSION IN ALL BLACK TEAM.

(Special fo the “ Star.”)

AUCKLAND, August 22. it 'TT'HE tour of the All Blacks in South Africa threatens to be A the biggest comedy, or tragedy, the Rugby world has ever known,” states an ex-Auckiander, and a former keen, follower of Rugby football in New Zealand, in writing to a friend from Johannesburg on the eve of the second lest. In a kindly yet most candid way he says that Rugby followers in New Zealand probably have been surprised by the strange reversals of form by the All Blacks, and that, when tlie full and true inside story is told on the return of the team, the people of New Zealand will get a decided shock.

lie has been in close touch with members of the team and says tt ere »s not the slightest doubt that Maurice Brownlie has not been a s access as captain. Some members of he team have not been on speaking te jns with him for some time, and that teeling is mutually reciprocated by their laptain. *' One South African selectc r told ne,” says the ex-Aucklander, “ that Maurice Brownlie was all that was wrong with the New Zealand team, «u.d another of the shrewdest Rugby br.dns in South Africa has expressed the o inion that he could make the All Bla- ks into a team of world-beaters in a week, but without Maurice Brownlie in ti c team.” The writer adds: “The methods os selecting the teams have been amazing The selection committee consists of

Hornig. Nicholls, M’Gregor, Stewart and Brownlie. The man who knows most about the strategy of Rugby is Mark Nicholls, but he has consistently been ignored. They have never accepted his views, and there seems to be a conspiracy to keep him -out of the teams.” Proceeding, the writer says: “ The All Blacks admit that from a playing viewpoint they have been up against it, because the South African forwards are superior in scrummages. The loss of Kilby through injury has been severely felt, as he was playing in great form Some members have got disheartened through the dissension in the team and there will be some plain speaking when they get back to New Zealand.”