Faults Of Selection.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 8

Faults Of Selection.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir,—The various criticisms of the New Zealand team all serve to show what a one-eyed crowd Canterbury Rugby followers are. Whenever an alteration in the Neyr Zealand team is suggested, numerous Canterbury players are put forward to fill the position. The selectors have done their best with the players they have seen in action, but the nomination system has its faults, as it is mostly major union players the selectors see. There are players of promise in many of the minor unions; but until a selector or selection committee is found able to devote the time to watching players from all the unions in action, choice will generally be restricted to players of the major unions, many of them over-rated and boomed by their local Press. We see from the nomination system Canterbury putting forward practically a whole team, and despite the meritorious win against a weakened British team, the poor standard of club football in Christchurch is not producing internationals in such numbers.

Followers should not be so ready to blame the New Zealand selectors, but should place the blame on their own provincial selectors, who cling to the old players, and when nominations are called for, send forward the names of these same old players, whom the public now delight in decrying. The selectors naturally choose the players they know and have seen, and players from smaller unions are ignored; a fault rather of the system than of the capabilities of the selectors. Let provincial selectors, particularly those of Canterbury, be reasonable and not send forward large lists of names, in the hope that the more they nominate the better their chances will be of obtaining a large representation for their province. Be fair, and nominate only really first-class players and put the interests of New Zealand football before those of promise, and do not be blind to the fact that the smaller unions have produced some of our best player!, and still have more waiting for the selectors to have a look at them.—l am, etc., ANTI-PROVINCIALISM.