ON THE UPGRADE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 9

ON THE UPGRADE

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY A DEFINITE COMEBACK ALL BLACK STANDARD REGAINED (By Telegrapn.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday. “New Zealand rugby is staging a definite and rapid come-back, there are players, backs and forwards, around the country right up to the best All Black standard.” This encouraging statement was made today by Mr E. McKenzie, New Zealand sole selector, who is in Christchurch for the North and South Island minor unions match. The selector was greatly impressed with the form shown by the players in the recent Ranfurly Shield match between Southland and Otago, and he is optimistic about the standard of the team, which will go to South Africa next year. “Some of the play was right up to the best All Black class,” said Mr McKenzie. “The forwards were particularly good and the backs were distinctly promising. There was a weakness in the play of the forwards. Speaking generally the forwards do not go off the ground in the line-outs. They do not jump: but that is a phase that can be corrected.” Much Travelling Involved “By hard and constant travelling over both Islands Mr McKenzie has now seen the representatives of fourteen unions in action this season. Next Saturday he will he in Gisborne for the Maori Prince of Wales Cup match. He will watch the AucklandWellington match on September 16, and that night both the North and South Island teams for the annual match will be chosen. After that Mr McKenzie’s real task will begin. When the North and South Island teams have been announced he will pick two trial teams to play as a curtain raiser to the North and South Island match on September 23. Seventy players are to be assembled in Wellington for a trial series, which will be played on September 23, 2T, and 30, Saturday, Wednesday Saturday. No Announcement This Season When these trials are over, the sole selector should have a fairly clear idea of the 29 All Blacks who will tour South Africa next year, but no members of the team will be announced this season, for further trials are to be played early next season before the team leaves for South Africa.