1956 Southland team has two ex Otago players, Robin Archer and Alistair Tait when they meet each other.

A strong team was chosen by the Southland Rugby selectors Messrs R.J. McEwan,V.L. George and J. A McRae to  meet Otago at Carisbrook, Dunedin on Saturday in the first representative game of the season.  Three players were not available for selection in the side  - the two leading No 8 for Ack Soper (Northern) who has a broken thumb, and E. Jamieson (Bluff) who is suffering from a back injury, and the province's leading hooker, C. A. Woods (Central) who has a knee injury.

Robyn Archer and Alistair Tait arrive in Dunedin for the Otago game. This is their first start for Southland both have played for Otago as Robin played for Universities and Pirates and Alistair for Teacher's College.

The team chosen was:
Full Back: D.L. Ashby 12.3 (Eastern)
Wing three-quarters: R. W. Gibson 12.8 (Bluff) R. Todd 12.4 (Eastern)
Centre three quarter: K. Laidlaw 11.12 (Marist)
Second five eight: A. L. Wilson 11.8 (Collegiate)
First five eight: W. R. Archer 11.7 (Eastern) captain
Half back: J. T. McKenzie (Western)
Back row: G. B. Winders 14.8 (Marist)
Side row: I. W. Todd 13.6 (Collegiate) T. Ryan 13.3 (Eastern)
Locks: I.M. Miller 14.12 (Central) vice captain, R. J. Bowen 15.12 (Bluff)
Props: H. O'Neill 14.6 (Marist) C. A. Lamb 14.0 (Southern)
Hooker: G.E. Groves 12.11 (Eastern)
Reserves: - Backs A. Tait 11.6 (Old Boys) C. Ruatahi 12.1 (Pirates) J. Alison 11.6 (Eastern) Forwards: A.L. Thomas 13.0 (Pirates), C.O. Ballam 14.0 (Western)      F.    Ward 14.4 (Marist)
The forward pack's average weight is 14.2 and should be well up to the Southland standard of previous years.  Faced with the best No 8's on the bank the selectors have gone for solidarity in their scrum, bringing in the Marist lock, Winders, for that position.  Ryan will play No 8. in the lineout and with Todd will share the No 8's job in the loose.  Winders will in effect, a third lock, and his weight at the back of the scrum will be an added advantage.
Bowen at 15.12 stone is the heaviest man in the pack, and it is on  him, together with Miller and Winders that the brunt of the lineout work will fall.  O'Neill, Groves and Lamb will form a well balanced front row.
The Wyndham winger, R. Todd, was another who was troubled with injury and he also passed the necessary medical test and will take his place in the side.  The Marist centre, Laidlaw has been given the job against Otago and should make a success of it.  With strong men in Wilson and Archer inside him he will be in good company and will certainly not be found wanting in general all round ability.  Apart from the centre the remainder of the backs virtually selected themselves.
The new caps in the team are Archer, Laidlaw and Ryan.  Bowen returns to representative rugby after a two year absence having first represented the province in 1951. 
Jack McKenzie is the "Veteran" of the side.  He first represented Southland in 1947 but he was absent from the scene in 1950 and 1951.
Longest record of continuous service is held by Wilson who won his cap in 1950 and has played for Southland very season since.  

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