ALL BLACKS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18216, 29 October 1924, Page 10

ALL BLACKS.

REPORTING THE TOUR.

Yesterday "The Press" published critical accounts of the All Blacks' opening matches by Mr L. Simpson, a prominent Wellington referee, who is travelling with the team, and by Colonel Philip Trevor, one of the leading Kugby writers in Britain. These two authorities will follow the tour through as they have begun. Om< viewpoint remains—that of the unattached New Zealander —and it is being supplied by Mr A. J. Harroo. M. A., formerly on the staff of "The Press"' and now of Cambridge University and the "Daily Mail." Mr Harrop's special articles will cover all the more important matches, as seen .through the eyes of a young New Zealander with recent experience of the game in both countries. The first of the series is printed to-day. AGAINST DEVON. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GAME. (By A. J. Harrop.) (Special Representative of ' ; Tlie Press.") LONDON, September 14. Yesterday's match at Devonport began a new epoch in Rugby history, just as surely as did the corresponding game in 1905. Its details will be ancient history before this account can reach Christchurch, but its significance v/ill remain a matter for fruitful discussion for a very long time.

My first feeling after the match was one of deep disappointment at the failure of the All Blacks to score more than 11 points, but as the hours of the return journey to London passed, I began to acquire a more correct, perspective of the game. To begin with, the All Blacks were psychologically at a disadvantage. Whatever ti'ey scored, it was scarcely likely that they would surpass the performance of the 1905 team. On the other hand the Devon men had merely to keep the score within reasonable limits to achieve glory. They had nothing to lose and everything to 'yain. A correct parallel to the match in my opinion is the Canterbury v. Springboks fixture of 1921. The home forwards in each ' case ' went out to sell their lives dearly against the invaders —and the weather in each case was atrocious. At Christchurch the home team prevailed, at Devonport it did not. My most vivid recollection of the Springbok match is the auburn locks of Murray leading the Canterbury charges. My most vivid recollection of yesterday's game will lie the flaming socks of J. C. R-. Buchanan, the Scottish international, who was in the thick of every Devon movement. Devon plaved a magnificent defensive game, and the New Zealand offensive was spoiled by over-eagerness in the first half-hour and by the ineffectiveness of our scrum formation. A forecast the dav after the first match must naturally be of little value, and it will be disposed of long before this article is printed, but I am convinced that the All Blacks will score freely against a, lar<re number of opposing sides. Rome New were very despondent' about the Internationals after the match, but T do not share tlTe feeling yet. The All Blacks . will have to improve vastly to win any of the Internationals, but there no doubt in mv mind that tTmv will improve vastlv on ypsterdav's showinsr. Thev Tin.ve the attributes of sneAd and determination which are essential to success. The Game. At 3.30 p.m. when the match was timed to start, the excitement was almost overpowering. The small Rectory ground of the Devonport Services Club was packed to over-flowing, and it was a stirring scene when the two teams lined out, and the National Anthem was played. From the first New Zealand attacked, but over-excitement spoiled the efforts of the forwards. The Devon men tackled like tigers and fought every inch of ground. " Occasionally, amidst a wild burst of cheering, a Devon forward would escape the close attention of the All Blacks for a brief space and gain a dozen yards with an individual dash—but these were but interludes. It was obviously only a matter of time before the defence was beaten. Cooke initiated the decisive movement and Brown sent Svenson away for the welldeserved first try of the tour. Nepia's kick was unsuccessful. A wonderful attempt at a penalty goal from past half-way was then made by Hanley (Devon), the ball just dropping under the bar. After this the All Blacks again asserted themselves, and Cooke proved himself a great player in one of the best movements I have seen in England. He sent a long pass to Svenson, which the wing took at top speed. He dashed' for the line and then gave a clever reverse pass to Cooke, who scored a brilliant try, which roused the crowd to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Nepia converted with a very good kick.

Steady rain now began to fall, and it continued till the end of the game. There was no further score before halftime. On resuming, a neatly-gathered short punt, a dash by Svenson, and a reverse pass to Brown led to the final score of the game. The determination of' the Devon forwards and the state of the ground kept the ball very tight, and the All Blacks had a good deal of defensive work to do. They did it wonderfully well, a most encouraging feature of the game. Nepia was sound at full-back, and Svenson's speed enabled him to fall back quickly when danger threatened. Dalley fulfilled the promise of the days when he played so brilliantly for Christchurch Boys' High School. He shirked nothing and won unstinted admiration from the large army of critics assembled to see the All "Blacks' first match. Cooke and Nicholls played splendidly, as indeed did all the backs. The forwards were disconcerted bv the method of scrum formation adopted by Devon, who played three of their seven forwards in "the front rank. Porter was rather disappointing, but I believe he was suffering from a chill. He succeeded, however, in winning recognition of the fact, except from some of the less reputable Sunday papers, • that his methods were free from obstruction. As a matter of fact, the Devon forwards were penalised for off-side more than the All Blacks.

A New Zealand Pilgrimage,

A special New Zealand trip to the match was arranged by Messrs T. H. Hamer and Co. with the management of the Great "Western Railway Company. Special carriages, a dining-car, and" conveyance to and from the ground were arranged for, and a very large crowd of New Zealanders went from London for the match. The train

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left Paddington at 10.30, and arrived at _Plymouth, 230 miles distant, by 2.45. Although our expectations were hardly realised in the match, the admirably arranged trip was most enjoyable. I must also acknowledge the courtesy extended to me as the representative of "The Press" by the Devon Bugby Union.