THE ALL BLACKS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18231, 15 November 1924, Page 13

THE ALL BLACKS.

AT TWICKENHAM TO-DAY.

Londoners will got their first glimpse of the All Blacks this afternoon, when tho New Zealandera are due to meet London Counties at Twickenham, in what may prove to be tho hardest match of tho tour to date. The London team will include at least six international players, including the Queenslander Lawton, and Kershaw, the idol of England, as halves.

I'or tho next five matches now tho All Blacks will probably have to eo all out. After to day's jrame'eomo Oxford University, Cardiff, Wales, and Llanelly. This morning's cables report Oxford's victory over Newport bv 14 points to 12, The All Blacks are considered fortunate to have come out of that match by 13 points to 10. Then Cardiff and Llanelly aro strong Welsh clubs, and tho Welsh International should prove a tremendous tussle.

AN EASY WIN. LEICESTER WELL BEATEN. (By A. J. Harrop, Special Keprcsentativo of "Tho Press.") LEICESTER, October 4. To meet Leicester two days after the gruelling game against Newport appeared to be a stiff proposition for the All Blacks, but as a matter of fact they had a very easy win. Leicester is one of the strongest British club sides, and last season it had the honour of break, ing Newport's unbeaten record. The team against the All Blacks contained several international players, but it quite failed to come up to expectations. The All Blacks wero not in specially good form, as was only to bo expected, and they made a large number of rather bad errors in passing. Still, the early lead they established gavo them some excuse for taking things easily. The game was chiefly remarkable for the improved display of tho New Zealand forwards. They simply tore through the opposition in tho looso at times, and they got more of the ball from the serums than they had in any of their previous games. Cupples played magnificently, and he opened the scoring with a splendid try. Richardson soon afterwards forced his way over, and it was then quite evident that Leicester were in for a severe defeat. Their backs made deplorablo attempts at passing and the New Zealahders had no difficulty in nipping their attacks in the bud. Our own backs were not going too well, however, the passing lacking incisiveness.

Black Backs Get Going. Finally they managed to get going properly, and Steel, brushing off two or three half-hearted tackles, scored a good try. Another splendid bout of passing saw Lucas, using all his speed, just get over in the corner, Dalleyhad been playing splendidly all the time, initiating attacks with the greatest coolness, and also being very useful in frustrating the efforts of the opposing inside backs. Some of the other backs, however, were tackling their men very high, and two or three times Porter tackled a man in possession, only to allow him to get rid of the ball quite easily. ; Leicester made a few spasmodic attempts to reduce the deficiency of 16 points before half-time, but their efforts were easily repulsed. In the second half their work was better, and the All Blacks made many mistakes in attack. They improved latOT in the spell, and 11 points, were added before the conclusion of the match. The game does not require vory much description in view of the poor quality of the opposition provided by Leicester, but it will give the All Blacks some encouragement after their narrow escape at Newport. After the hectic excitement of that match to-day's fixture was pale and The only way in which it was comparable with that at Newport was in the impartiality of the spectators.

-Porter Better in Pack. . As far as tactics are concerned, it must be conceded that the utility of Porter playing the extra half-back game appeared to be very doubtful after this match. When Munro had to retire hurt in the second spell and Porter went into the scrum, he soon showed that here he was more in his clement, and his vigorous dashes were very effective. In the backs his early intervention in a passing rush undoubtedly slows the attack down, and speed is the essence of tho All Black attack. Nicholls played another good game for New Zealand, and also kicked four goals. Nepia did quite well, but his attempts at potting goals from the field wore painful. Lucas was splendid on the wing. He used every possible ounce of energy in his dashes for the line, and was unlucky to score only once. Svenson played in the centre, but was not as good as be is on the wing. Steel again proved very haTd to stop, while McGregor at first five-eighth did his work very well. Dalley was, as usual, splendid. The' forwards all played a good game, though they were not called upon to make the sustained efforts which will be necessary in the internationals. Critics aro already predicting their defeat by Ireland, and improvement in many departments is undoubtedly urgently necessary.