"AN UGLY GAME."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 9

"AN UGLY GAME."

ALL BLACKS CRITICISED. ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGHNESS AND UNFAIR PLAY. (BY CASLS—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COrT*IGKT) (Stdnby "Sra" SERVICE.) LONDON, November 10. "All Blacked Out." Thus the "Weekly Despatch" describes the All Blacks' rnsteh against London Counties. "ft was an ugly game, in which the New Zealanders' tactics wero not quite nice, especially towards ' the end, when they charged liko | cav: Iry through a defenceless, undisciplined mob."' 1 The "Sketch" says that the All Blacks invested their tackling with 1 unnecessary violence, and were repeatedly penalised for handling in scrums and for barefaced obstruction. The Kugby critic of the "People," commenting on the victory, says that it is surprising that at least fivo New ' Zealand forwards wero not sent off. "I witnessed," he says, "repeated instances of tripping, hacking, and tackling of men without the ball, and slinging of fists, as well as sharp practices in play." The paper blames referees for not checking tho methods of certain All Blacks earlier in the tour. 1 The "Daily Mail," criticising the All Blacks, says it is a pity that men 1 capable of sueh exceptionally fine foot--3 ball should be so unscrupulous in their 1 tactics. Some appear to scorn the offgido rule, and thcro were several in--5 stances of tripping and obstruction on Saturday. THE OTHER SIDE. SUPERIORITY ADMITTED, "EVEN IF IT HURTS." AUSTRALIAN AKD lI.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, November 10. Colonel Philip Trevor, in tho "Daily Telegraph," Bays that the New Zealanders won handsomely, brilliantly, and deservedly. They outpaced, outmanceuvred, and outlasted the Londoners. The lesson of the match is that it is pace that matters and initial pace is infinitely moro important than sub-

sequent paeb. "Let us be grateful to the New Zealanders," writes Colonel Trevor, "for rubbing into us the need of pace, even if the rubbing in hurts." [Colonel Philip Trevor, one of the foremost English Bugby writers, is following the AH JBlacks' tour for "The Press." His full comments on the earlier matches nave already been published,] I FLIGHT OYER LONDON. " NEW ZEALANDERS EXCEED THE [ WEIGHT LIMIT. 3 1 (AUSTRALIA:? AKD K.Z. CABLE ASBOCIi.TIOH.) (Eeceived November 17th, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 17. 5 The All Blacks oil Sunday made an aeroplane flight over London. Two aeroplanes, ono accommodating 14 passengers and the other eight, were provided, which ordinarily would carry 22 passengers and a quantity of luggage easily. But 22 All Blacks were so heavy without luggage that a third aeroplane was requisitioned. The New Zealanders were so satisfied with the flight that they intend to fly to France. 9 INTERNATIONAL ) PROSPECTS. f HARD GAMES AHEAD. i ——— (By A. J, Harrop, Special Bcprescnta--3 - tive of "The Press.") LONDON, October 9, 1 After seeing the first eight matches " of the tour, and therefore seeing each 1 one of the 29 All Blacks in action, I 1 have been endeavouring to sum up 3 their chances in the International matches ahead of them. The only other games likely to cause them serious ? trouble are the two London Clubs : matches, the United Services match, and, perhaps, the University fixtures. They will meet strenuous opposition in the north, particularly in Yorkshire, but * should account for all their opponents. The Irish International will have been played before this is printed, so T it is useless to discuss the prospects 3 of the All Blacks in this match. With B a week's rest beforehand the.New Zea--8 landers should bo in fit condition to a subdue the great Irish forward rushes. They will meet speedy wing-three-quarters' and a side which was playing wonderfully well at the end of last 1 season, but the All Blacks should have - eight or 10 points to spare. [They won by 6 to o.] j Wales Preparing. Wales has already started an intensive selection campaign in view of the match on November 29th, and two teams have been selected to take part in a Wales v. The Eest fixture on Oc- ) tober 16tli. In view of the Newport result, it is instructive, and a little disconcerting, to note that only two 5 Newport men figure in the Welsh XV., 5 while five are in tho other team. In - this trial match a rover is to be played > in each side. The teams are a a 3 follows: — tVates —Ivor Jones (Neath); A. Stock (Newport), E. Finch (Llanelly), Graham Davies (Guy's Hospital), Cyril Thomas (Bridgend); W. J. Delahay; , (Cardiff), Eddie Williams (Neath); T. Johnson (Cardiff); S. Morria (GVoss Keys), D. Parker (Swansea), B. Bandall (Aberavon), J. Gore (Blarna), C. I, Pugh (Maeateg), A. C. Evans (PontyB pool), G. Hathaway (Newport). £ Tho Rest —Fred Baker (Newport); s P. W. James (Aberavon), Evan Williams (Aberavon), E. Kitsoa (Newport), 9 A. Bullock (Bl&cnavon); E. Dowdall (Newport), D. John (Llanelly); J. Wet. tcr (Newport); A. E. Bickards (Car--3 diff), J. V. Waito (Newport), .W. Friend 1 (Newport), G. White (Swansea), S. Law- ; rence (Bridgend), W. Matthews (Blaen- • avon). and F, Stephens (Cardiff). Rowc Harding, tho Welsh wing, who s has not yet returned from South Africa, [f . —,"l ■■■..ll ■■■.■-1.. I | .

J1 L ' at foot p| ajlums.).

is not included. The All Blacks will have a,chance of testing his strength in the Cambridge match on November 12th. They will also see A. T. Young, the English half, in action, though it is by no moans certain that he will represent England again thia year. Possible New Zealand Team. Tho Welsh side will naturally make great efforts to defeat tho All Blacks, and their chances on paper aro fairly good. Fortunately, the match is at Swansea,- and not at Cardiff, and tho ground will have pleasant memories for the All Blacks. I think our International side on present form would '6e:— Backs—Nepia; Stool, Brown, Lucas or Svenson; (Jooke, Nicholls; Parker or Portpr; Dalley. Forwards—lrvine, Donald or Munro, Harvey, M. JJrownlio, White,' Cupplea, Brown has not? played brilliantly at centre, but ho is sound, and SvensQu has not boon a success in that position. Lucas has always- played well, and his ability to take tho ball, even in the most awkward position, has attracted general admiration. Cooko and Nicholls aro the obvious .choice for the five.eighths positions on present form. I am not able to distinguish between the merits of Porter and Parker, as they play an entirely different typo of game, but Parker has played well in all his matches, and will be very • unfortunate if ho does not play in at least one International. [Parker played against Ireland,] In the' forwards it is very difficult to distinguish between several of the men. McCleary has jilayed only one game, and ho may quite possibly be included in the forwards; Tii« Team's PormTho team's chief defeet up to the present has been, as I have previously written, tho inability to secure the ball from the scrum. There are signs, however, that thia is -being remedied, and naturally it will vastly improvo the All Blacks' chances if a fair share of the ball is secured. The; -forwards so far havo played well individually, but seem to have no recoghiscd leader, and consequently their efforts • tend to be spasmodic. In tho experimental stages of team-building perhaps this is inevitable, and when the best team is-finally decided upon, an-improvement in combination will probably bo noticed at the same time. - . lij the backs there do not appear to be any very serious defects, except the growing tendency to collar high and run wide instead of straight. Dalley varies his play well, Nicholls usually runs straight, and is solid in defence. Cooke carves out good openings, and Brown gives his wings plenty of room when he is playing centre. Success of tho Toqt. Financially, the tour is already certain of triumphant success. The attendance at Leicester, for example, exceeded 29,000, and the gate money was over £2500. The team is playing good Bugby and stimulating interest, which will further increase the boom the game is experiencing in thin country. Press criticism of the team has not been very impartial, and the slightest infraction of the laws, such as oeeurs in every game, is often seized upon as the text of a tirade. However, the All Blacks, much as they naturally resent nasty insinuations, preserve a discreet silence in public, and the very effective method of ignoring fatuous criticism has silenced most of it. It must be stated, however, that several of the newspaper critics who hare seen each game have treated the team very well • Most of the sweeping generalisations of doubtful tactics are voieed by those who have seen only one or two matches. Nothing could be more obvious to an unbiased mind than the fact thai the . All Blacks are keen to play a clean game. The publie recognise thia fully, bat some of the critics, if they have the ' quality of seeing with more than one eye, fail to give any evidence of the | fact.