Runaway Victory In First Game of Tour

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1947, Page 6

Runaway Victory In First Game of Tour

, Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

■Coxyright

Reeeived Wednesday, 11.15 p.m. _ CANBERRA, June 4. The All Blacks made a^promising beginning for the Australian tour by beating a combined team at Canberra by 58 points to 11. Most Canberra observers agree that they are quite as impressive as the 1938 All Blacks who won 57 to 5 at Canberra. The big difference is that these All Blacks are opening their tour whereas the 1938 All Blacks were just finishing theirs and were at the top of their form. The All Blacks showed an almost reckless eagerness to pass the ball and at times this recklessness brought trouble. In the second half there were some tackling lapses but on the whole the team was impressive in most departments. The lineout play revealed faults but the rucking ability could not be judged as the ref eree halted rucks whenever they started. Scott played magnificently at fullback in addition to kicking wonderfully. The wings, McLean and Argus,. were both impressive, Argus partieularly so because he scored the more diffieult tries. Qoddard gave thrust to the attack but his defence was not on the same high plane. Allen was good until he went out hurt at halftime. Kearney, who took his plaee, was sound without being spectacular. TetzlafE fed the backs wfell with good straight passes. Among the forwards Thornton was prominent in the open and Grant ana Simpson in such rucking play as the referee allowed. Catley hooked the ball almost every time except when the opposing team collapsed the scrum. The speed of the All Blacks, both back and forward, was most impressive, surprising the Australians who had heard that the Wallabies outpaced the All Blacks last year in New Zealand. About 5000, a big crowd for Canberra, saw the game which was played on a fast, firm turf. The combined team which included four Sydney players and one Victorian, had the better of the play for a quarter of an hour. Then Scott ran up from full-baek and started a movement which went out to Argus. The ball then . travelled back to the other wing for McLean to score. it was a classic try with almost every member of the team handling the ball. Scott topped it oif with a perfect goal from the sideline. The All Blacks then bewildered the opposition with brilliant passing movements and the halftime score was 31 — 0. The combined team took eharge for a quarter of an hour in the second hau and put on 11 points. The All Blacks then rallied again and indulged in another. feast of scoring from whirlwind passing, The scorers in ordef were: — McLean (2), Goddard, Argus, Grant and Argus tries •fh'-'the first half; McLean, Argus, MeLbak/Argus, Couch and Argus tries second half. Scott converted eighU&nfl kiclced a penalty goal. Although Combined were not sfrong, the All Blacks' display after only four training runs, was most credita ble. Their evident desire to play bright and open football was very pleasing to the spectators. Rankin, a prewar Australian representative, scored a try and defendea well for Combined. In one fierce dive he temporarily knocked out Couch. The young Maori five-eighth is one of the successes in a highly pleasing first day for the All Blacks. Australians are now inelined to reverse their opinion that New South Wales will beat New Zealand easily on Saturday. The tourists were somewhat spasmodie in effort but perhaps this is understandable as their training so far has been impeded by wet weather and the players are not fully fit. Another - practice is ealled for tomorrow morning when Mr. Norman McKenzie will devote attention to the faults apparent today. The team returns to Sydney tomorrow afternoon and they train again on Friday. Nevertheless, it will not be surprising if the fitness of the New South Wales team will be one of the All Blacks' big hurdles on Saturday. Replacements were allowed up to halftime today but the practice for th.e tour is not yet settled. The Australians want replacements to halftime. The All Blacks favour replacements for the whole of the game or not at all. The genferal opinion is that Coucli will develop into a good five-eighth. He -took advantage of every opportunity today, making the most of the gaps left

in the defence and creating several fine openings. The New South Wales selectors watched the game and it is expeeted the breakaways will devote speeial attention to Couch if he plays on Saturday. ' Allen is still limping tonight and xt is not certain yet whether he will be fit on Saturday. A workmanlike opposing forward today was E. Davis, Victorian front ranker, who is a candidate for the test team against the All Blacks. Another outstanding in the opposition was A. Pooley, a 15-stone former heavyweignt boxing champion in the A.I.F. It is pouring with rain in Sydney again today and it is certain that tne ground for Saturday 's match will be heavy. Q