DISPLAY CONFOUNDS OBSERVERS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1949, Page 5

DISPLAY CONFOUNDS OBSERVERS

Received Sundav, 7 p.m. JOIIANNERBTJRG, June 25. The All Blacks are fast earning the reputation of heing the most unpredictahle and ineonsistent international Rugby side tq have visited South Africa. They beat a Transvaal fifteen today at Ellis Park before 40.000 people, by six points, an unconverted try and a penalty goal, to three points, a penalty goal, but gave quite the worst dis])lav of the tour. The performance of the team completely confounded all observers. Tlitherto the backs had been the match winning factor while the forwards wero strusrgling to attain titness. Today the forwards lastod the game betler than their opponents but the backs slumpod below average New .Zealand club standard, with the excep'rion of Scott. Tn fact the match can well be described as Scott and the New Zealand forwards versus the onposition. A magiuficent penaltv goal from half-way and huge Iine kicks by Scott. should have inspired the whole team. Tnstead, the forwards batfled vigorously against the livelv Transvaal pack and had 'to look to Scott to save them from the hopeless tangle the backs placed them in at times. The only circumstance that did not result in Transvaal registering a good win was the lack of thrnst of their own "backs, coupled with some had luck as the All Blacks. in the first spell, . scraped out of some awkward situations by the skin of their teeth.

Tn the first snoll Transvaal liacl rrmrh the better of the vame territoriabv. Thev missed an almnst certain tr^ when Malan broke llirongli a lineout and liad several smnmrters. The Npw Zealand defence was badlv rattlpd but tlip attaekers failed to press liome a great opportunity. Tlie All Blacks led at half-time. hnwever, by Rcott 's maunificent penalty go.il from just inside halfwav. Earlv in tlio second snpll. Transvaal drew IpvpI when the All Blacks were penalised riglit under tlie posts. Ovpr tlm final auarter. liowever, tlie New Zealand forwards liad tlie measure of their opponents and Ravage gave tlie side its winning noints wlien he sliort punted alioad, following a serum. Tlie fullback mulled tlie ball and Ravage was handy to seore an unconverted try. The most disapnointing aspect of the match was Allen's poor form at first five-eighths. Hitherto he had "been a real inspiration among the "backs at second five-eighths. Today he faced problems which had worried Kearnev, Black and Delamore, namely, the quick breaking of the opposing'' loose forwards, and was bustled into more errors than world "be seen from him in a fuil season. Even when he did make "breaks he threw out some "bad passes. Gudsell had to take some of these round his neck and as a result the "back line rarely functioned smoothly. Catley, tliough far from fit, had a keen dnel with Rchmidt who is rated as a good liooker. The scrums resulted 23 — 21 in favour of Transvaal. Tlie general run of play suggests that while the All Blacks mav come in for sharp criticisms, the home side was also deficient in many respects. Earlv Transvaal were parkod in the All Blacks' twenty-five. From a serum and tlirn from loose play, the fiveeighths and fullback tried to pot goals from liandv positions but both attempts failed. Tlien Allen went ronnd the sliort side of a serum and sent to Botting who beat his opponent. Crowley rauged up on the inside of Botting but the movement broke down. Boggs moved in twice to make an extra back in New Zealand passing rushes but poor liaiulling halted bot.h movements. Rhortly after, Rcott kicked a great goal from near lialfway. On resuming, Malan broke through a lineout and a try appeared imminent but the attackers frittered away a great cliance. Transvaal lcept up the pressure and from a serum in the All Blacks' twent.v-five, the half kicked over Rcott 's head but Allen won an exi-iling ra«*e for the ball. Eive minutes after the opening of the second spell, the All Blacks were penalised in a serum under the posts and Buchler kicked an easy goal to Ievel the scores. A lot of scrappy football followed with neither side able to finish off rushes. Transvaal missed two penalty sliots at goal from reasonablc

positions and Rcott failed with one from wide out. Rix minutes from fulltime Ravage slipped round the shorf side of the serum and punted. The fullback let the ball slin through his liands and Ravage was handv to pounce on it and score. Rcott narrowlv missed the kick at coal. The All Blacks mere on the attack wrhen fulltime sounded.