WILL TO WIN SUPREME

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1949, Page 5

WILL TO WIN SUPREME

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

All Blacks Only Want Littie Bit Of Luck

Copyright)

(From C. King, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent With the All Blaeks.) Received Thursday, 8.45 p.m. JOHAXNEGBURG, August 11. On Saturday the Ail Biacks face the same task that .coufronted their predecessors in 1928. They niust Xvin the second Test to keep the rubber alive. If history liieans anything they have reason for cohiidence. The 1928 side rose from a crushing 17 — nii defeat in the first Test to win the second 7 — 6. Preliminary -Test forecasts appearing In iSoutli AiTican papers all empliasise this point. However, there is a fresh angle.- The ' 1928 sijde was coinpietely outplayed in the first Test and the outlook was gloomy. Only by the wiJl to conquer and some Superlative football by the forwards, did they succeed in wimiing the second " match and ultimately squaring the Test rubber. Now in 1949 the will to eonquer is again supreme but the team has in its favour, ihe knowledge that it had all the better of the first. Test and for. the first time m the history of the Tests between the two count17.es, the All BJabks dominated uoth scruius and lineouts. | Only oue factor is disturbing vthe atmosphere of quiet confidence in the Ail Blaclc camp. That is that till the iast inoment it will iiot be known whetlier Allen or El.vidge have fully recovered from recent recurrences of old lnjuries, while Grant, the star lineout forward, has a heavy cold. It is just one of those inevitable aspects of any tour, that the time may come when injuries prove niost embarrassing. Buch is the position at the nioinent. With M. P. Goddard and Gudsell out of action, there are no top line replacements as centre backs. Goddard is itching to get into action and will have his first gaine after the Test. x Today Allen rested and Delamore rau with the Test backline. He is the only !it available inside back as Black has oeen feeling off colour lately. - Delamore can bq brilliant. His chances have oeen limited 011 this tour but at the moment he is putting heai'tening dash into his work. llowever, Allen is conlident that he will be fit and plvidge vvorlced out well today. ; Kearney potted some great goals and | rfcott also kieked beautifully in to- i day 's practice. It would only need a ' sliade of good fortune for this highly capable pair to run up a lot of points on Haturday. Soutli Africa has sonfe inside backs who combine elever snap potting of goals with other assets but there is none to excel Kearney. Xo'r is there a fnllback in this country witli the all round kiclcing ability of >Seott. Scott and Kearney have lately been more aceurate with goalkicking and pottmy than at any previous stage. The All Black backs have already shown superior penetrative powers 10 their opponents. I11 fact it will surprise if tlie Springbok backs prove able -„o score. Their backline appears to have been selectcd for, clefence rather than attack and the Springboks canuot hope always to succeed by defending weli and perhaps kicking their way to victory.