N.Z.E.F. FOOTBALL TEAM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 3

N.Z.E.F. FOOTBALL TEAM

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND,

• By TclesrapU—Preaa ABSOciatian. Auckland, October 10. The N.Z.E.F. football team, which won the Empire Cup in the sales of Army football matches in Britain and which subsequently -toured South Africa, arrived home this afternoon by the Ajaiia. Respecting the standard of football m -South Africa Serjeant W. R. Roberts ventured the opinion that a representative South African team would give a New Zealand team a good "i:?' at any time. Their forwards, he said, play - a very hard game of the bullocking stylo and would probably be out-generalled here, but the backs are very fast and nippy and clever. In this connection he mentions van Hecdern, the wing-three-quarter of the University team the New Zealanders met, who he considered one of the fastest and cleverest three-quarters he hiul vet seen. He states that tho South Africans are very keen on the game and are also very keen to T isit New Zealand and meet the All Blacks at home. The indications for a boiitn African vis't ho considers are very bright. The New Zealand team has had-an unusually successful career. Its i fifteen won all the matches 111 Britain nnd France, with a single exception, when it was beaten by Australia once in the"-Empire Cup series. _ Ihe reserve team had a similar record in the courseof a long .seiies. of mntches in Lnjlaiul and W«l?s,"the only fifteen to lower its colours .being'.the:'.Moftmoutbsiiire team In South Africa the All Blacks played fifteen, matches, won eleven, lost three, aiid drew one.