The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1935. THE 1935 ALL BLACKS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 105, 28 January 1935, Page 8

The Dominion. MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1935. THE 1935 ALL BLACKS

Although the winter destination of the.Plunket Shield J - as indefinite and challenges are still being received for the Hawke Ct p, fte selection last week of Mr. V. R. All Blacks on their tour of Great. Britain and Ireland at theffldoi the year will have turned many minds to thinking of Rug y < and Especially of the All Black team itself, its probable personnel and lil-elv nlaviiw strength. When his thoughts run this way it is too much to expect that a New Zealander should not recall, either from his own memory or from the most popular department of our national history that the 1905 All Blacks lost one match at Home, and the 1924 All Blacks none. Yet for the good of the Rugby game and New Zealand’s reputation for sportsmanship it is important tha- these historical facts should be, if not forgotten at least. kept in perspectiveThat is one reason why Mr. Meredith’s appointment as manage, is especially welcome. He is a big man apart from Rugby witn a balanced understanding of the relative value of J® "® likely to become obsessed of the idea that the 1935 All Blacks mt. A at all costs preserve unbroken the record of then- forerunners. If they can win all their matches by good, clean play, with just a little more thrust and finish than their opponents, so much the bettei Footballers can be sportsmen without being beaten—although oix would not imagine that to be so were he to listen to some of the ci i icism which comes from the losing side after almost every international sporting encounter. It is possible to hope the All Blacks may win, and yet be a sportsman, even as in another field it is possible to be opposed to war and yet be a good patriot. . . That which imperils sportsmanship is the mad desire to win regardless of the means employed. There are supporters of the game in this country who would look upon it as a national disastei weie the All Blacks to lose two of the four Tests, whereas such an outcome probably would do no more than prove that our tackling, was weak, or. our forwards were not pushing in the scrum. Also, from its salutary effect, it might be the best result possible. The role of superman is a difficult one to sustain, and the attitude of mind of a people which feels itself to be endowed with supergenius in sport is liable to produce an objectionable swelled-headedness. Besides it is not fair to any team that its followers should place above all otnc.i considerations its winning of every match the resultant mental strain must inevitably hamper the normal daring and initiative ot p ay. A team capable of bright and enterprising football in attack may Lie thrown back upon dour and dogged defence if its members aie g'Vffii to understand that it will be counted more to their credit to wm stolidly than to lose brilliantly. NT Fortunately, while the existence of this feeling among the New Zealand public cannot be doubted, there arc two if not three safeguards to keep its worst effects from the players who will represent us overseas. ■ The first is the good sense of Rugby players themselves, both generally and particularly of the class of player who is chosen to play for his country. Most of the unpleasantness to be noted “on the bank” in the course of exciting matches is traceable to spectators whose practical experience of the game has been very slight, frequently, indeed, non-existent. To players themselves there is undoubtedly a special thrill in victory, but they play primarily for the fun of the game itself—for the opportunity of winning rather than for actual winning. By carrying forward this inborn love of the o-ame for the game’s sake, an All Black will naturally count it a greater distinction to be included in the team against, say, Wales, even although Wales should win, than to play in most of the county matches and always on the wining side. This may be said to be the second defence against the win-at-all-cgsts spirit on the home front, the third will be wise leadership, especially on the part of the manager: and with Mr. Meredith’s appointment that is assured. He is an experienced player, an ardent supporter of Rugby and . a successful selectoi and team builder —qualities which should satisfy the most violently partisan “barracker.” But, in addition, he .is a man outstanding.’.' qualified to represent abroad the administrative branch of the game in New Zealand, and one who, although none will be keener to wm in the-normal course of events, will esteem the playing of good football above the preservation of an unbeaten record, and count the upbuilding of his countrymen’s prestige as sportsmen and gentlemen more important than any achievement on the field.