ALL BLACKS DEFEATED.

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 8

ALL BLACKS DEFEATED.

Topics of far greater importance probably had to give way during the weekend to the news of the defeat of the All Blacks in their fifth match on Saturday at Swansea, the New Zealand team, according to the cabled account, being outclassed by the home side. After their decisive win in their first match in Wales on Thursday last, it was confidently anticipated that the All Blacks would be difficult to beat by any Welsh side. But it was inevitable that a defeat had to come sooner or later, and, as the manager of the tourists has frankly admitted, the better side on the day won. New Zealand teams have had such a singular run of successes in the past that probably our perspective has been a little out of alignment. Perhaps it would not be too unkind to say the bubble conceit has been pricked again. Defeat is not pleasant, but let us consider, it as Shakespeare’s toad, ugly and venomous, yet wearing a precious jewel in its head. The jewel, do we but use it, is the eye which envisions our Rugby as it has really grown, not as we would fain have looked at it with a more partial eye. We have been prone to take supremacy in Rugby too much for granted. But, at the same time, there is no need to be too downhearted over a single defeat. The record of the 1924 All Blacks in winning every match of their tour of the United Kingdom” was too good for hope that it could be repeated; in fact, it may never be repeated. It has also to be remembered that Welshmen are very able exponents of Rugby, and that the famous 1905 All Blacks were undoubtedly lucky to win their match against Sxvansea by 4 points to 3. Perhaps one disquieting feature of the present tour is the fact that the manager, who, it is understood, is the sole selector, has right at the start been playing a number of the backs out of their usual positions in the field of play. When men. are picked for an international side it is taken for granted that they are the best in the particular positions for which they were chosen, and it certainly seems an unorthodox procedure that has been adopted. It is satisfactory to learn, however, that the All Blacks were attacking strongly at the end of the game, but were unable to score. There is reason for congratulation in having a team with the capacity to play with the heart that acknowledges no defeat till the sounding of the bell. Much is learned in defeat, and it is to be hoped that the 1935 All Blacks, who cannot possibly yet be suffering from the staleness that affects all touring sides at the end of a lengthy programme, will profit by mistakes. In teams which have an unbeaten x-ecord to guard there sometimes, perhaps unconsciously, is developed a game with spoiling tactics foreign to the spirit of the code, and the defeat so early in the tour may have the beneficial effect of improving the quality of the play. There is still time and opportunity for the All Blacks to return with a record that will stand high in the annals of Rugby.