ALL BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 October 1924, Page 5

ALL BLACKS

TO-DAY’S MATCH. INTEREST VERY KEEN. The rout of S wain sea and the game, tenacious struggle against the forniidable Newport team, with the wonderful snatching of victory at the eleventh hour will have increased confidence" in the All Blacks,; in the minds- of those who had doubts first as to their ability to play a. hard,. defensive game, and secondly in their lasting power, more especially of the somewhat light backs as compared :wiifch - their: predecessors of 1905. Fears were expressed by many keen enthusiasts as to these’ backs standing up to the work Tout so far they have done remarkably well, arid the play against Newport will’ confound many doubting critics. .". A cable message received this morning gives a criticism by a writer, in which he says. The All Blacks-,have shown two defects, a failure to hook the ball and uncertainty in loose play, especially in too much passing forward. If this is not remedied they have little chance of approaching their predecessors’ record.

.It was quite evident from the report of some of the matches, and especially that of the Newport struggle, that the forwards were not getting the., ball as they should, and this must be attributed naturally to the problerii Of the ‘‘loose head.” It is a postulate that, the weight and ability being . about equal, two men in the front row supported by three and two must Jiave l©ss chance of hooking tho * hall than a front row of three, supported \by two and' three. The. 19Q5 tearii -were up against the same trouble, and it would be wise for the committee of the team to talk over the question and see what could be done to remedy the defect, for defect it, must be. This is where a competent coach with long experience would have been a great asset. It is a new thing to hear that the forwards have “too much uncertainty in loose play.” Those fierce loose rushes have always been a strongly marked feature of their play, and passing forward, if it exists so much, miist be dealt with at once. The manager, captain, and committee should have their eyes, on any such defect. ‘ In regard to .the Leicester match not much is known here as ito their probable strength, blit they have been considered a- pretty good • combination, and years ago ‘were. rioted for their great forwards. Wliateyer the resujt may be, everyone may rest assured that our team leaders will take no chances and will put on- a strong team, chosen to combine as well as possible, so as to maintain, if in their power, the so far unbeaten records The following comment by ‘ ‘Philistine, of the ..Athletic News, who was one of the very best and fairest critics of Rugby football in England, will be read with interest;" After the beating of Leicester by 28 to 0 this is what he said : “There is no .questioning the superiority of .the New .Zealanders. It is' evident in everything they do, and is a'palpitatihg fact! Individually brilliant, collectively they are irresistible. , If one -section of the team stands out more than another by reason of polished capacity* it" is the three-quarter line. . • But the perfect combination of the backs, the smartness with which they fielded the-hall, and the speed at which they . darted away had a great deal’to do 1 with thie success achieved. They- seemed-/to be moving always at top speed, and the moment they handled tlie leather they .were going like champiori;' sprinters. . . . From forward to back the New Zealanders are athletes lyith- an. acrobatic ability. . . . That, their, visit to this country will be of inestimable value to Rugby football goes without saying. . . . Long may the silver fem flourish.” It may :be stated that the Leicester Club ..have always played seven men in the scrinn since 1905, and it has achieved a success in that direction. -