All Blacks' Tour.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1922, Page 4

All Blacks' Tour.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

AUCKLAND, August 22

Mr S. S. Deans, manager of the. All Black team, when interviewed on his return from Australia, said that he went away a pessimist, but returned an optimist, concerning the future of the Rugby game in Australia and New Zealand. The standard of play in New South Wales, he said, had greatly improved, and New Zealand must always regard the teams which represent the State, as formidable foemen. The visits of .the Maori Rugby team and the All Black team had given the game such a kick-off in Sydney as it never had before, with the result that there was a great possibility of the Rugby game being reinstated in Queensland, where it had been allowed to drop.

Referring to the New Zealand team s defeat, Mr Deans told a reporter chat New South Wales had played splendid football—never better, and thoroughly deserved tlieir wins for the second end third test matches, the final of which was one of the hardest and most gruelling contests he had ever witnessed. In explanation of New- Zealand’s defeat, Mr Deans said we were beaten by a better side, who jumped into the game from the outset with a gal’op and never let down until the call *>f

time. The New- South Wales for war C were splendid, and more than held thr.w own with the three-two-three formition in the serum, while the backs iv'-'e brilliant going at top speed on attack, running stlniglit, passing nnd combining with rare certainty and decision. Of the New South Wales backs Xothling (full-back), Raymond (wing .three-quar-ter), nnd AVatkin (half hack) were singled out for special praise as brilliant players.

Concerning the New Zealand players the- All Black forwards were magnificent, but they received no support fro n the backs on attack. As a truth, 1 lie display of the New Zealand backs throughout the tour was distinctly disappointing. The inside backs—fiveeighths and centre three-quarter—-were weak, lacking cohesion and any semblance of finesse on attack, witli tlie result that tile wings, Steel and Ford, or whoever it happened to he, were starved for the ball. With two inside backs like Fen, of Otago, and Ifworson, of Auckland, there would ■have been a different talc to tell. Bell, the ex-Pirate and Otago full-back, played a splendid game as the last line of defence throughout the tour. His fielding was faultless, his tackling deadly in its tenacity and his long-range linekicking superb. The try lie scored was a clever and unique effort fer a fullback, running from his position to give a beautiful dummy at the finish to score a brililant try. Steel got few chances, but the few be did get he made the best possible use- of .A purely attacking player, the ball must be sent out to him, and his neglect was due to the failures of the inside backs to cut in and make the openings for tile wings. With Fea or Ifwcrson inside, Steel would have been at his best. "A’. Badeley, of Auckland who got- into the team as a utility player and for his placekicking, wa« clean off his game, both as a, player and a plare-lucker. '.treat, disappointment is felt in Auckland over Bndeley’s failure, as lie had hoon performing well in dub football prior to the All Blacks’ departure.

Ford, on the wing, was colourless, and Fitzgerald was not a- success rs centre when he played in that position Dickinson, the young Otago High School hoy, played brilliantly at times, hut was inclined, to go too far on his own, and neglected to pass out to his wings. He is. however, highly thought of in Australia, and will be one of New Zealand’s foremost backs in a year or two. if be is not now. Mark Nicliolls was not brilliant at five-eighths, but h P played a solid game. His placekicking was a feature, and he was the most successful in the long-last art. H. Nicholls and Matheson shnred the honours behind the" All Blacks’ serum but putting the ball into the serum and failing to get it from the All Black hookers, they were frequently penalised for off-side plnyi This was an irciUut that frequently penalised the All Blacks who were penalised on almost every occasion when the ball flashed out from the scrum before the ha'fback, after putting the ball in. had time to got round behind the pack to secure it.

The Now Zealand forwards were splendid, particularly the young son of Anak, Jock llichardson, who on all sides—New South Wales and New Zealand—was acclaimed the most brilliant forward over seen in Australia, Seeling not excepted 1 This is praise, indeed and comes from tho All Blacks from Mike Beilis, the skipper, right through to tho diminutive Svenson, who was struck down by measles on arrival, and only got up a day before the team’s departure. In tills regard Svenson was singularly unfortunate. I saw Jock Richardson, and spoke to him abo d his play, which he assured me modestly was not all that it was cracked up to he. But ask Jimmy Henderson, v.ho will lie remembered l>y Rugby enthusiasts of a decade ago as man 'ger of a New South Wales team. J H , who is a good judge, and knows hiItugby, states that no better forward than Richardson has ever been sent to Australia. For the rest, Beilis played a great game ns rover or wing forward; but the Sydney referees are “out” to kill the wing forward, and Beilis suffered the penalty. The All Blacks, according to the captain and manager, discovered a good “lock” forward in Williams of Otago, and a splendid line-out player in Peterson, of Canterbury', who was one of the best in the team. Whyte, too, played well. Clippies and Brownlie, of whom much had. been expected, played well up to a certain point, hut at critical moments threw chances away. All the members of the team are fit and well, but are of opinion that the tour was unduly rushed—three gruelling -test, matches and two metropolitan contests being played in the course of a few days. There is not the slightest douot C it , those responsible for tho arrangements I of the test matches bungled badly, and 1 some serious questions should be asked ; of the New Zealand Rugby Union. j . It is seriouslv suggested by t le man . ager of the All Blacks team that in , order to avoid further trouble, and in view of the New Smith Wales visit next

year, a conference, of New, Zealand iand New. South Wajc.s refere'es should be held to secure a uniformity in ruling. Captain Beilis states that thy disposal of the wing forward will probably necessitate the adoption by New Zealand of the 3-2-3 scrum form-it 1 on like New South Wales.

It has been suggested that the referee should put the ball in the scrum ; hut if this is carried to its logical conclusion there is no reason why tb" line umpires should not throw- the tall out from the line-out!