THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1924, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

TO-DAY’S MATCH. WALES PREPARING. LONDON, Oct. 14. Though hack play in Welsh Rugby has fallen off since the palmy clays before the war, tlie principality is not without hope of lowering the colours of the All Blacks in the match to be played at St. Helens Ground, Swansea. on November 20th. It is recognised that determined and sustained aLtack is the ynlv path to success against the New Zealanders, a fact which was amply proved hy the achievement of the Newport fifteen in getting so near to victory.

Newport never let up. The pack was magnificently led hy Reg. Edwards, and the men behind were hound to have chances. Wales, if they are to emulate the memorable win of 101)13. will only do so hv tlie forwrads heeling out, to give the hacks every chance. The keenness of the Welsh Rugby Union for the fifteen to make a great show against the All Blacks is clear from what happened at a meeting of the Match Committee recently. Instead id’ following the usual custom of preliminary trials, the committee* went right out. choosing the probable Welsh fifteen and then picking a side to oppose them, which they termed “The Rest.” and the game will he played at Aheravcm next Saturday. Oct. Kith. There will be no less than twelve internationals in the Welsh fifteen, and all seven forwards were in the pack that met Ernnce in Paris in the last of the internationals last season, when Wales won by a dropped goal and two tries (10 points) to two tries ((i points).

"EXAGGERATED.” ALL BLACKS’ ILLNESS. LONDON. Oct. 10

The All Blacks continued their winning way v.bi'ii they gained their eighth consecutive victory by the ample margin of 13 points over a team representing the county of Cheshire. On the morning of this match a. sousalioiial story was broadcasted to the effect that the New Zealanders had been poisoned, ;md that on this account the game would have to In* cancelled. The report, however, was grossly exaggerated. It is true that several members of the party suffered from a mild attack of what appeared to Is.* ptomaine poisoning, but no ease was serious, anil though change's were mail*.* in the side. I believe it is true that every member of the party was actually lit to play. Tlie players were taken 111 whilst staying in Liverpool, hut it is not suggested that the tremble was due to bad food received at tlie hold. The first of the* New Zealanders' international mulches is against Wales a mouth lienee, and already file Principality. are making direful preparal ions for tin* selection of the team. At the moment, they are experimenting with seven forwards, and putting the extra man behind tin* .serummage. This is thought lo be a mistake, and it is lii>intcd nut that Newport, who so far have been the cilllv team to cross the All Blacks’ line, and who ran them to three points, played the full pack of eight forwards. Unfortunately tie* Welsh authorities

s,i*m lo I,** aiming to obtain a team which will be strung in defence. It will, however, be a great mistake if Wales "lies on lo tin* field with the idea that all they have to do is to stem tln* New Zealanders. Attack should he their aim from first to lasi. It is only by playing in ibis spirit that they can hope to win.

INTEREST IN TO-DAY. Tli.it th<* All Blacks I Wales game. line oil November L’Ptli. at Swansea, is arousing keen interest mac lie gal licl'cd Welsh Uninn lias already received over .-''(! a ptilii a t ions fur seats in tilt* grand stand, six weeks bef'.re the date set for the match. As the sealing aminiiini,|:i | inn is only HOOP, a special snb-enm-mitti the Wel-li Rugby Union lias tbc onerous task "f allocating them among tbc applicants. As a matter nf fad. T lancv lliat. a ground bolding IJl0.no;* would be packed for Ibis game, for apart from the fact that the “New Zealanders are playing everywhere to "crowded” houses. there is* among Rugliv enthusiasts a particularly keen desire to see the tourists endeavour i_» obtain revenge for flu* ih'leat ol 100 n.

SCOTTISH ATTITUDE. PRESS REFERENCE?*. LONDON. Oil. 14. Rugby enthusiasts in Scotland are particularly keen on getting the All Blacks over their border for at least match, and I hear certain clubs are determined In secure a fixture il tlie visitors van possibly fit one to their programme. Personally I don t think they <an. nor do I think it would lie politic for them to do so il they could, under the circumstances of their exclusion from the Scottish international programme. And even il a mate t could he arinnged hy any local organisation. can tlie Scottish Union allow the match to take place within the* area of its jurisdiction ? They have taken a stand on a matter of principle, and though we may reckon them misguided to be ((insistent they must ban the appearance of New Zealand over their border. What will happen? Discussing Ibis matter I'cueli Judge” of the “Sporting Life” remarks: -“The fact is the Scottish I llion have* adopted a pose of superiority that is completely out nf (late. If the Welsh and Irish Unions do not object meeting a team from overseas that has been invited, not hy the International Board, hut hy a rival union. surelv Scotland would have been well-advised, having made their prot,„l. to have accepted the fixtures ollercd them in the interests of their own ncoplo? , . i “Aftor nil. thoy owe n duty to n punlie whose support has enabled them to acquire their new ground at Murrayfjuhl The game in Scotland has advanced in effectiveness and interest since the war to an extent little realised a few seasons ago. . . and in tlie circumstances the Scottish authorities should have done everything m their power In enable their representatives to obtain additional experience by meeLin ,r a combination Hint brings to us new~methods of attack and defence. “To mv mind, the Scottish Union has failed in* its duty to its public and its plovers, and now. even at the elcxcntli hour, if a game can bo arranged in Scotland they will bo. dl-ndvisod to place anv impediment m the wax "! *> most desirable happening. “Surelv. after nineteen years U'e> can form'd tlie mortification entailed by t j, c los*T of several hundred pounds as the result of lack of anticipation.

THE REASON* Will . “Touch .fudge's" reference to Scotl.nul’s liniifiiil loss in 100-nmy pu**le the vottngcr generation of Wii"V' P u, > _ era in Non- Zealand. The facts may. therefore, ho briefly stated. Tn lOfto Scotland declined to accept an international fixture with the All ™acTs because they were asked to R.a.antce a sum of CSOO. Then a Scottish Cah stepped into the breach and a.-kul f n tho fixture, and willingly on a ran tee the fdOO. 1 hey telt that it would ho a loss of dignity to allow o no of tho affiliated clubs to run the K*»ll c. aiul they finally agreed to play the match. . ... i But the doubt of the visitors at- , 1 . ir ., t . sufficient to cover the trading a gate sunicicut guarantee was so strong that: they owl. consented to play them on the understanding that, instead of a sn“™ n *J of P. 500 New Zealand should take the whole gate. This amounted to something like £ISOO.

GOOD LUCK. PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE. WELLINGTON, November 28. The Prime Minister sent the following cablegram to Air Dean, Alanagor of uic All Blacks, to-day:— “ New Zealand sends its All Blacks the best wishes for to-morrow’s great contest. Whatever the result, we are confident it will be received l>v both shinies in the best spirit of British sportsmanship. Kai Knlm! Ivia Ton! Kin Ora!

(Be Strong! Tie Brave! Good Luck!) TWICKENHAM GROUND. It is claimed hy the London Press that, with the completion of improvements which were in progress six weeks ago, Twickenham—where the All Blacks won on Saturday—will he transformed into the finest Rugby football ground in tlie world, and will accommodate nearly 70,000 people. 1 1 was expected that the work would hardly he finished in time for Saturday’s game, but everything should he in readiness for the handling of a record crowd when the English international is played on January 3rd, Already the Twickenham ground represents a capital investment of over 030,000, and now another 030,000 is being spent in the erection of a great new pavilion of steel and concrete behind one of the goals, and the construction nf 3000 additional feet of terracing equipped with crush harriers, in front ol the two stands which (lank the ground. And in the near future another new stand is to he erected behind the other goal. AYlicn this is finished the whole circuinierence of the ground will be under cover, and it is estimated that there will he accommodation for 07,000 people.