THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1924, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

“ I’ HO.M VICTORY TO VICTORY.” WOXDKRFL'L SPKCI.M.KXS OF SUPERB .MANHOOD. Nothing succeeds like success (writes All lilue ” in the “ Daily .Mail ”), and perhaps that, is one of the chief reasons why the All I Hacks .go on from victory to victory. Then again they have the tradition of that great New Zealand side of 1905 to uphold them. 'I lie hour is not ripe for a genuine comparison between tiie present All Blacks

mid those stalwarts who only capitulated once during their tour in that memorable match against Wales:. This season’s players are in the adolscent stage ot their tour, when they are gradually blending themselves into a perfectly working machine. Like their pre-war brothers, they are wonderful specimens id. superb manhood, from the nineteen-years-old hack, Xepia, to the brothers llrownlie, massive giants at forward. All the members of the pack are six leet or over, one of the Brownlies being six feet three, and it is sheer delight to tin* eye of the true Rugby enthusiast to watch these hefty ii’.cn break away from the serum or leap with remarkable agility to reach the ball from a line-out. The hack division have an average weight of eleven stone, being thirteen pounds lighter than that which repre-

sented the 11)0.1 combination. Tin chief ditliculty of the selectors was ii finding a reliable full-hack, and eiib one has been brought over. Xepia, nut he was originally a live-eights. Already this youth has proved his worth and his spectacular play is one of I,lit brightest features of the fifteen.

Perhaps ('ooko, tit live-eights, is tin outstanding player of the tour so far. Ill's deadly handling and uncanny opportunism make for sheer genius, lie is one of those people who can seize the Inindredl.h chance and turn it into success, lit a battle of speed his extraordinary pace and stamina will get him there a fraction before his opponents, hut it is {Lose little fractions that- mean so much to a player of ['nuke's mentality and imply so much lunger to the opposition.

If lie has one fault it is that of trying to do too much, while in common ivith the rest, of the side he is inclined 1,0 bunch too close when waiting for in expectant pass. Hunching is one if the most noticeable weaknesses in t side w hose running is so beaut i I idly *t might.

Porter, the captain, who is just getting into his true form after a period of indisposition, is a source of happy inspiration to his men. Probably the old maxim that attack is the surest defence is the keynote of the team's seiptciicc of victories. The forwards, with their weight, speed, and stamina, are always working their hardest, pressing home to the' full the minutest advantage, thus relieving the back division of a great deal of possible pressure from their rivals. As a whole they are not, above experiments in the face nl failure to score til'd I hey vary their methods of attack with sound judgment and I'rcipienev in older lo discover their opponents' weakness.

AUBTIIALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ( OX'IIRATUI.A I'll i.XS. WELLINGTON. Dec. I. X 11111< -I'inis uic-.c-c- it| 1 mii":i a t alalinns lon** I *ee|i called in i nlise, | ilclli c of the All I'Ja k- vintory over Wales. 11l reply to the message from Mr Massey, wishing the team success in the match. Mr Deans cabled: “Your inspiiing message grmilv appreciated. Titanic struggle, magnificent victory. 1911.1 .avenged.’’ Mr Massey lias now sent a message nf i niigrat illation. A similar message lias 1 sent by the New Zealand Rugby Union to tbe All Blacks. and the following message In I’oltcr by tile Wellington College Old Roys Assoi'i.at inti : “College jubilee to-day. I’resent and past students enngrat iilaf e (IM Roys at Home, and team, on Satnrdav's win.’' (lid boys in the team are I’ol'ter, Donald and Xiebolls.

MR. AYR \ Y'S TRIBUTE. AV ELLINGTON. December 1

The Xew Zealand Rugby Union has received the following cablegram from C. Wray, tin* Dontinii n’s representative on tbe Kngli-h Rugby Union: - “Meal'tie.-t oonernt illations oil (be splendid victory. 'Wale- was coliiplotoIv outclassed and outplayed. Cooke, the conjurer, is tbe greatest op. port iiii-i-t T lone over sell. Mark Xiebolls. (lie demon dummy ileninnstrator. “bowed splendid I’e-ol ball brains. Xepia is peerless. McGregor would go down to n. runaway train. “Mamie” llrownlie. the marvellous, did great work-, so did “Roll" Trvine. (hippies, and every man of tbe team. Welter’s action in bolding up tin* start- of the game, ill the presence of titty thousand people, by icjocting tin* ball just ill tbe kick oil. will go dow 11 in history.

Tbe New Zealand Union lias replied to Wray: “Sincere thanks for congratillations. Tbe victory was a splendid reward for the untiring efforts on our behalf.”

Tbe following cablegram lias been sent by the New Zealand Fnion in (lie All "[’lacks: “lleaiticst congratulations on tbe magnificent victory. There are enthusiastic rejoicings throughout the Dominion.'’

EARLY criticism. r AI ASTI'! I’TON. Nov. 30. In an interview, when tbe result of iho ill tenialional match was announced. Mr !•:. M’Kenzie (chairman of tbe All Dlack Selection Committee), who yesterday predicted a good win for the X'ev.' Zealanders, said that lie told a meeting of tbe New Zealand Rugby Fnion. before Hie players departed. 1 bat tbe criticism levelled at jbe team would be answered on the playing fields at Home, ft bad been done, and be felt sure that all tbe critics now bad been silenced.

A RECORD DEFEAT. Nineteen points to nothing is the heaviest defeat that any overseas touring team has ever indicted upon Males. Tile scores of iho six sides that have met tbe Welshmen on their own ground are (visitors score tirst) : N.Z. Natives (1888) ... o— ; > All Blacks (1901) ... i>— : Springboks (1906) ... 11—0 Wallabies (1908) ... 6—o Springboks (1912) ... 6—o Ml Blacks (192-1) --- 19-0

Only once has a colonial touring team put up a bigger score in an international match in the Old l ands. That was at Dublin, ill 1912. when the second Springboks beat Ireland by points to 0.

pr.AYIXC! RECORD. Xopia lias appeared in every match. Tlie numlier of matches in which each member of the team has played ate as follows: — 0. Xenia, til; AY. lx. Irvine, IS; J. Rieliardson. 17: R. 11. Masters. 10; M. Brownlie. 10: S. White, 10: A. E. Cooke 15 : K. S. Svensen, II : Q. Ronald. 13; M. Niohnlls 13: N. V. McGregor 13; C. G. Porter 12; .1. ATill 12:

1. Cupples. "l- : J- IT. Pa'W. }} > Thu ~ 1«»; .T. Steel 10 ; W. C. Halley 11 ■\y. ili-own, 0: I’. Lncns • • Brownlie 0; A. West 7 S „ R C, • C. Baeva i o; A. C-. Bob.lhard I. j’ H. Tlarvey 1 : H- 0. Mnnro I: C. K. Badeley ‘2.