THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1925, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

X.Z. PRESS VIEWS. AUCKLAND. Jan. 5. To-night's “Star” says the first thing to do is to express profound regret that in the Just match of the tour the reputation of the New Zealanders should have suffered in this way. It is had both in itself and because lL will l>e regarded us justification lor the criticism of the New Zealanders’ play in tlie earlier matches. The referee may have made a mistake. It often happens in football that a man is singled out for punishment for rough play when he has only retaliated against an opponent's action. The referee showed moral courage in ordering nil’ a member of a famous team in an international match, but sennit in;; that all

the facts are not known, may it not be suggested that lie might have waited a little longer before ho imposed so drastic a penalty ? The comments of the English captain on the incident and on the match are in had taste. There is no need for him to declare that “wo don’t stand that behaviour from any team.” It is the referee who control;the game, nut the captains, lie might also remember that for nearly the whole of the game New Zealand was playing one man short. AVo suspect that the English captain is one ol those who expected or professed to expect the New Zealanders to play roughly. .Such expectations were openly expressed before the tour began. and they are rather glad that thov have this proof of their fulfilment. W'EI.EIN'CTOX. Jan. 5.

Referring to the ordering off the field of Krownlic in the .New Zealand v. England match, to-night’s- “Rost” says: “That one of the New Zealanders should have lieen ordered off the field for rough play and answering the referee is much to he regretted, hut the referee’s comments indicate that the incident was one of a type which cannot always he prevented in a strenuous match, though that is not an excuse. We may hope, however, that the importance of this incident will not ho magnified.” The “Dominion’' says: “ft is unfortunate. indeed, that this excellent record has been to some extent marred hv the regret table incident which occurred in the opening phase of the match against England, when a Now Zealand forward (0. Brownlie) was ordered off. The si rain of an important eon lest and high feeling on both sides prnhuhl.v had something to do with this solitary lapse.”

SHALE KTDEr.TO [ITS. Writing to the editor of Spoilsman, a well-known New Zealand rughvit - al present in England states that the lour of the All Blacks has been far from happy for some of the members ol the touring side. “Xo one in New Zealand.” lie says, “ran I'm in an ailequale idea of the heavy responsibilities that have rested on the captain. C. O. Reiter, and Lto a less extent) on the shoulders of Jock Richardson, the vice-captain.” It would appear Dial Rorler has had much unexpected work thrust upon him—lienee his sl.-inding out of so many games. Duties that are usually perI'orined by a mnnngri'-rnarh have fallen to Porter's lot. and he has been willingly and ably supported by Richnrdsni. Instead of f -ing in .t contain and :i valuable playing member. Roller has had to attend In numerous oilier duties a lid that is heea use he is a liet ler disciplinarian t ban M r Dean. “’H e la itor.” continue'. Hie overseas writer, “is happiest when he is in the limelight and -spouting' before not ahilit ies. Then there is the official party. “These men.” says our informant, “are usually hoarded apart Imm the team, and most of the players regard I hein as ‘onl spiers’ wil It no right b> b” present. Their advice is mil often ~,,,■1,l :,,,,| when ling o||e, a -.m.-ge I hey are mitre often than not snubbed by a section' of the players. All this has created a feeling of mi pleasantness ami low iiiiirmurings that do not iicihe tor the happiest relations. ('out inning. Ihe " rite- avs : ”• he team are slaying al the "llasliest hotels possible am! are eating all the highclass ‘murk’ that is dished in, to them. Xo dieting at all jit-d eat what you like and drink what you like. It is all left to lh" players Ihemselves to keep themselves lii and I am pleased to say that 15 or hi nf them are most oyemplary in every way. and they include vour three Wellington men Nil-hulls and Svcusoii. Rorler is really doing wonders, but his burden is grievous and heavy to he borne. ’ The foregoing aeeounl is an abridged one and omits many oilier leal ures and incidents disclosed by the writer who says that all the reporters with the team agree with him and enneltides, by saving that “many stories will he told when Hie team arrives back.” THE AVAI.EK MATCH. The All Blacks played Wales on November 20th., and won b.v 10 ’mini-; lu (). It was nut a nice match, and there was iinpleasanl si-rapping in it. I h.p. heard that there might he. 1 do -.ml know who started it. hut if the \\o! h police was lo win hv super physieahsin it certainly failed. U was bound to fail. Rutting aside all moral questions the New Zealand forwards were too big and strong for that sort of thing to hurt them, and certainly they were uni to he terrified h.v a display of lone, i prefer not to dwell on that aspect of the match. Rugby football is a great and glorious game. V, e don t want it Lo lie placed in kid gloves, nor do "c wish it adapted to the requirements of the drawing room, hut the hard knocks given and taken in it should he Incidental and unavoidable. They should not he intended. ft was a great victory which New Zealand won, hut it was great ohiofl> because of the sentimental interest attaching to this particular match. Emm a technical point of view the winners were uut at their best. Splendid in the loose ns their forwards were, thenfamous hack division did not bring oil any of those dazzling movements whic.i are still at once the despair and the delight of lhose who know thorn host. Still they were not needed. T.et it be noted, though, Hint Males got Hie couragement of a good start. For nail a dozen minutes their lot-wards mos—ed up” the game of the New Zealand backs, though incidentally T think that this was a false success and made the eventual undoing ol AY ales more amtplete titan it need have been. The Welshmen presumed on that hit o! earlv promise and tried to do it again. Spoiling and spoiling alone is obsolete. Tn 192-i you have got to play your own game, and to force it on your opponents if you are tn heat a fine side. New Zealand won with superlative ease. Im more easily than a seine of If) poin:--to II would suggest, and after about twenty minutes "\\ silos played like wnni thov were, n beaten side. Xiehnlls was again magnificent botn in generalship and in execution ol his own plans. Nepia was a joy to watch as well as a very pleasant help m tune of trouble. The Brownlie Brothers were always doing good “turns -at the moment; 1 believe “M..T. to ' |A the best forward in the world—and so was Irvine. The New; Zealanders of 192-1 made history in Wales ami "RAO., was avenged.

COMING MATCHES. .Tan. 11.—v. France, at- Fans. Jan. IS.—v. A. French fifteen nf Toulouse.