THE ALL BLACKS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1925, Page 3

THE ALL BLACKS

IUBTBALIAN AND N.Z. PARLE ASSOCIATION. ‘ SELECTING A REFEREE. PARIS, January 9. The question of the referee for Sundays match of the All Blacks against a French fifteen is still unsettled and an eleventh hour arrangement will be necessary. Three referees have been invited but have declined. The matter has raised a controversy in the press. “ Auto ” declares France’s players methods are principally based on the necessity of winning the match. French referees are inclined to follow the same methods, desiring to please rather than to educate the players. A correspondent in a letter to “ Auto” bitterly criticises the custom of employing British referees in France as an insult to French referees, and suggests the selection of a neutral, lor instance a Spaniard, Hungarian or ('zeeho. LONDON, January 9. The All Black team to play France will he: '- Xepia, Svcnson. Lucas, Hart. Xicholls, Cooke. Dailey. Porter, Donald, Irvine. AL Brownlie, C. Brownlie, Harvey, White and Cupples.

AI cG I (EG OR It E P LAC KS NICHO L LS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 10. The All Blacks’ team on Sunday was altered. All-Gregor replacing Xicholls, whose knee is not sufficiently strong. There is every prospect of line weather, hut the ground is inclined to softness. A record attendance is expected. The team, has been given a wonderful reception everywhere. Members are sanguine as to tho ioSlllt. ..

LOVING CUR PURCHASED. LONDON, January 10. Fifteen hundred Anglo-Zo.ihtodcrs have purchased a massive loving tup for presentation to the All Blacks' at the Hotel Cecil on 21st January to commemorate their unbeaten record Each player will receive a small replica. . ANOTHER WELSH .MAN. THE “ FRENCH IKS” AGOG. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 10. Another Welshman, Llewellyn, ol Llanelly, will referee Sunday’s match. Great excitement prevails. The French are pleased that the All Blacks are putting fifteen in the field. It is considered the French selection practically equals the official .French team, making up in brilliance what it lacks in strength and cohesion. . The French Government "ill he represented by the Under-Secretary for Technical lnslruetion and Madame Ilerriott will also attend the match, for which the booking receipts tolal one hundred thousand francs. It has been decided to open the special railway station at the Stadium which was used during the Olympia. Games.

General Gouraml. of Dardanellesfame, will receive the All Blacks before they place (heir wreath on the unknown warrior’s grave at the Arch do Triumphe.

WIN AGAINST FRANCE. PARIS, January 11. The match with the New Zealanders resulted : All Blacks ..." 'F France S (Received ills dnv at 10.25 a.m.) PARTS. January 11. The All Blacks placed a wreath on the tomb of the unkonwii soldier where they were met by a representative of the AlHilary Governor of Paris. Al. Gouraml. who subsequently received the team al Invnliiles. in the course of a long si'ceih, recalled pleason! memoriess of his dose relationship with Anzors al the Dardanelles. Air Dean, in reply, said lie hoped a Kiv.nch team would visit New Zealand shortly. Rutherford. International Secretary of the French Rugby Federation, withdrew from his usual position of touchline judge in order not to offend I 1 ren eh susceptibilities. THE GAME described. PARTS, January 11.

The weather for the All Blacks first match in France against a French team was cold hut fine and sunny after a heavy frost overnight. There was a wild rush for tickets to see the lamous New Zealanders and the hookings totalled a hundred and fifty thousand francs. There was the largest crowd at Colomhes ground sime the Olympic (lames over fortv thousand being nresmit hair an hour 1 -afore the game. began, out of a total capacity "t sixty thousand.

At the last minute changes were made in both sides. AlcGregor replaced Xicholls as live-eighths and m the French fifteen Peltier replaced Jaurreruv Besson playing al left wing three qua: ter and Jacques Lahordene at ioutre. The game began rather sensationally for live minutes Horn the .itart Bc'ssmi took a pass from Yoyssg and ran from half-way with a clear field mid dodging Nepia, sored a try "huh was not converted. For once the re doubtable visitors were decidedly caught

napping. Frame ' All Blacks 0 The New Zealanders first try billowed 5..:r.0 line team "ork and dangermis rushes by .Svcnson and Lucas. Eventually the bull came cut at the left wing and Porter got across. All Blacks 3 Franco 3 Another try was scored five minutes later by Hart after some line passing. He only tout lied down just as l'oltey vigorously tackled him. All Blacks 3 Franco ' The All Blacks continued to display wonderful learn work. Most amazing loner passes were picked up with unerring" sureness. They scored twice in the next ten minutes, first ( . Brownlie, then Hi t getting over, the latter after a superb lombined movement. None of the tries were converted. All Blacks 12 France 3 p'rum a scrum close ta the 1 rencli goal line Svensan went across almost immediately alter. All Blacks Frame •••••; 3 - Notwithstanding their fine start the Frenchmen were now quite outclassed ami in the last part of the first half the Ml Blacks repeatedly added to the score, hut the ] lace-kicking was poor and not a single try was converted. M. Brownlie and Cooke were the last two to score and at the interval the toll was All Blacks 1 France 3 On resuming the Frenchmen "e’e again first to score. Dumanoir got across and Pcltey contorted. France 3 All Blacks ;• Thus encouraged the men played up with renewed vigour and the game became harder on both sides. The All Blacks secured another try, bv t -

Brownlie, and this also was not converted. All Blacks 24 France 8 The French by no means remained solely on the defensive hut attacked vigorously and a very fast game ensued. Tt was twenty-five minutes before New Zealand succeeded in adding to the total. AL Brownlie got across from a scrum near the French gpal posts and tlii* time Xepia converted the kick. All Blacks 29 Franco 8 ]’c-l ter hurt his knee when tackled and had to be carried off the field, Lasseree (the French Captain) replacing him- A combined movement between the New Zealand forwards and hacks resulted in O. Brownlie scoring and Xepia again converted. All Blacks 31 Franco 8 Finally Svcnson seined again, hut no goal was kicked, leaving the All Blacks victorious bv All Blacks 37 Era nee 8 ANOTHER ACCOUNT. PARIS. Jan. 11. Forty-five thousand people saw the New Zealanders defeat France by ten goals and nine tries (37) points to one goal and one try (8 points). Before the commencement the Now Zealanders gave their war cry. France strongly attacked from the kick-off. a three-quarters’ movement resulting in Besson scoring in the corner. Porter opened the New Zealanders’ account with a try at the corner, hut Xenia unconverted. Immediately afterwards Hart scored, and Nepia failed. White next .scored and look the kick himself, hut was unsuccessful. Brownlie started a magnificent movement, the whole team participating, resulting in Hart

-jug. Again White unconverted. In quick succession, Imth Brownlies and Svcnson each added a trv. one under the posts, but all three were unconverted. Just before flic interval, Cooke added a try, but the kick failed. At half-time the score was 2-1-3. The Frenchmen commenced strongly, and after four minutes’ Duminamida scored. Dilliettev converting. Thereafter the New Zealanders maintained the attack. The French hacks olfered a .strenuous defence, hut both Brownlies scored beneath the posts, Nepia converting both tries. Just before the whistle, Svcnson added an unconverted try, making the score 37-8. Apart from the first lew minutes in each half, the New Zealanders easily dominated the game. The Frenchmen showed the usual fault of holding on to the hull too long. XEPT.VS FINE PLAY. PARIS, Jan. 11. At Colonibes ten minutes before the end the French forward Berrimer was injured and left the field. France was reduced to thirteen men and fought desperately against overwhelming odds. Nepia was especiall.v brilliant.

A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE. NO UNPLEASANT INCIDENTS. LONDON, January 12. The “Daily Express” Paris correspondent says the crowd at the football nyHch equalled the cun-lie finals in the i Id days at Crystal Palace, bill was of a totally difiVi'ent character. It was a ladies day. The spectators included smartly attired women ol lashion, who drove up in luxurious motorcan- ; also hundreds of gay mannequins and midinetles. The women cheered as frantically as the men. It was an inv'g rating, sunny day and was a brilliant scene. The l nion Jack and the New Zealad flags wore llown. Hie National Anthem and .Marseilles were played by the hands. Air Churchill and other members of the conference were present. A\ ild cheers greeted the All Blacks war cry. Enthusiasm became a Ireuzy. when a Frenchman obtained the first seme. 1 hereafter the New Zealanders, began a procession of tries and played at L-'e top of their form. Their mass attacks were almost uncanny and their pace was hot and furious. Nevertheless the Frenchmen gave the visitors a good game and there were no unpleasant incidents. A GREAT CROWD. PARIS, January 11. It is estimated there were sixty thousand at Colomhes. The All Blacks received the warmest ovation m luippy contrast to the Freuch-Trish match when the referee and Irishmen were 1)000(1. The All Blacks go to Toiiluse tomorrow.