THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1925, Page 3

THE ALL BLACKS.

[Reuters Telegrams.J ICE HOCKEY AND SKT-ING. PARIS, Jan. 16. The All Blacks yesterday were the guests of the Pyrenees Rugby Committee of Toulouse. In a visit to the Luclion Superbagners, where they were entertained at luncheon, Air Dean, in replying to the welcome of the local Sports’ Club said the New Zealanders much appreciated their warm reception. The team afterwards witnessed an exhibition of ski ing and an ice hockey match between Belgium and Spain. A GREAT CROWD PARIS, January 17. Toulouse is packed with visitors from the surrounding towns and villages fur to-morrow’s Rugby International match, France versus the All Blacks. The ground only holds thirty thousand, and it is expected that thousands will he disappointed. The All Blacks full bade, Ncpia, who has played in every match of the tour, is in lied with a had cold and may not he able to play. TOULOUSE FESTOONED. ■ Received this day at 8 a.in.) (PARTS, January 17. The town of Toulouse is festooned with British flags in honour of the visitors. FRANCE BEATEN BY 30—6. TUMULTUOUS RECEPTIONS. LONDON. Jan. IS. The All Blacks played their last game and the last International against France at Toulouse, and wound up a triumphal tour by defeating their opponents by 30—(>. They were greeted with beautiful weather, the day being almost like summer. There was no wind, the turf was in excellent order and conditions could not have been better. I,nog before the start the enclosure was packed to the limit of its capacity. - Detachmcn.s of military reinforced by police guarded the approaches to prevent the ground living rushed. It is estimated that at least 20,000 persons were unable to gain admission. Both teams received a most tumultuous reception.

THE GAME. (Received this dav at 19.25 a.m.) LONDON, January IS. France adopted the three lour 1 urination in the serum. The New Zealanders won the toss, and played with tlm sun behind them. The game opened at a tremendous pressure and the crowd was worked up to the highest pitch of excitement when the French forwards wheeled the scram and dashingly dribbled the bull oil to the full-back. Ncpia. who was playing despite his cold and he bad to exert himself to the full to save a score, which he did in his usual certain style. The visliors retaliated with a brilliant passing rush in the traditional All Black manner, Porter. Cooke. Lucas, Steel, Brownie. and finally Porter again handling the ball in succession, the hitter going over at the croner five minutes from the start of the game. .Nieliolls made a great effort from an awkward angle but was unsuccessful. All Blacks 3 France 0

Three minutes later another glorious passing movement overwhelmed all <>ppositoiii ami enabled Steel to score under the pests, Nieliolls converting. All Blacks 8 Frame 0

After a period of strenuous forward play in midfield Hie Frenchmen hav ing recovered from the New Zealanders’ sensational beginning initiated a number of dashing attacks on their own account which severely tested the New Zealander’s defence. Dumaneir made a thrilling lain, but was not .supported. Then Pitou effected a promising opening. but Jnurregiiy lost n splendid rhanee hv making a weak kick instead of passing pi several unmarked colleagues. -('cuke, übiquitous as ever, turned defence into attack by cutting through and opening up another liin-ehine-like evolution ahe’i (Lucas outstripped the opposition and passed to Svonson who iscored. Nieliolls’ kick again failed.

All Blacks 11 France 0 The New Zealanders then commenced to demuale the scrums. Alill feeding bis backs splendidly, although hampered by the French hack-row forwards who were frequently offside. .Richardson, who was always prominent in the line-outs, broke away with tremendous dash, ,Steel carrying on the movement, passing to AYliite who scored a sensational try after a great sprint. Nieliolls again failed to improve the score. All Blacks 11 France 9 Almost mmediatcly AYliite, with great individual effort, repeated his performance, hut Nieliolls did not convert it. All Blacks 17 France 9 Although the All Blacks concentrated nlay in their opponents’ quarter, the Frenchmen made occasional brilliant rallies which took the ball to the other and and just before the close of the first half Porter effected a magnificent save when the New Zealand line was threatened. Both teams were greatly affected by the lmt sun. but the pace scarcely slackened. The first spell closed with the scores All Blacks 17 Era nee 9 Tninio; lately after the resumption of play the Frenchmen attacked resolutely and gaining possession from the sci uni I’iteu sent Builletti and Duinanoiir away on a great run which ended in the latter being thrown into touch near the toruor. The bull was immediately thrown in and Cassavet dashed across the line before his opponents awoke to the position. Dumanoir tool; th-. ki'k at goal, hut failed. All Blacks Frame ” The crowd rocked with delight at Hieir men’s unexpected and brilliant onslaught. 'Still maintaining their pressure the French forwards dashed along in an irresistible rush with the hall at their toes and Rehero scrambled across the line amidst a perfect furore of cheering from the excitable southerners. Bourse made a rather poor attempt at goal.

All Blacks L France Encouraged by this amazing change in the fortunes of the game the Frenchmen kept up a desperate offensive. Their forwards played with superlative dash and skill, while Biteu and Dumanoir exhibited wonderful cohesion behind the serum and opened up the play in a most delightful fasnion. So vigorous were the Frenchmen in their assaults that it was only the deadly tackling and intense hacking up that staved off further scores. Nepia and Cooke brought occasional relief with leimthy line kicks, hut the French put up a gallant fight and held the as-end - ancy till Nieliolls made a brilliant opening.' dummying, swerving and side-step-ping in a mest dazzling fashion. He evaded opponent after opponent anil then put in a short punt across the ground and Cooke who had followed him in his run was only just beaten m the race for possession. The French dash now died down anil the All Blacks came into their own again. Nieliolls’ effort was a prelude to a series of sharp counter-attacks, punctuated by fine short pases among the forwards. Ons

of these rushes brought them close to the line and Irvine dived across. Ncpia took the kick, but failed. All Blacks 20 France 6

Sonic great work in the loose scrums hy Richardson and Brownlie almost enabled Steel to score. Then C. Brownlie. Nieliolls and Cooke figured in a splendid boilt of passing and the latter obtained a try, which Nieliolls brilliantly converted. All Blacks .5 25 Franco 0 AYII ERE COMBINATION TELLS. Towards the close, Svonson sent a well judged pass from the centre to Cooke, who scored under the posts and Xeholls converted. All Blacks 30 France G

The game was quite up to the best international standard. The French form was immeasurably superior to that exhibited at Paris, but they were a team of individuals. .Many were brilliant hut lacked the power of sustained concentration and displayed an inability to make use to their chances. By contrast, the. All Blacks showed a magnificent combination and automatic understanding. They exploited every opportunity. The game was played in

excellent spirit and the crowd spontaneously and sportingly acknowledged the viators polished Rughv proficiency. Richardson, the Brownlies. White, Ncpia. Steel, Cooke, and Nieliolls were the most outstanding men on the New Zealand side. NO WALK OYER GAME. PARIS. Jan. 18. The All Blacks’ victory was a foregone conclusion, but they had no walkover game. The game was fast from the start and provided a display as only the All Blacks can play it, namely, a dazzling series of rapid passing movements which proved irresistible. The New Zealanders were never in real difficulty. Nepia was brilliant, as usual. and Cooke and Nieliolls shone out. Cyril Brownlie and Richardson were a lower of strength in the scrum and in the open. The French forwards, who are generally the weakest, stint, played remarkably well, but the three-quarter line was disappointing, the wing men. particularly Whirlwind Jnurreguy being so effectively marked as to he pratically innocuous.