THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1925, Page 1

THE ALL BLACKS.

AIATCI-l AGAINST ALL ENGLAND. THE BROWNLIE INCIDENT. LONDON, February 5. The great Rugby test match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday, January 3, ended as was generally anticipated in a victory for the All Blacks, hut it must he said that the English fifteen put up a much better fight than either the Rugby critics or the public interested in the game expected them to do. Indeed with a fair share of what passes as luck in Rugby football they might have won, and with a little more of that mutual understanding which can only come from frequent games as a team they would almost certainly have lowered the colours of “ The luvinciblcs.” It was team work in defence and in attack that carried the New Zealanders to victory, and it was lack of it that let England down. They started brilliantly, so much so, indeed that for the first twenty minutes or so strong hones of an All Black defeat were. I am sure, entertained by a goodly proportion of the spectators. Then, for some unaccountable reason, they slackened off. and played like a beaten team, but they came again in the final stages of the game and kept the issue in doubt until the last few minutes. Fine chances were lost in the two periods when they were at their best. The Englishmen certainly should have scored at least three more tries, and it was only, or so it seemed to me, lack of understanding among them that prevented them doing so, and it was certainly failure in their team work that enabled Svenson to score New Zealand’s opening try, for that most dangerous wing threequarter was practically unmarked when lie received the pass. Throughout the •game the lack of cohesion in the English team was most marked, and oho could only wonder what it could have accomplished if its components had been given the opportunity of playing together in two or three trial matches and so getting some of the team sense which has been such a powerful factor in the wondreful success of the All Blacks, and which certainly won for them their final game in England. Forward, the English, save during the slack period aforementioned, were individually quite the equals of the All Blacks but their “team sense” was deficient, and this rendered many of their best efforts abortvic. Behind the scrum the English team had a collection of high-class players, who each performed admirably, but who could not nlotgether fit in with each other, and whose efforts at team work very often broke down through their lack ,of mmjersfamling Just when success seemed within their grasp.

TRIUMPH OF TRAAf WORK. The New Zealanders’ team work was by no means at its brightest and host during sonic parts of the game, but it was miles ahead of the Englishmen’s. To my way of thinking the All Blacks did not play one of their best games, and in the circumstances it was hardly a matter for surprise. The ordering off of Cyril Brownlie undoubtedly gave his compatriots a great, possibly unnerving shock, and his absence from tho pack undoubtedly upset the balance of the team, upon winch much depends, quite apart from his own intrinsic value as an individual player, which though he may not he the equal of his brother Mpurico. is not at all inconsiderable. To win the match under the handicap of 14 v 15 was a big leather in the All Blacks’ well-plumed cap and it was placed there by team work which, whilst perhaps obscuring the virtues of the individuals, obtained the maximum effect for their efforts. Broadly speaking, 1 do not think the New Zealanders were individually one whit better than the English fifteen, hut their combination was something considerably better, than 17 to 11, the margin by which the All Blacks won. But taking the game all in all, it was really great, not perhaps as an exhibition of prime Rugby, but for the sequence of thrills it provided. Personally, apart from the Brownlie incident. I can recall few games which have moved me vo such frequent vocal efforts of encourngment, or praise to or for one side or the other. ’1 lie changing fortunes of the game were such that no real Rugby enthusiast could remain coldly or hotly partisan for any considerable period.

WHAT DID BROWNLIE DO?

CONFLICTING STATEAfENTS.

All sorts of statements have been made concerning the incident that led up to Cyril Brownlie’s dismissal from the field, it has been stated that he struck two of the English forwards in the face before lie indulged iu the action which earned for him the most unenviable distinction of being the first participant in an international Rugby game in England to he ordered' off tlie field. Fists were certainly flying about in one or two of the melees preceding Brownlie’s dismissal, hut from the Press box it was quite impossible to spot tho actual offenders, ft was quite clear, however, that some of the players on both sides had, as the phrase goes, “ got the needle, and were indulging in something more than mere “strenuous loose ,>hiy.” hut it was quite impossible to determine which particular players were to blame. Air Freethy did not attempt to do so, as his oWn explanation of his action in regard to Cyril Brownlie shows- He said, “ In some loose pay the hall had been sent away, and two

or three English forwards were lying on the ground. C. Brownlie was a few feet away from them, and as he came hack he deliberately kicked on the leg an Knglish forward lying face downward oil the ground. I had taken my eye. off the ball for a moment and. therefore, saw exactly what happened. Previous to this 1 had warned each side generally three times, and therefore I had -no option but to send Brownlie off the field. I much regretted having to do this, hut in the circumstances 1 had no alternative hut to take this drastic action.” Air Freethy, it will lie noticed, does not name the kicked player but Air A\ . J. Wait, secretary of the London Welsh clul), is reported as having made the following statement to the representative of the “Weekly Dispatch”:—C. Brownlie certainly kicked

Yc.yce. I saw the incident clearly. It was a deliberate kick while the player was oil the ground. 1 formed the opinion that Brownlie waited for the opportunity. It was very regrettable, and the referee had no option but to him off.” “ AIADE A .MISTAKE.” Cyril Brownlie indignantly denied that lie kicked anybody, deliberately or otherwise, and Air Dean, the manager of the team, said. “ I am of op,Tiion that in this instance Air Freethy made a mistake. The whole of our team are of the opinion that no such action ns lie alleges took place. In making this statement 1 did not \v sh to criticise the referee or his decision. In my opinion he otherwise gave an excellent interpretation of the rules ol the game.” AH Freethy is a well-known Rugby referee, who has handled many international matches, and was nominated hv the All Blacks themselves to referee the game.