THE ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1925, Page 4

THE ALL BLACKS.

WHY THEY WIN. *

MANAGER DEAN INTERVIEWED

Air S. S. Dean, manager of tbe All Blacks, wrote tbe following article for the London “Evening News” after the Test Match, the last match in England, bad been played. ■■Mr Dean,” says tbe “News,” “is much more than a manager to the team lie is a great general; as much as anything else, his half-time councils of war have brought the All Blacks victory. . , CO.MPABISON OF STYLES OF PLAY in giving my impressions of the English tour of the New Zealand Rugby

am now ended, I must first of all pay tribute to tbe sportsmanship of the

various players and the various teams opposed to us ; secondly, a tribute to the officials and tbe people generally for the wonderful hospitality that lias been extended to us.on all hands; and say that we shall take back to New Zealand with us the happiest recollections of our stay in the Mother Country. I uni convinced that an interchange of visits between teams of Great Britain and tbe Dominions, not on!v makes for the betterment of the game itself, hut brings the sportsmen ol the Empire in close contact, and must eventually make for tbe betterment oi the Empire. SCRUM FORMATION. ] have been asked to make a comparison between the styles of game as I,laved between teams in this country and teams in New Zealand. AY Lorcas teams here have stuck to the J--J scrum formation —with two halt-backs, four three-quarteys, and a full-back, wo in New Zealand lor very many veins past have played a *2-3-2 scrum formation —a winglfonvard and one half-back, two five-eighths tiuee-tlnee-quarters .aiul a lull back. There will always be a >ig controversy as to the merits ol the - J--scrum as against the 3---J- JU _ been our experience that from a 1 - ing point of view a *2-3-2 formation ms in most eases been able to cope M To tonic extent this may he iluo to the winging propensities ol some of 10 forwards met on the tour, who umdrnid of getting down and l>uttn „ weight into the scrum push with c -' 1 milv. They are spoilers of Rood loot--1,all; and. in consequence, I flunk tout back plav has suffered. The forward play generally ... * country is of a high standi,, d bn tbe play Of the backs does not appe. ~, i„ the same manner, ibeit up t be no cohesion between tl.e pens to I" , u forwards forwards and the imtns :.. „ u) st cases being content, alien tin. tall is hooked from the scrum or given the hacks in the various ways possible. to consider Uielr '"p.iks instead of going and helping the iU "'f\I’LTS ()F THE BACKS. The backs on the «ther hand. seen, to ), ,ve one object .11 view—to get I] 1 out to the wing three-quarter ' 1 _ idea that he. and he alone, is tin. stoi inu* unit. ... • ,■ 1 1,., j.,). The passing '"vnruildy^^ description, an is received, standing still winn riu , Contrast this piny with the P' > « ,he Now Zealand team. Our backs—another is usually a sharp -hm . a, crisp pass given waist high. vour backs invariably boro across - the touch line, our backs run st.aiglit down the field and attempt to bicah through, either by drawing tUo.drienci or occasionally “selling a. dumm>. '• >- led on occasions hv a short uni t and follow-through to break down tbe d - fence.

THE AMENDED lUT.ES. Far too much use is made by Home teams of kicking into touch ... an endeavour to gain a few yan.s. As it well-known, cerium dispensations of the rules have been granted to boll, New Zealand and New South w-iles and bv tbe amended rules ill,(lei whirl, we play if a ball is kicked into touch when a player is outside his ow n twontv-five. the ball is. brought back mid a line-out taken opposite to tile spot where the bull was kicked Bom. A - a consequent'- plfiyers have to me more initiative, and instead of kicking to touch, backs invariably try to retain possession ol tile ball; and Ibis makes a much more interesting game, not only for the players but lor all those who follow it.

It lias been suggested that to bring this rule into force generally would make the game too last lor the a\oiage player. This has proved not to be tbe case in Now Zealand and in New South Wales; and tbe members of our team find the game as played in this eountrv, the homo ol Rugby football, much more strenuous than tbe games we play in New Zealand under the amended rules. I lie. continual senunmagiilg encountered hero is hard on the forwards; and there is surely something wanted when (as we have seen on a number of occasions) several attempts have to bo made to get the ball into tbe scrum. This should not be the case. If a ball is not put into the scrum when the scrum is formed there is surely a reason for it - 0110 01other of the. teams infringing, in which case the referee should enforce the penaltv of a free kick against the side infringing. , , . In one match one scrum lasted fully a minute; with at least seven attempts to lint tbe ball into the scrum. PASSING BEFORE THE TACKLE.

Our motto is to obtain possession, and keep possession, for while your side have possession of the hall your opponents can do nothing. Many keen judges of Rugby football have remarked the intense hacking-up |,v our players. Our men, after having drawn the'opposition, endeavour as fains possible to get rid of the. ball before being tackled, so that they can remain on their feet and endeavour to get round and be in a position to take a pass from the wing three-quarter, and. so give the extra man over, or by coming up on the inside, can wait, foi the reverse inside pass.

One reason of our success on this tour lias been the wonderful spirit that has m-evailed amongst the members of our party; the best of good feeling and friendship has existed all through the tour, and the loam has worked well ns a combination on and off the playing field.

STRENGTH OF ALL BLACKS

BRILLIANCE OF LOOSE FORWARDS AVON THE TEST MATCH.

EX-C’APTAI N’S OPINION,

Tll the last match of their tour the New Zealand football team defeated England by II points to 11. The result was not unexpected. Contemporary form had led us to expect nothing else (says AV. J. A. Davies, the great stand-off half and ex-captain of the English fifteen).

At the beginning of the season was thought that England, would do well. Last season we won the international championship outright, defeating each of the other- countries convinoingi ugly. Individually of good merit, the players blended into a perfect team.

Under these circumstances, and with nearly everyone available again, except Robson and Chan-trill, it was natural to suppose that our prospects were good.

A COMBINATION OF AHSFORTUNES But the most logical calculations are at the mercy of accidents. By a combination of misfortunes England was unable to field the same team.

Players of proved value like Myers and Locke failed to reveal their old form; younger players like Jacob and Catelieside, who played so brilliantly in the international matches last year, have not realised our expectations and when, -after the final English trial, the team, was published there were general misgivings—in fact, many doubted that, the team could do well. Moreover, there were two changes in

the side at the last minute. But these had no adverse effect; in fact J. C. Gibbs, who took It. L. Raymond’s place , on tire left wing, was 011 cof the successes of the match. [ RICHARDSON THE BEST. New Zealand .won the game by their brilliancy in the loose rushes rather than by any marked superiortv behind the scrum. They were beaten in the first half by the English pack, who 11 heeled the ball more frequently, lint once the ball was free it was odds on a New Zealand player getting there first. It was in the loose that the majority ~ of their tries were scored,. < J. Richardson was easily the best forward on the field, with M. Brownlie 1 a. good second. Parker “the rover”— 1 who, after the younger Brownlie left the field, pushed in the scrum—was j more impressive than I have scon him before, and, was almost as fast as Gibbs. But there wasn’t a slouch or weak forward in the pack, or one who failed to pull his full weight from beginning to end. NEPIA AND NICHOLES. Outside the scrum Nepia was conspicuously outstanding. He, fielded, as usual, with unerring accuracy, . and kicked with his-right .foot a prodigious length.* Next—and not far behind Nepia’s form—was Nieholls, who amongst the three-quarters and halves, was m class bv himself. Cooke did nothing of importance (except just to tackle Gibbs when ho appeared certain to score a try) and was 1 prone to lie offside. Mill was a good serum half and MacGregor defended ’ stoutly. Both wing-v.ivee-quarters, nl- . though not real flyers, had the courage , and resolution to go for the line and - never appeared to liesnatt*. ... I In the English sc-ruin it was difficult - to differentiate between Hie merits o. 1 tbe individual players. Hillard and * Conway impressed me at times, but as * pai-k the players had neither the j speed nor the energy to cope with the dashing tactics of the opposition. , WHAT THE TOUR HAS .SHOWN US. 1 Well, the New Zealanders return ur.r defeated. They have scored 0-15 points f against 98, and established a record ‘ which future teams will find hard, to 1 best. They, like their predecessors, 4 ] )a ve taught ns little new in the tactics l and strategy of the game. oScept, per--1 baps, tbe importance of not kicking - to touch, save under the of 5 absolute necessity, in their own 25. * They have shown us. however, as did 3 the AH Blades of 191)5. what skill, speed, physical fitness, and strength are able to accomplish, s It is early yet to sco the Yewults of the tour in. a correct focus or to access their real worth. Some think ’ the All HI adds will challenge the 1 foremost place held by any team. 3 Others place them below the combination of 1905, or some of the sides > Our own country has produced. Their .skill, individually, ma,v not be ■ so good as that of some of- our players * hut. as a team, they have dovetailed ' |„to a perfect machine, and have ul- ’ ways done what the circumstances rej quire in no uncertain mnnoci. s After all, that is the supreme test, r and by this they must be judged. 1 AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION RICHARDSON TO RETURN. 1 WELLINGTON. February 21. ", The Rugby Union has received advice from Vancouver that, after cuii--1 saltation with a specialist, it has been - decided that .J. Richardson, who is suffering from, a broken leg, will return All Blacks. I* ALL BLACKS’ STRATEGY.

INT E B EST ING BUBLIC AT 1 ON. LONDON. February 21. Copies of Mark Niel.olls’s article, explaining the Ail Blacks’ strategy, is be distributed gratis to clubs and schools in order that tile lessons oi the tour may not he lost. Applications copies •''''* '*" 11 110l 10 " I '' i"g in _