ALL BLACKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1925, Page 4

ALL BLACKS.

VISITOR'S TRIBUTE. AUCKLAND. Sept. 20. "I consider the All Black team which walked oil to the field at Eden Park on Saturday to he the greatest combination of footballers that ever walked ou to any field in the world.’’ In these words -Mr Harold Baker, manager ot the New South Wales Rugby team, expressed his opinion of the New Zealand team which won the test match in Auckland la-t Saturday. Mr Bake added that, without wishing to make excuses in any way. it was only tan to his team to point out that during eights days before Saturday's game they travelled about 7AO miles hv train and motor-ear. These conditions he would never have agreed to had toe team'- itinerary not been arranged before their departure. Dates ol mulches only were mentioned, anti there wa~ tiD indication of the time occupied in travel. "It i.- the dream of every young fellow playing Rugby on our side m he selected for a tour of New Zealand sooner or later." Mr Raker said. "Ours is a team of young player-, the average age being twenty-two years. The idea is bringing such a young team on tour is to instruct them with a view to the future advancement ol the gaum. When the prospert of the tour loomed ,ip, a good many older men came out of red ifoment. and on their play might have been included, but we decided against them, as they would almost surely drop out ol the game alter the tour,' whereas nearly all the present representatives have six or seven years of loot hall before them. "1 wa- asked to report on llm matter of serum formation, and compare Mill!' system of seven men in the park against our pack of eight. M e have had conferences to consider the question. and from my okserva! ions 1 am convinced that three good men are better than two ill the trout row. lie depend a gteat deal ou serum-, as our sv-tein of play make- possession of tie I,'all absolutely necessary to bring success. Our object is to convert any defensive movement into attack at once from any position, and it is therefore imperative to have possession of tin, hall. In most of the provincial matches we were successful ill the -( rums." The provincial standard ol Rugbv was very high. Mr Baker continued, this being especially apparent ill the rase- of Taranaki and the King C oil It trv. There were individual players ptst as" good as the visitors, hut they were un-uppoited. No individual could succeed against combined ellorl. It the hacks bail supported each other more they would have fared much belter. In referring to the benefits ol tbe tour, he said that the New Zealand Rugbv I limit had been exi ept tonal! \ courteous and painstaking in catering for the team, and the great, sportsmanship of the New Zealand public had made the trin a woiidertul experience, both on and oil' the field. The lour had aroused intense ipterest ill New Sunlit Wales, and would give a great impetus to the code there. luinrlounge of visit- was also raising the standard of play. It was to he Imped that the New Zealand team to vi-tl New South Wales next season would 1,,, the strongest side available, a- it was intended to make special prepartil inns as regard- training ol New South Wales players, in the hope that they would win. The visitors -ailed for Sydney hy the Mocinki to-day.