THE ALL BLACKS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 4

THE ALL BLACKS

PROSPECTS OF AFRICAN TOUR. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 28. “The All Blacks will have the greatest tour of their lives when they go to South Africa. They will have a wonderful time and will meet some great footballers. At the same time I think they will be glad when they join the Ceramic at Cape Town on their way home.” Tlius spoke Air R. Afuirson, a New Zealander who has spent .sonic time in Africa, when asked by a reporter what lie thought of the All Black tour of South Africa. “I did not see a great deal of football last season, but I saw some of the best Currie Cup matches,” said Air Afuirson. “The chief difficulty with our fellows will be getting acclimatised. because they will jump from sea level up to 5000 feet and down again with an irregularity which is hound to affect some of the hoys. I should say that the matches against tho northern provinces like Transvaal and Orange Free State, will he very trying. At Newlands a new ground is in course of making, and the conditions will he not so much unlike those of the Dominion. “In the north, especially at Johannesburg,the team will he playing at an unusual altitude. Players like young Lindsay, who I remember as a prominent back at Timaru High School, should not find it bard to kic-k goaL eighty yards away from the upright.-,. though it would he nil impossible feat iu New- Zealand. “If Cooke does not go the South Africans will walk on to the field with 50 per cent, of added confidence. AYTion 1 left for New Zealand the Afrikanders were really nervous. The Mohan, nesburg Star’ was tho first paper to announce the team with weights and ages and possibilities of success from the pen of a Christchurch journalist, and they were thoroughly impressed. Cooke was described as the ‘Oinquovalli of New Zealand Rugby.’ They know his value over there and I can tell you they will he the happiest people ill t he world when they know Cooke is not going.. “The Union lacks nothing in football equipment.” continued Afr Aluirson. “I saw some great forwards in action last year, and some fast and pwerftd hacks in the game between Western Province and T ransvaal. They play rather ail orthodox style and do not produce -the originality of our sides, but their smashing forward onslaughts will knock our men to pieces, especially on grounds like Kimberley, with their (onereto-like surfaces.” Asked questions regarding the individual talent of tho Spingbok players, Mr Aruirsnn stated that lie had not really seen enough football to pick out probable test men. Osier and Devine were a very clever pair of halves and would require a lot of watching. The fullback position would he hard to fill, as the standard was not as good as formerly, hut there would be keen competition for the three-quar-ters’ positions. “Their forwards are great and will measure about up to tin- standard of the 1921 team. However. there will be no Alorkels in (lie side” said Air Afuirson.