ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

A CANDID CRITIC. (Special to Press Association). (Received this day at 8 a.m.) JOHANNESBURGH, Juno 11. F. M. Howard (late of the London “Times”) who toured England with the 1924 All Blacks, now of the Cape “Times,” said Saturday’s match, far from realising the expectations, keenly awaited, of a trial of the strength of Transvaal and All Blacks, was a frank disappointment, The vast crowd came away feeling the All Blacks were were much over-rated, having witnessed scarcely any spectacular play, such as they had been led to expect on the part of the visitors. Anyone who had never before seen the All Blacks side in action, it must have appeared almost incredible that so much could have been written about a team of such common-place calibre. No one could blame the public from holding those views, after Saturday’s exhibition. The Transvaal hacks were lamentably stereotyped. Brownlie instead of playing his forwards at their own game, should have concentrated in getting tho ball out to his undoubtedly superior backs. The New Zealand forwards must find an effective check to counter the best African scrummaging, if the side is to win any tests.

TO-MORROW’S GAME v. Orange Free State (country) at Kronstad.