ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

INJURIES TO PLAYERS

COMMENT OX GAME

(Special to Press Association)

■Received this day at 8.50 a.m.l JOHANNESBURG, June 18.

Inquiries to-day showed injuries to members of the Transvaal team in the match against the All Blacks on Saturday were more serious than first thought. Ran tli (centre-threequarter) was injured in the first few minutes of tlie game. He received a broken collarbone and broken nose. Botha (one of the forwards) is suffering from severe concussion on the side and haemorrhage, as well as a badly split lip. Katz recovered to-day From a tad concussion. -

Most of the papers throughout the Union are emphatic that New Zealand deserved the win. The Johannesburg “Star” said:—‘Perhaps a draw would have been a fairer reflection of the run of the game. Against Hits it must be made perfectly . clear that with only half the opportunities which came the way of the Transvaal backs, the All Black back division always seemed more -dangerous when in possession of the ball. Though they really looked like scoring there was ' always a thrust in their movements which conveyed the impression that they were more finished players. The tourists confirmed the impression they gave at Kroonstad that the whole side is improving. The forwards on Saturday were a far' more impressive pack than against Transvaal in the first match.”

Several papers publish columns of letters about the New Zealanders, one maintaining on “This brutal game of Rugby.” There is considerable argument in the newspapers about Scrimshaw (rover). It is maintained that Scrimshaw is offside more often than he is seen by the referee. The biggest contention is that Scrimshaw does not get behind tlie ball after New Zealand has hooked. South African antipathy towards the wing■forward is the same as in England in 1924.

The team for Wednesday is:—Lilburne, R ushbrook, Sheen, Luc-as, Strang, Nieholls, Kilby," Stewart, Hadley, Here, M, Brownlie, Alley, Fiulayson, Snow, C. Brownlie. Emergencies—Robilliard, Ward. The rest of . the team stay at Johannesburg till Thursday when the whole side leaves for Martizburg.

TO-MORROW’S MATCH v. Western Transvaal, at Potchefstroon.