THE ALL BLACKS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1929, Page 5

THE ALL BLACKS

THE INJURED IMPROVING. (Australian Press Association) (Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) SYDNEY, June 29. Hiff Porter, captain of tlu All Blacks teams will fly to Sydney by plane on Thursday to arrange for expert massage, electric baths and other preparations, for the team. MeLeod said Porter, Nepia, Dailey, Oliver and Stringfellow would he included in the final test team. Nepia is now recovering from influenza. Porter suffered no ill effects after Saturday’s game. Stringfellows poisoned luiee is now clean. Oliver’s wounds are healing rapidly. Seven stitches wei;e inserted over his eye. PRESS CRITICISM. Received this dav at 10 30. a.m > SYDNEY, July 23. The “Herald’’ says because the All Blacks have been beaten there is a tendency to underrate their ability. The average New Zealand . resident in Sydney declares that Porter’s present team is the worst that has ever worn the silver fern. What an injustice to Rugby. The cxplanati n can he made without any apologies. After surveying their performances it can be seen that they have been won<l(.| ful. After a s tor pi tossed trip they lost their captain, and Dailey, leading a fifteen which had not then licen moulded into shape.' The team played a scoreless draw against more than a Waratah side, which was regarded as equal to the strength of Australia. The next big loss was Dailey, and the New , Zealanders were struggling to • maintain the national record of second' to none. The second test was at hand and now Stringfellow became hors do combat. Nepia and Reid were also laid up. Fate seemed to (read on the heels of the , gallant band. They could not escape the train smash. It is not often that the All Blacks, who, level at the interval, are beaten, but the retirement of Oliver in the second test must he remembered, and also that the New Zealanders; met. ap ascendant Australia. ' The effect of the Waratah tour cannot he over-estimated.

How. the present All Blacks would have fared if at full strength, is ..a matter of conjecture. At least justice should he done to their record, in the light of the unforeseen casualties. It’ is also overlooked : That for the .first time- for twenty years; 'New Zealand was outweighed, man for man. These remarks are actuated-by a desire not merely to present the case of Australia’s Rugjby advance, but to do justice to the ability of a great, more stricken side, which notwithstanding that it struggled hard against adversity, has proved itself the most popular New Zealand side which has ever visited this country. .