ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3786, 1 May 1928, Page 1

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

FIRST STAGE COMPLETED,

TEAM TRAINING ON VOYAGE

On the first stage of their long voyage from Wellington to South Africa, the New Zealand Rugby footballers were able to get their “sea legs” prior to settling doYvn to the set training programme during the five weeks on board the Euripides from Sydney to Capetown. All the members fully appreciated the need of training during the voyage, particularly in view of the fact that they would be playing their first match four days after arriving in (Capetown. At ports en route they have also arranged for training ashore. They are due al Durban on May 21, but will not disembark until the vessel reaches CapetoYvn on May 26. Their first match is to be played at Capetown on May 30. - ,

No sooner had the team landed in Sydney than there was eagerness on the part of the members to get on to a playing area for training. “Practice is what Yve Yvant,” said the manager (Mr. W. P. Hornig), and arrangements were made for a run on the Domain that afternoon. Heavy rain, however, necessitated an abandonment, but in subsequent days they were in training morning and afternoon. Not a few of the members d¥ the team were carrying surplus Yveight when they left Wellington, but it is expected that the training en route to South Africa will enable them to be in reasonably good condition for their first match in South Africa. In the course of an interview on the team’s arrival in Sydney, Mr. Wj. F. Hornig (the manager), stated that the All Blacks realised the immensity of their task. “We will be meeting a nation to whom Rugby is as much a religion as it is in the Dominion,” Mr. Hornig remarked. “South Africa has great traditions in international Rugby and in sportsmanship, and Yve remember the great performances of the Springboks in Ncyv Zealand in 1921, Yvhen the Test match honours Yvere shared. The Ncyv Zealand side is a great side in the making. It is stiffened by the inclusion if eight of the famous All Black team of 1924-25, and includes many young players yvlio are shoYving great promise. It is unfortunate that A. E. Cooke could not make the trip, but Yve expect great things from S. R. Carleton, the Canterbury centre, Yvho has taken his place. We will play jour first match three days after our arrival in Capetown, against one of the Western Province teams.”