ALL BLACKS FAREWELLED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3842, 8 September 1928, Page 3

ALL BLACKS FAREWELLED.

REMARKABLE POPULARITY. SOUTH AFRICAN BUGBY BOARD’S MESSAGE. Capetown, Sept. 6. A wonderful farewell was given the All Blacks to-day when they went aboard the vessel that will take them to Australia, en roujfc to New Zealand.

Cheering crowds swarmed the wharf in a great tribute to the popularity of the New Zealanders. The most popular man on the All Black side was Andy Mercer, the trainer who, with his genial 1 personality, won the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. He was given many handsome presents from lifelong, friends he has made in South Africa. The whole New Zealand team were showered with trinkets, which will commemorate a wonderfully memorable 1928 Rugby tour. BLACKS’ SPORTING SPIRIT.

Mr A. J. Pienaar, president of the South African Rugby Board, publishes the following message from the board:—

“What the board appreciates specially is the ready manner in which the New Zealand team fell in with our arrangements. Their play of the first and last matches are instances of the generous sporting spirit with which they met us. “We wish them all a happy homeward voyage and a safe return, and we trust that they will carry with them pleasant recollections of their strenuous time in South Africa. “Their visit has aroused in an unprecedented manner interest in our game. All our union have derived benefit from mutual interest in the respective countries, and I trust that friendships have also been stimulated.” TOUR UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. Mr Hornig, the New Zealand manager, interviewed on the eve of sailing, stated that the tour had been an unqualified success. The result of the Tests had been most happy. Mr Hornig was looking forward to the time a few years hence when the issue would be settled in a great game before a great crowd at Athletic Park, in Wellington. Mr Hornig was of opinion that an even division of the honours in the Tests was a fine thing for the game in both countries. It provided a stimulant to Rugby, which was better than indisputable supremacy. ARDUOUS MATCHES.

Although the All Blacks prepared for hard games, the matches turned out to be even more arduous than they at fh'st thought. The result of the strong opposition they encountered was that they had to .forsake the style of forward play general in New Zealand for the solid scrummaging game customary here, and it was only halfway thro,ugh the tour that they really settled down to the type of play necessary. It was a compliment to the New Zealand forwards, under the circumstances, that they were finally able to hold their own with the Springbok pack and secure an even division of the Tests.

Mr Hornig concluded by expressing regret that the All Blacks were leaving, but he hoped they had forged a small link in the chain of Empire. Mr Hornig assured the South Africans of a Avarm reception when they again toured New r Zealand.