THE ALLBLACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 July 1929, Page 4

THE ALLBLACKS

FAIL IN BACK PLAY HELPING RUGBY ACROSS THE TASMAN COMMENT BY OLD PLAYER JJy Telegraph-Special to "The Mail") CHRISTCHURCH, 22nd June. Canterbury Rugby enthusiasts are not at a7l downhearted over New Zealand's loss of the rubber in the Rugby tests with Australia. The general opinion of leading administrators and players whoso views were sought on the subject to-day is that Australia's success should be beneficial to both Australia and New Zealand. "As I am an, old time five eighth, and some people think that the old tinier always lives in' the past," said one old player, "you had better not mention my name, but it seems to me very clear from the cabled reports that where New Zealand has failed is in ita back play. Now that New Zealand selectors are paying less attention to the shiners in the forwards, we are getting back to the solid forward play, and we are clearly told in the cabled reports that our forwards have been playing a good, hard game. It is evident though, that the standard of hooking in the scrums is still below what it used to be. However, while A. E. Cooke is absent from our New Zealand teams, we are lacking the old time penetration in the backs. The Australian backs handled the ball very well on ' Saturday it seems, and evidentlv had too much initiative for our fellows. That lesson should do us good. Our back play in general certainly needs improvement. The standard of Club play is not what it was, generally speaking, for it is easier than it used to be for a man to get into a senior team, and there is less attention to strategy and tactics." This old player remarked too that as an aid to the fostering of Rugby in Australia, the New Zealand team's visit to Australia seemed to have justified itself, and it was no good making ex-. cuses for defeat, but if one considered only the Rugby prestige of New Zealand, it was rather unfortunate that New Zealand sent teams to Australia so often, as because of the difficulties players had in getting leave of absence, the best teams could not get away. The Canterbury Rugby Union's protest earlier in the season that the present tour was being held top early, and was interfering too much with club games, was justified from, that point of view. ALL OUT IN TEST MATCH (United Preu Aeiociation— By Elaotrto Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 23rd July, 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. . Warwick Porter, captain of the All Black team, will fly to Sydney by 'plane on Thursday to arrange for expert massage, electric baths and other; preparations for the team. Mr McLeod, the manager, said that Porter, Nepia, Dalley, Oliver and, Stringfellow would be included in the final test team. .Nepia is now recovering from influenza. Porter suffered no ill effect's, after Saturday's game. Stringfellow's poisoned knee is now, clean. Oliver's wounds : are healing rapidly. Stitches were inserted over his eye.

EXCUSE WITHOUT APOLOGY; PAPER'S COMMENT ON TOUR " RJaitad Pnaa AaioctetkM-lr IUo«rto Telegraph—Oopxtirtß (Received 23rd July. 10.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day, The "Herald" says: "Because the All Blacks have been beaten, there is a tendency to under-rate 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. An explanation can be made without any apologies. After surveying their performances it can be seen they have been wonderful. After a storm-tossed trip, they lost their captain, and Dalley was leading a fifteen which had not then been moulded into shape, and the team played a scoreless draw against more than a Waratah side, which was regard-, ed as equal to the strength of Australia. The next big loss was Dalley, and the New Zealanders were struggling to maintain a national record second to none with the second test at hand, and now Stringfellow became hors de combat. Nepia and Reid were also laid up. Fate seemed to tread on the heels of the gallant band. They could not escape the train smash. It is not often that All Blacks who are level at the interval are beaten, but the retirement of Oliver in the second test must be remembered, and also that the New Zealanders met an ascendant Australia as the effect of the time for twenty years New Zealand was Waratah tour. *How the present All Blacks would have fared if at full strength, is a matter of conjecture. At least justice should be done to their record in the light of unforseen 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 Rugby advance, but also to do justice to the ability of the great, sore stricken side which, notwithstanding that it struggled hard against adversity, has proved itself the most popular New Zealand side which has ever visited this countrv."

ROUGH MATCH AT GISBORNE * (By Talagranh -PreM AMcolattoa) GISBORNE, This Day. In consequence of the keen rivalry between the teams engaged in a country match on Saturday, a free fight developed which the emergency referee was unable to stop. The regularly appointed referee did not turn up, and a spectator volunteered to carry the whistle, but almost immediately the match went to pieces and very "rough play was featured, blows being* struck, anj many players being marked in the rough and tumble scrums. "It was enough to ruin country football," declared Mr Parker, chairman of the Rugby Union, when the matter was reported last night. It was decided to replay the match in town under proper control, and demand explanations from the captains of the respective teams.