BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH

NZ Truth, Issue 1176, 14 June 1928, Page 14

BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH

FOR their fixture against Transvaal, which is called "the home of forward play in South Africa," the All Blacks fielded the most powerful fifteen at their disposal. , To offset the strength of the home forwards, a particularly strong vanguard was selected to do battle for New Zealand, but though they played the best game of the tour to date they were beaten by a wonderful pack of scrummagers. Once again the All Blacks discarded the New Zealand formation of 2-3-2, packing 3-4 in the early stages. Later they changed and went over to the recognized Springbok formation of 3-3-2. Even with all these alterations they could not get anything like a fair share of the ball, and the visitors only secured possession in nine out of thirty-five decisive scrums. This in itself was the primary cause of defeat. The scrum half for Transvaal, Devine, was in wonderful form, his long passes to the three-quarter ranks being a feature of his play. He was ever active, and frequently smothered, by splendid defensive work, the attempts to open up the game by the All Blacks' inside backs. It was in the loose that the All Blacks were most powerful, their stirring rushes only being checked by deadly, and unerring, tackling. The tourists had clearly the better of matters in the early stages, but were unable to penetrate the staunch defence that was offered, although Maurice .Browniie and Finlayson went close to scoring from a succession of scrums. and line-outs near the Transvaal line. The opening try was made by Devine. He secured from a scrum, in a corner of the All -Blacks' twenty-five. He secured possession, but, instead of passing, he punted. The ball, bouncing high, beat Lindsay and Robilliard, and Raath, who was in close attendance, consummated the movement by\ touching down. In the second half of the game Transvaal had the better of play, arid especially was this so following the Finlayson incident. A scrum had collapsed and Finlayson, on getting back to his feet, struck at, and connected with* Geere, per medium of a resounding backhander to the face. . This was in clear view of the main stand, near the touchline, and the referee ordered him off. He left the ground to the accompaniment of boos and hisses. The next score came through a brilliant. three-quartei» movement, Liebenberg crossing over after a scintillating run, during whrich he cut in and then shook fcff tackles by Johnson and Lindsay. The last fifteen minutes witnessed a battle supreme. The All Blacks staged a Titan jc effort, and, inspired by leader Browniie, made desperate but futile efforts to score. And the game went against them — 6 to nil. Luck was not with them when with a free kick Lindsay struck the upright from close to the half-way line. . The match was an extremely rough one. Both teams, comprised of big men as they were, were over-keen, and in the heat of the moment things happened that should not have. .