ALL BLACKS TALK TO "TRUTH"

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 14

ALL BLACKS TALK TO "TRUTH"

THE uneasy feeling experienced m New Zealand sporting circles at a South African speculation that there'was dissension m the ranks of the All Blacks, found tongues ready enough to attribute the downfall of the fernleaf men m the first Test to this cause. In fact, so insistent was this rumor, that, following an announcement to the same effect m a South African paper, "N.Z. Truth" Immediately cabled its special representative to ascertain the position, and, impossible, assuage the fears which were gradually being scattered m the land of the All Black. Interviews with Maurice Brownlie and Mark Nicholls are interesting m two senses. They repudiate the suggestion of dissension and also give a particularly informative account of the more vital considerations m their historic clashes with the mighty Springbok. Maurice Brownlie, when specially interviewed by "Truth," unhesitatingly .denied the rumor of dissension m the team. "The statement to that effect which appeared m the Durban paper was probably cabled to New Zealand," he said, but it was certainly without foundation and the contradiction which appeared m the same paper two days later, may not have been cabled. "As regards injuries we were informed, that Kilby would be confined to his bed* at Kimberley for two or three weeks with a cracked ankle-bone and it is not improbable that.we may lose his services for the remainder of the tour, although he may join us before we leave Johannesburg.

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"Harvey has been the victim of a series of illnesses but is now happily recovering and although the side has sustained a number of minor injuries, as well as several being laid up with influenza, all the other members should be available for selection m the second Test." Brownlie declined to depart from what he declared to be his practice of not discussing play. Mark Nicholls, when interviewed, said: "We have been up against it since we arrived m South Africa, a number of circumstances contributing to our inability to show true form. * "The tremendous amount of travelling from high to low altitudes and vice versa, resulted m a succession of colds and influenza, while the har.d, .grounds certainly caused minor injuries. We also found the eight-seamed balls as used here, difficult of handling an.d. kicking, but now.we are getting accustomed to them. "We have ha.d. v difficulty m adapting ourselves to the old rules under which possession is everything. There are few free' kicks here, referees generally awarding-scrums, so there are generally about 100 scrums m : every match with the South Africans getting a two-thirds majority. "The'Sputh Africans' style of play is safety first and safety last. Despite, overwhelming possession, the inside backs invariably kick for.touch until m our twenty-five. There from the line-outs, a ruck forms 'and when, they gain possession, their backs start a passing rush or a drop at goal. "Their backs are all magnificent touch-kicks and our fine'work m the loose has been generally discounted by the back's' line-kicking. The South African forwards are certainly; magnificent arid play a tight scrummaging game combined with, excellent team-work. l> "Our own forwards are doing their very best and an improvement is inevitable. Properly fit and well we are confident that our seven can push their eight. Our backs, up to the present, have not shown their true New Zealand form, and while their opportunities are admittedly limited, they have not made the most of them. . '. i . , . ''With the exception of Lindsay, the tbuch-kicking has been poor, but the defence has,-been wonderful. However, we now have'our backs to the wall and are hoping that our. bad. games are well and truly behind us. "We expect to put up a far better display m the second Test and we will back that up by trying." . , , '