"HERO OF THE MATCH"

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 14

"HERO OF THE MATCH "

Nicholls Inspires- — and Scores Ten of Points DISSENSION GOSSIP IS UNTRUE (By Cable.— From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Representative touring with the All Blacks.) THE All Blacks left their best display of the 1928 tour till the last match of ■!■ the original itinerary. They beafcSouth Africa m the fourth Test at Capetown, squaring honors for the rubber, and duplicating the history of the Springbok tour of New Zealand m 1921. , - Victory came after an inspiring exhibition of forward play, m which the winners held their own. The New Zealand pack rose to the greatest heights m forward play, and it provided Mark Nicholls, who was making a belated first appearance m Test matches, with opportunities to .score points with clever kicking. Nicholls, adapting himself to' the conditions — a wet, sodden ground and a greasy ball — took several leaves out of Benny Osier's book by exploiting the tactics which won the first Test for South Africa. . As m the first Test, so it was m the last — the grand work of the forwards paved the way for victory. The first score came as a result of the kicking of Nicholls. :i A penalty was given, and he' made use of it, and New Zealand was three points up with four minutes gone. • The forward, McWilliams, was mainly responsible for this break, as a long pass out to .the backs brought the All Blacks within striking distance. After this score the Springbok pack gradually asserted itself, slowly but surely, but the backs, not trusting to the orthodox passing, on a slippery ground, exploited the short punt on Lilburne and the two wings. A stab punt over Johnson, by Osier, enabled van der Westhuizen, with a powerful fly-kick over the All Blacks' line aided with a lucky bounce, to win the race to touch* down. Osier converted and the Springboks led by two points. Towards the end of the first half the All Blacks dominated the play, pinning the Springboks on their own lino and forcing two touchdowns. Robilliard was near to scoring oh two occasions, and then Nicholls added further points by another penalty. A point to the good. It was m the second half, when it was generally anticipated that the Springbok forwards would assert themselves — as' m recent games — that the All Blacks rose to the occasion. The team gave a) magnificent display of dash m combined play and they proved irresistible. They simply would not be stemmed, and finally McWilliams, Hazlett and Hadley broke through, for Swain to score a great try. A four-point margin now.

POT THAT COUNTED FOUR THEY continued to outplay the opposing forwards and it was a* continued assertion of the visiting team. The backs, however, were not able to thrust home and assert. an absolute mastery, the clever defence, directed by Benny Osier, being the stunibling .' block. «■ .' . f . v Then Nicholls went m to first five-eighths, m place of Johnson. From a scrum Dalley secured, and, passing out, Nicholls dropped a beautiful goal. With a' margin of eight points to play on the All Blacks were m a really good position. Victory, unless something extraordinary. happened, was now secure. The Springboks rallied m full strength over the last ten minutes, but, try as they would, they were unable to reduce the deficit. The honors of the match most distinctly belonged to the All Blacks forwards. '"..... For the first time m the Tests they got down and pushed as though they meant it. ' They held the Springboks for possession of the ball m scrums, while they were superior m all other departments of forward play. Brownlie played as though inspired. He frequently effected breaks m the loose that were Invaluable. Finlayson played his best game of the tour, while McWilliams, Hazlett, Swain and Hadley. all showed to advantage m the various phases of the game. ; It was, however, the combined play of the whole pack which carried the team through to victory. If ever a team player justified his selection it was Harvey. He was a worker of the best type. Dalley again was responsible for a great game, making free use of the blind side and giving a fin© service to his backs. Johnson was solid m defence and made capable openings, but he'was inclined to hold on too long after making the gap. Quite often he wa^s tackled m possession when Nicholls had flashed into the opening, ready for the pass. Lucas gave a most creditable account of himself, 'while the two wings showed robust vigor with the limited opportunities that came their way. Lilburne was extremely safe and on the day he did not. suffer m comparison with Lindsay. ' . ABSENCE IS INEXPLICABLE NICHOLLS was really the hero of the match. Apart from scoring ten points, he 'also .hit -the upright with a drop kick m the first half. Never was he upset and he kept his backs controlled m a really masterly style. . In the light of this performance his failure to be included m the previous Tests is inexplicable. . Seemingly the South African critics appreciated his ability better than did the selectors of the New Zealand team. . The conclusion of the game was marked by sincere enthusiasm of the vast crowd. „,.,. , „ , Brownlie was chaired off the field by his admirers, while Nicholls and Osier changed jerseys on the field, and they were escorted off by a huge crowd, who had flocked over the palings. _ At the conclusion of the game the captain, vice-captain and manager gave me special messages for "N.Z. Truth." . .• •. ■ ■ ' Brownlie stated: "The result was a fair and happy one to both -sides. Our fellows were tired and jaded for the Western Province match, a result of 1000 miles of train travelling, which we are not accustomed to. _ "Our improved form was due to the week's complete rest, during which / we brightened up daily. The result was that we were able to put all our energy into the game. ... v „ , !'We consider that Rugby m South Africa is of a remarkably high standard. We found the South Africans worthy foemen, and we shall carry away to New Zealand most pleasant recollections of the many hard matches we've enjoyed.-' ... .. i •_•■• Nicholls said: "It was left to the last match to provide an exhibition of real New Zealand football. The team had not* shown its best form m the earlier matches." ■„'.■ *. t . ■ , , Hornig's comment: "It was a great game and worthy of the issue. I look forward to seeing the question of supremacy between the Springboks and the All Blacks 'being decided m a few years hence before a great crowd at Athletic Park, Wellington." . ' . ■ ' The result of the game was a triumphant conclusion to the tour for the All Blacks. ■-..''• „'. ... . . , The visit has been an unprecedented success, 'the visitors having been a wonderful attraction everywhere. . „.**_,...., In every game a record., gate was achieved, despite the limited population, and a financial record for a Rugby tour will probably result. JUST SHORT OF GREATNESS THE profits from the three matches at Johannesburg, alone, will reach something like £25,000. This will defray the expenses for a new ground at home m Transvaal. The rumors of. dissension m the ranks of the team are cruelly untrue. Personally, as a Press writer, I have toured with eight international sides, of various sports, and I have never met such , a happy party. Throughout the side has given sterling displays of sound football, every member, without exception, proving himself an accomplished, player. The cause of defeats can mainly be put down to „their inability to hold strong scrummaging packs. It was not till the last match, with the ashes, or. the rubber, at stake, that the result compelled a change. - , , . Prior to last Saturday the team was content to rely on its defensive backs arid opportunism.' , ■',-, ..... The forwards have proved themselves masters of the refined phases of forward play, but they have been handicapped by the New Zealand formation. » More than often they were beaten in' the tight, and, at times, by teams that were less accomplished than themselves. It was a case of the opposition pushing more solidly. . , ■ ■ The team generally stopped just short of greatness through the lack of an outstanding star back. ''„,''" ,i An, attacking player such as Cooke would probably have turned the tables m the Tests. \. '''..• *•,, . Then there was Nicholls, who was not selected till too late. On Saturday he was the counterpart of Benny Osier.. Throughout the tour the outstanding forwards were Stewart, McWil- . Hams, Hadley and Hazlett. „,,., x, , , Maurice Brownlie did not produce his best;form, .though he rose to the occasion m the Tests. He appeared tp.be affected by the cares of the captaincy. ■ ■*■-„ Dalley was the star back, with Johnson and Strang sound. Lindsay ,was impressive as full-back. Not one of the wing three-quarters was up to the best international standard. . ["N.Z. Truth's" Special Commissioner with the All during their tour of South Africa was H. B. Keartland, Sporting Editor of the "Johannesburg Star." He toured- with the team from the day it arrived m Capetown, and - his never-ending association with the members enabled him to teir readers, just what was what,, and, ;why— other , reports to the contrary ''notwithstanding.]-' '