ALL BLACKS “BREAK EVEN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 8

ALL BLACKS “BREAK EVEN”

SEVEN years ago on the hill-flanked Carisbrook Rugby' ground in Dunedin began the first of a memorable series of Test matches between New Zealand and South Africa. The latest was played at Old Newlands on Saturday. It was history repeating itself—New Zealand won (as at Dunedin in 1921) by 13 points to 5. The All Blacks made an unexpected and brilliant recovery after a number of earlier reverses which must have sorely tried the moral of the team. Primarily, the match was won by the honest work of the New Zealand forwards, and, paradoxically, by the match-winning boot of a player who was lucky, on last year’s form, to secure a place in the All Black touring team. Thus was Bennie Osier outdone! There will be a feeling of quiet satisfaction in New Zealand that the All Blacks have managed to “break even” in the Tests. It is to be hoped that will effectively silence much of the illnatured criticism which was ■ all-too-freely disseminated when ‘ the team had its back to the wall, and was fighting desperately to hold the triumphant Springboks. There will be a warm welcome for Maurice Brownlie and his men on their return to New Zealand, and an equally hearty reception for the doughty Africans when they arrive to resume the struggle for the Rugby supremacy of the world.