Why the 1924 All Blacks Were Superior to the 1928

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 6

Why the 1924 All Blacks Were Superior to the 1928

VALUE OF COOKE, NEPIA AND MILL

IN the following article, F. M. Howard, of the “Cape Times,” who had an almost unique opportunity for comparing the 1924 and 1928 All Blacks, gives his opinion for declaring' the 1924 team the better combmation.

I base my contention, arrived at after witnessing every match of the 1928 tour and about 24 (including every “big” game) out of the 30 comprising the 1924 tour, very largely on the following fact. The 1928 All Blacks had no player in the centre even approaching to the calibre and genius of A. E. Coolie. There is the additional fact that they possessed no fullback as outstanding as was George Nepia, and no scrum-half quite equal, even at his very best, to Jimmy Mill. Therefore, I maintain that the 1928 All Blacks never could and never did rise to the heights attained by their 1924 predecessors. Had Cooke, who was, of course, selected, made, the trip, I do think that it is quite on the cards that Maurice Brownlie's men would not have lost a match—-ex-cepting, perhaps, the first test. FORWARDS EQUAL There was not, I think, much to choose between the 1924 and the 1928 All Black forwards. “Morrie” Brownlie certainly only found his form during the last three or four weeks of the South African tour. Until then he was only the shadow of his 1924 self. And I do not think the 1928 pack were even as well led as were the forwards

of 1924 by that great forward and great leader, Jock Richardson. Otherwise, I think it was a case of “fiftyfifty” as between the two sets of forwards. Lindsay never Was a second Nepia, but at his best he was better than any South African fullback of the moment. Dailey, Stewart and McWilliams were without question three of the “star” men of the 3 928 side, while Hadley and Swain could well bear comparison with Donald and Irvine, of the 1924 team, which is paying them no light compliment. The “comparison,” however, all really boils doAvn to this, that there never was, in the 1928 side, the same perfect combination or deadly thrust in the centre that made the 1924 men a team of world-beaters. That, and the inexplicable omission of Mark Nicholls from so many vital games, made up the one big difference between the two All Blacks touring teams. Great side though they showed themselves to be in the final test, the 1928 All Blacks, even on that day, did not equal the best of which the 1924 team Avere capable. But they were for all that a great team at NeA\dands, and Avorthy to rank with all but the very greatest in Rugby history.