PACE SET FOR ALL BLACKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 7

PACE SET FOR ALL BLACKS

APIQUANT situation arises as a result of Auckland’s over- j whelming defeat of the British last Saturday. Where a purely provincial side was brilliantly successful, the All Blacks have failed so far to gain the ascendancy, honours at present being easy in the Tests. It may be said that what applies to Auckland, also applies to Wellington and Canterbury. But that it not quite true. Wellington and Canterbury deserve full credit for their victories, and Auckland would be the last to want to take away any of it, but the cold fact remains that it was urged on behalf of the British that they were “caught on the hop” by the two Southern provinces, and that under other circumstances, the result might have been different. On the other hand, Auckland’s win was so overwhelming that it permits of no arguments as to “what might have been.” Even if Spong and Rew had played, it could not have affected the result. It has been rightly said that the British were not at their best on Saturday, after some hard travelling, but it is equally correct to say that a team plays only so well as the other side lets it. “We were jolly j

well whacked,” said Mr. Baxter after > the match —a sporting declaration and a true one. When all the facts are analysed, it must be admitted that the Auckland •team which beat the British was one of the strongest that could be fielded in New Zealand, outside of the All Blacks. Twelve out of* fifteen men in the team either played for, or had been selected to play for. New Zealand, and the remaining three, Haslam, Solomon, and Jamieson, were not the least of a great side. Every member of the pack had previously represented the Dominion. Because Auckland won so easily last week, it is not to say that the All Blacks will do likewise tomorrow. Home teams have a happy knack of producing inspired form for a great occasion. Auckland’s record against visiting British teams is an illustration of that. At the same time, it is probably equally safe to say that the British are not sorry that it is not the Auckland pack that they are playing tomorrow. There is no need for invidious comparisons on this score, even if many do think that Laurie Knight for one is fit for any New Zealand team at the present time. Seven weeks* hard training under the ! expert eye of one of the greatest j

forwards of his time might reasonably be expected to mould any side into a great combination, and if there is one lesson to be learned from Auckland’s victory it is the value of systematic coaching. Mr. George Nicholson deserves full credit for the magnificent pitch to which he brought the team-work of the side, and particularly that of the forwards. They were more like one steam-roller than seven forwards. Without being unsympathetic to the All Blacks, it may be said that the very nature of Auckland’s victory, taken in conjunction with the two previous tests, puts them on their trial tomorrow. If they fail, there are bound to be changes for the fourth test. The chief criticism that has been directed at the All Blacks is that there are too many old-stagers in the party But when this criticism is closely examined, it loses a lot of its force. Cliff Porter may be bald-headed, but according to the official records of the N.Z.R.F.U. Annual, he is just in his 30th year. The same authority shows that Lucas, Nicholls and Cooke are all 28, but even such a hoary old veteran as Ron Stewart is only 26. And Nepia is 25. When this criticism about age is

made, most people lost sight of the fact that the majority of the All Blacks started young. When the last British team (the Anglo-Welsli) was here in 1908, nine or ten of the famous “1905’3” played against them, and some of them were older than any of the present New Zealand team. Cun ningham, for instance, was 32, Gillett was 31, and so was Stead, according to the records. George Smith was 34 when he went to England in 1905. The best time to prophesy the result of a test match is on a Saturday night. It is simply asking for trouble to make any hard and fast prediction about tomorrow’s game, after the British team’s match last Saturday. The moral of the All Blacks should be greatly strengthened tomorrow by Auckland’s fine win. But one never can tell in football. The British have had their training seriously interfered with at Rotorua, owing to rain. If they are stale, it is possibly the best thing that could happen. They have had a week in which to forget all about football, and to a jaded team, there is nothing like a change of outlook. It is not outside the bounds of possibility that the British might turn round at Eden Park tomorrow and play the game of their lives. Under ordinary circumstances, the All Blacks ought to win, but one never knows!