SELECTOR’S OUTBURST

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1035, 28 July 1930, Page 1

SELECTOR’S OUTBURST

Attack On British Team SENSATION AT RUGBY DINNER Tense Atmosphere Created AT the complimentary dinner tendered after Saturday s Test match to the British and New Zealand Rugby Football teams, the convivial atmosphere which nsnally surrounds such gatherings was abruptly broken by Mr. E. McKenzie, manager of the New Zealand team and chairman of the All Black Selection Committee, who charged the British team with conducting a policy of obstruction and illegal tackling.

A BOMBSHELL, dropped into the dining-room at Hotel Careen could not have created a much greater sensation than Mr. McKenzie’s remarks, which immediately followed a graceful tribute to the New Zealand team by Mr. C. D. Aarvold, at whose request the British team, standing on their chairs, had honoured the toast of the New Zealand fifteen, coupled with the names of Mr. E. McKenzie and the captain, C. G. Porter. Without any preliminaries Mr. McKenzie. who was called on by the chairman. Mr. S. S. Dean, to respond, plunged into his main theme, stating that while earlier in the tour Mr. J. Baxter, manager of the British team, had criticised the New Zealand wingforward. whom he appeared to consider the wolf of the Rugby game, he thought the time opportune to make some criticism of certain phases of the British team's play. ILLEGAL TACKLING Ho had noticed in the British team's play a good deal of obstruction, and what in New Zealand was known as "shepherding.” “I do not go so far as m say that this is intentional,” said

lent results which generally attended an interchange of football visits. Referring to the British style of play. Mr. Dean said there was a noticeable difference now to that played in England when the All Blacks visited there in 1924. He thought Britain had learned a lot from that tour, in the same way as Xew Zealand was now reaping a benefit from the play of the present Britain team. Although Britain had lost, it had played the game in a fine sporting spirit,” said Mr. Dean. MAGNIFICENT 9TRUGGLE “It was a magnificent struggle.** said Mr. James Baxter, manager of the British team. "We frankly admit that we were beaten by a superior team, but as long as the game is fought out in the proper spirit the result does not matter.” Mr. Baxter also paid a tribute to the genius displayed by M. Nicholls. which he said was one of the deciding factors of the day. Proposing the toast of the New Zealand team. Mr. C. D. Aarvold. who captained the British team in the test, said the game was the hardest, closest, and cleanest of the tour. “It would have been fine to win such a game, but it was almost as fine to lose against a side such as the New Zealand side was on the day,” said Mr. Aarvold. A tribute to the very sporting manner in which the game had been played was paid by the New Zealand captain, Mr. C. G. Porter. “The more I meet you, the more sorry I am that New Zealand has defeated you,” ho said. “I could almost wish for drawn games.” The health of the referee, Mr. S. Hollander, was proposed by the vicecaptain of the British team, Mr. W. ASobey. “Mr. Hollander has controlled hll three test matches,” he said, “and we should have to go a long way to find a more competent ar.d impartial j referee.”

Mr. McKenzie. “X hope it is not. At the same time, some of it appears to be part of a deliberate and studied system. There is also a considerable amount of illegal tackling of men without the ball, and of catching hold of the jerseys of opponents not in possession. “I do not contend that our own players are perfect. They, too. may be guilty of these lapses. But Ido say that the British team is a guod enough side to win without recourse to these methods.’A During Mr. McKenzie’s speech open astonishment was expressed on the faces of nearly all present, and there were evidently some murmurs of dissent from the corner where Mr. Aarvold and Mr. J. Prendeville. president of the Wellington Rugby Union, were sitting, as Mr. McKenzie at one stage paused in his remarks to say: "I am speaking, Mr. Aarvold, not you.” SILENT GATHERING Not a hand-clap or murmur of any kind broke the frozen silence which followed when Mr. McKenzie sat down, and for several moments there was a remarkable feeling of tension and strain over the gathering. This was only broken when Mr. Dean, the chairman, rose and invited Mr. Porter to supplement the response to Mr. Aarvold’s toast. Mr. Porter, in a speech which did much to restore the former atmosphere, paid a tribute to the sporting play of the British team, stating that with every match he played against them his respect for them, not only as players, but also as excellent fellows, increased. He almost had a feeling of regret that in a match against such a fine side it was necessary for one side to win, and the other to lose. After the gathering broke up, the main topic of conversation was Mr. McKenzie's outburst, prominent Rugby officials, including Mr. Dean, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Union, and officers of the Auckland Rugby Union, deprecating the tenor of Mr. McKenzie's remarks. INCIDENT REGRETTED Beyond stating that he regrett'd that it had occurred, Mr. J. Arneil. president of the Auckland Rugby Union, said this morning that he did not intend making any statement upon the incident.

N.Z. CONGRATULATED “MAGNIFICENT STRUGGLE” “The main thing about Rugby is not so much the winning or losing of a game, but the enjoyment of the game by the players,” said Mr. F. D. Prentice, British Rugby captain, responding to the toast of the British team at the official dinner given by the New Zealand Rugby Union at the Hotel Cargen on Saturday evening. In the absence of the president, Dr. G. J. Adams, Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the union, presided. In proposing the toast of the British team, Mr. Dean referred to the excel-

HARD, CLEAN GAME

“WONDERFUL SPORTSMANSHIP.” SAYS REFEREE STATEMENT AT WELLINGTON Sprcinl to TITS SI.V WELLINGTON, Today. “It was one of the hardest games I have ever had the pleasure not only of refereeing, but also of watching.” said Mr. S. Hollander, when interviewed on his arrival in Wellington this morning. Mr. Hollander, who refereed the Test match between Britain and New Zealand at Eden Park yesterday, was questioned regarding the infringements by British players alleged by Mr. E. Mackenzie, chairman of th~ New Zealand Selection Committee, and manager of the All Blacks, at tLa official dinner on Saturday evening. “The match was played in a wonderfully sportsmanlike spirit,” said Mr. Hollander, “and there was no suggestion of premeditated or concealed infringements. Both teams accepted all decisions without question.”

TEAM FOR FINAL TEST

EXPECTED THIS WEEK With all members of the New Zealand Selection Committee assembled in Auckland over the week-end, it is extremely unlikely that they dispersed before arriving at some decision in regard to the New Zealand team for the fourth Test, to be, played at Wellington on August 9. No announcement was made, however, but it is likely that the team will be released by the New Zealand Rugby Union some time this week. The Southern members of the team and the Selection Committee left for their respective homes by train last evening. The British team left for Whangarei this morning. where they will play North Auckland on Wednesday. They will return to Auckland on Thursday, but will leave almost immediately for Hamilton. where they will meet a. combined Waikato-King Country team next Saturday. It is stated that W. A. Sobey. the English halfback who was injured in the first match of the tour against Wanganui, will be available for the Hamilton match.