ALL BLACKS V. SPRINGBOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 70, 23 March 1914, Page 6

ALL BLACKS V. SPRINGBOKS.

A COMPARISON. (By Telegrapn —Special to ■•Sta.."» CHRISTCHURCH. this day. Messrs W. Hutchison and W. Allen, two New Zealanders now in South Africa, are at present in t'hrist-hurch on a holiday tour, and in an interview were asked ' what they thought of the respective merits of the "Springboks" and the "All ! Blacks'' on the Ruebv field. !

i>.__rtv» on mc KUgOy field. "Offside Mackenzie "asked mc the same thing in Sydney." said Mr Hutchison. "1 think we have Rot a very Rood Rugby side in South Africa, but do outstanding men at present. I do not think South Africa to-day is as strong as the team of 'Spring- | boks' that visited England. They reckoned in South Africa that that team wans good as the 'All Blacks." but. of course, we Mew Zcalandcrs didn't thiuk so, and when it came down to saying which was the best, tbe critics usually said the 'All Blacks.'"' Mr. H_t___L_-n said that a. -visit from from a New /eaLmd team would _ro_9e great en_n____m in South Africa, where the merits of these two teams were frequently diec_-_ed. He added that, assuming New Zealand Rugby had gone 'hack a bit since tbe "All Blacks'" tour. Sontb Africa, could give the visitors a good game. I Mr. Allen <-oncurred in this view, tout : expressed the opinion that the New Zeajland forwards would b P found superior. !«« _he South -African Rogbyite big man i.s trained mmc for back pfcry. Mr. Hutchison said _c v-ae. sorry to think: that the amateur game -_s being challenged in any degree by the professional game. There van no __* trouble in -outh Africa, where ire said the Now Zeaianders ■wotild find a lot of good -port, playing th« _____ for it» own •____.