ALL BLACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 192, 15 August 1922, Page 5

ALL BLACKS.

THE LOST RUBBER. REVIVAL OF THE GAME. (By ERNEST E. BOOTH, NJZ. and X.S.W. Rep.) For the 6rst time in Rugby history a New Zealand rep. team has been beaten by an Australian team in two test matches, thereby losing the so-called "ashes,"' or literally the palm of victory. By such a unique performance, clearly demonstrating the revival of the Union game in Sydney, New South Wales has successfully placed itself again on a new, firm international status. This tour to New South Wales, from a playing and financial aspect, opens up a bright vista of possible events in the future, and especially an expected tour of New Zealand next season. It was never expected by even the most sanguine that New South Wales could win the rubber. The final results must have been veritable '"bolts from the blue" in the Dominion. New South Wales, Rugby football has been written down a pood deal, and after the Maoris winning in such style the local reps, were given little hope of victory. Quietly, they have been most judiciously nursed together and coached by very competent gentlemen ; the win of thu "'Aussies" last year in Christehureh was always explained and condoned by a multitude of excuses and generally classed as a fluke. Their combination of last season is still preserved, and strengthened by the addition of several new and brilliant players. Their esprit dc corps has been an outstanding feature all through. After the first game here the local players seemed to imbibe great confidence in themselves. The play of both sides improved considerably in each contest, New South Wales perhaps showing most advancement. Summing up the three tests briefly. The local team were lucky to win. The ■blacks evidently needed some more driving power behind them. They failed to realise the gravity of the situation until too late, and lacked the happy knack of opportunism. For once a team of New Zealand footballers failed to combine in their usual wonted style. Their greatest weakness was in attack, and the failure of vanguard and backs to conjoin. The ball left the scrum too slowly, the passing was only mediocre, and with the blues' backs playing close up it simply followed Xew Zealand's backs were bagged. A possible factor in Xew Zealand's failure was the inclusion of so many players new to international games. Every physical requisite is possessed by them, but several have evidently not acquired much theoretical schooling in concerted movements. This applies most particularly to th e forwards, who practically dominated New Zealand's style in every match. New Zealand relied too much on a massed formation OTder of attack, breaking, in battering-ram assaults on the blues from both line-outs, scrums, and close rucks, "bullocking" through. It was not until the last game that the forwards actually ted their supports much by regular passin" (Richardson and Whyte were the two exceptions to this fault), still the general handling and passin? of the backs was palpably weak, slow, of the lob order, lacking "zip and direction. On two or three occasions Sheeman and Wogan intercepted easily. In the last test, particularly with scores imminent (practically made and created on three occasions) "Icnock-ons"' prevented a successful finality to otherwise great efforts. I can explain one method whereby the Aussies caught Belliss and Donald in advance of a line of the ball. Instead of hooking it, they simple booted the ball clean and quickly into the rear of the Xew Zealand scrum, and instantly the referee's shrill whistle piped, ail hands to see another '"All Blue , ' free kick. Another feature which struck mc was the blacks' persistency in long distance and indiscriminate kicking, most often lacking any objective. Bell and Ford were the only two exceptions. Quite a huge tally of attempts to pot goals by backs and forwards can be recorded. The New Zealand backs spoilt themselves often by kicking instead of retaining possession and running. Steel was almost criminally neglected in feeding. He is the one 'back who really possesses match winning qualifications, and who might have saved the situation in the last Test, especially when both sides were literally done up with one of his characteristic- "runs. He however, instead of cutting iirfield ami opening play, preferred to kick. A golden chance was offered near the end of the game, also Dickinson once failed to give him a clear run in by hanging on. There was a marked similarity run nmg through all the three Test matches k XT , ** B " Ot " ntil the last & ame that the New Zealand backs demonstrated any appreciable ability to attack in concert. Also it may be mentioned, perhaps, 'by way of expiation, that this w.n the only game when the blacks' vanguard seemed to remember to feed their supports. The number of scoring points in these matches is very close, showing what little difference apparently exists between the two combinations." New South Wales scored 41. whilst New Zealand registered 40. In securing po<j session the blues obtained mo*t "limes I but in the secondTtst New Zealand had I a majority of 22, New South Wales IS. ihis about represents the -jpneral average. ] have stated iiow the Miles gave possession ;uvay in the .-cruras anil" for what purpose. j -