MR. TYLER AND ALL BLACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. TYLER AND ALL BLACKS.

A SYDNEY COMMENT.

The outburst of Mr. G. A. Tyler, that the present All Black combination "is the worst that was ever assembled," is hardly what would be expected of a player of Mr. Tyler's experience (says a writer in the Sydney "Sun.")

It may be questioned if Mr. Tyler is in a position to judge, as for some time past he has not been identified with Rugby Union football. It may be also that his vision is clouded in favour of the great team of 1905, of which he was a member. Many old players fail to sco the virtues of the present-day performers in any sports, always emphasising that to-day's players are inferior to those of their day.

Anyone but the most blindly prejudiced must admit that the 1924 All Blacks are a great team, and their defeat by Auckland can be excused. The matches in Sydney were not easy, and added to a very rough trip home, caused the team to- be anything but fit; and Auckland's team included many who were almost in the rep. side, and some who no doubt should have been. Moreover, Auckland opinion is that they were unjustly treated by the All Black selectors, and so it can easily he imagined that the match was a severe test for the tourists, who also probably did not feel inclined to take too many chances in view of the English trip. In any case, it is interesting to mention that the 1905 champions were themselves beaten by Auckland before they left, and were also beaten by Wellington when they got back.

Another important point is that the 1905 All Blacks were a team of seasoned players, with most of their football behind them. The present team, on the other hand, is composed mostly of young players with all their football ahead.

Mr. Tyler's criticism would have been taken more seriously had he nominated men other than all Auckland' Province players to take the places of some jjnt