"A WONDERFUL TRIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 10

"A WONDERFUL TRIP.

THE ALL BLACK TOUR.

OFFICIALS RETURN HOME. WEAK POINTS MADE GOOD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Some members of the All Blacks official party have returned to New Zealand ahead of the team, and those arriving in Wellington, while glad to be back, are of one mind about the wonderful time they have had.

Mr. L. Simpson, the well-known New Zealand referee, Mr. G. P. Payne, a member of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union, and Mr. W. S. Dustin. sen., of Wanganui, were among the passengers by the Ulimaroa from Sydney to-day. With them they brought many interesting mementoes of a notable tour, some of these being the property of members of the team. Mr. Simpson was the lucky possessor of the whistles used by the referees in the All Blacks' Test matches with Kngland. Ireland, and Wales.

"It has been a. wonderful trip,' , said Mr. Simpson. "It -was at first thought that a coach would have been beneficial. but under the able coaching of the captain (Porteri the forwards were moulded into a fine combination. They worked together excellently. It was left to Mark Niehollß, who acted as captain of the backs, to put the rearguard into shape. Pie succeeded beyond expectations with the material at his disposal, for it must be admitted that our weakness was in the backs, especially in the three-quarter line, the centre being a particularly weak spot. "The half-backs were really not up to international standard. DalleV gave promise of becoming a fine half, but as the tour proceeded he faded away. Mill started badly, but as he improved it was left to him to see the hard games through. The five-eighthe were particularly good, Nicholls, Cooke, and McGregor playing fine football. Cooke, however, had to strengthen the threequarter line by taking up the centre position, which he did with distinction. It was thought that Lucas would have been more successful than he was. He was not consistent. In one or two games his play at centre was brilliant, but in other games he was practically a failure."

Mr. Simpson added that the game as played in England was different altogether from that in New Zealand, and it ivas i ot of a type that would last long here. There were too many scrums and line-outs. There was one referee who understood the New Zealanders and their play, and that was Mr. Freethey. Mr. A. E. Stephens, of Greymouth, who arrived two days ahead of the other members of the party, expressed the .opinion that the tourists had learned nothing that would be of much advantage to football in this country. In the matter of entertainment, the hospitality extended to the New Zealanders by Rugby supporters could not have been better. Much in the way of entertainment had been offering, and it had been necessary to tone it down a good deal. The whole result of the tour was simply confirmation of former tours showing- the superiority of the game in New Zealand to that in other countries which had leen visited. Therr had been some hard games on this tour And tfiere had been some lucky games, but all through the taani should not have been beaten."

The Stars of the Team. "Xicholls was absolutely the star of the team," said ' Mr. Stephens. "In order om merit, I would place the first players as follows:—Nicholls, Cooke, Nepia, with M. Brownlie and White on a par as great forwards. Masters has created a record for lock in having played in 24 matches, and in sticking to the game as he did."

Questioned regarding the selection and management of the team, Mr. Stephens said: "The teams were as good a lot as could be put together. They were really the management themselves. They did not need any managing. The selecting was done by the manager, Mr. Dean, the captain, Porter, and the "vice-captain, Richardson. A noteworthy thing Tβflectingto the credit-of Porter was his action in selecting Parker in preference to himself in the Test matches. Porter showed great broad-mindedness, particularly' in view of the fact that the people of New Zealand knew how good he was as a player. However, he was not given an opportunit} 7 to show his real form. The ruling -went against his style of play. The Omission of Badeley

"As regards Badeley, confidence was lost in this player through the form he showed in Sydney. He was tried in two matches at Home, but the opinion about his play was not improved. McCleary, although probably the fittest man in the team, was also unable to get a place' very often simply because there were others considered better." Mr. Stephens further explained that on occasions the tourists were somewhat frightened by advance reports about the teams they were to meet, and in consequence too much alteration of the team was not considered advisable.

A matter he thought should be borne in mind for future tours was the treatment of the New Zealanders abroad in regard to opportunities of seeing the representatives of their country on the field of play. Hundreds of New Zealanders could not get into Twickenham to see the Test match there. Bad Travelling Arrangements. Confirmation of the cabled reports some weeks ago about the All Blacks' dissatisfaction with the travelling arrangements in England, was obtained to-day in remarks made by Mr. Simpson. "In all respects except railway and minor other arrangements, the tour has been a remarkable one," he said. "With regard to the comfort of the team, it must be admitted that the English Rugby Union cannot be flattered for anything it did in this direction. The hotel accommodation was on the whtfle fairly good, but the food supply was not suited to men playing football. A most disgraceful feature of the tour •was the wretched railway accommodation, the New Zealanders having to travel third-class everywhere, except in France, where the arrangements made by the French Rugby officials provided for first-class travelling and accommodation. On some occasions in England the members of the team and party had to sit in the dining car, as no carriages had been provided for them. The seats were stiff backed, and these same seats were none too soft. The players and party seated themselves or lay down as best they could. For five hours, from Swansea to London, after the Llannelly match, they were subjected to this disgraceful treatment. On a number of trips they were assembled in a carriage in which there were two long seats and tables in the centre. Some of the players were compelled to use the table i as a resting place/ .