THE TORNADO.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 13

THE TORNADO.

ALL BLACKS' RUNAWAY WIN. RHODESIAKS ROUTED. ONLY "BABIES" IN THE GAME. 'By GRAHAM E. BEAMISH.) BULAWAYO, July 14. Only mere "babies" in the game, Rhode ;ia could not stand up to the New Zealand tornado at Bulawayo to-day, when the All Blacks romped home to the extent of 44 points to eight. There were ten tries scored in the game, seven of which were converted and three unconverted. Thirty-one points were scored by the All Blacks in the first half, largely because of incompetence on the part of the Rhodesians because of their meagre knowledge of the finer points of the game. There was a big slowing up on the part of the All Blacks in the second spell, and the Rhodesians scored eight points against New Zealand's thirteen. The football was poor in the second session, the All Blacks appearing to be more or less indolent in the face of their big lead. But in the first 40 minutes the New Zealanders threw the ball about in the open telling way, and they were seen in many brilliant and spectacular movements, in which both backs and forwards took part. Quite often the New Zealand back play was artistic, attractive and subtle. The first spell was full of kaleidoscopic changes, and in this *ewion the match sparkled with lively incident.

Always on Their Toes. As soon as the All Blacks saw that they could put up something of a big score, they showed an eagerness to jump into the game and they were always on their toes. The trenchant service of the New Zealand five-eighths line sent the New Zealand three-quarter line in full cry with bewildering pace. The backs romped and roved will o' the wisp fashion, the backing up being outstanding.

It was a very different story in the second spell, Rhodesia, beating the All Blacks for the ball from scrume, started to play football according to the New Zealand style. Their handling was fairly accurate, but they could not finish off their movements, in spite of the halfhearted defence of the New Zealand backs. Rhodesia's reign war a short one for the All Blacks soon had their opponents in a hopeless tangle again. There was one outstanding piece of play on the part of the Rhoderian backs. Mcintosh, the centre three-quarter, who played fairly well throughout, made two breaks from interceptions, when Lilburne was passing to Lucas. From one of these he broke clean away, and shortpunting accurately over Lindsay's head, recovered the ball, and went on to scor* under the posts. It was a pretty piece of work.

On# of the main reasons for the overwhelming win by the All Blacks was the appallingly poor defence and tackling of the Rhodesian?. They certainly tackled better in the second half, and managed to smaeh quite a few New Zealand movements. Easily the most thrilling and spectacular movement by the All Blacks was the one which leid to Finlayson's try. In his own twenty-five Snow threw the ball half-way across the field to Lucas, who sent to Robilliard, who passed infield to Lucas who sent to Swain, to Finlayson, who beat two men and scored a great try.

Beaten in Scrams and LineOuts. It wa? surprising to find that even.up against a side as weak as Rhodesia, NewZealand was beaten for the ball in the scrums. And above all it was amazing to find that they were beaten for the ball in the department of the game for which they are noted —line-out work. Rhodesia, hooked the ball from twentyfour scrums against New Zealand's 20, and fourteen line-outs went in their favour against the All Blacks' thirteen. It was perfectly obvious why New Zealand was beaten in the scrums. To a big extent, it was the same trouble as has been the ease m previous matches— little weight in the scrums. To-day it was flagrant. The side row men, Maurice Brown lie and Finlayson, were far too eager to break away, and had left the side of the scrum before the ball wa? out, and the back-rankers, Hazlett and Snow, did not seem to worry very much whether they pushed or not. But what they lacked in the scrums they made up for and doubly so in the loose. At the vame time, weight is essential in the scrums, and until solid weight goes into the All Black pack, they will continue to be beaten in scrums.

There was a crowd at the match numbering almost 4000, which is a record for Bulawayo. They came from remote parts of Rhodeeia to see the All Blacks, many of them traveling hundreds of miles in as long as four days. The crowd was delighted at the display of the New Zealanders, and all keen Rugbyites admitted that they had learned a great deal. The All Blacks gave their haka before the match, this being only the second time that they have given it since they have been in South Africa. The All Blacks were:— Full-back: Lindsay. Three-quarters: Robilliard, Lucas, Ru?hbrook. Five-eighths: Lilburne, Johnson. Half-back: Dalley. Wing-forward: Scrimshaw. Front row: Hore. Swain. Middle row: M. Brownlie, Alley, Finlayson. Back row: Snow, Hazlett.