CAUSTIC COMMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1935, Page 7

CAUSTIC COMMENT.

'ELDERLY GENTLEMEN' All Blacks' Reaction from Welsh Tour. HART ONLY CLASS PLATER. United I'ress Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, November 3. The "Daily Telegraph" says: "The All Blacks, playing like somewhat elderly gentlemen, scrambled home against London Counties. Either they were suffering a reaction after the rigorous Welsh tour or they need a stimulus like Welsh aggression, to bring out their best. They were weak on Saturday. "It was not only their defence, but their attack was slow and stereotyped. They made persistent use of the touchlino as if they could not trust themselves to run with the ball. Hart, alone of the backs, looked like a class player. Tho forwards carried them through, Hadley being particularly good. It will be ironical if they eventually rely on tlio mucli-criticised forwards for salvation."

The "News-Clironicle" states: "The New Zealanders played much more like a team than against the Combined Services. The forwards sometimes looked positively fearsome." Tho London Rugby Union gave a dinner to the All Blacks, at which there were 200 guests, including many internationals. Mr. Geoffrey Koberts (Recorder of Exeter and an old Oxford and English international player), toasting the New Zealanders, said the closeness of their victories showed that there had been an improvement in the game here, so this reflected greater credit on the visitors. The All Blacks received the toast of "London Counties" with Maori musical honours.