ALL BLACKS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 10

ALL BLACKS.

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. MANAGER PRESENTS REPORT. UNION'S VIEW OF SCRUM FORMATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAJI.) WELLINGTON, November £B. A meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Bugby Union was held to-night. Mr S. S. Dean presided, and there were also present: Messrs A. C. Kitto, H. S. Leith, J. G. Boache, E. McKenzie, T. A. Fletcher, K. Tahiwi (Maori Advisory Board), E. Wylie, W. F. Hornig, and A. E. Neilson (secretary). Mr Hornlg's Report Mr W, Hornig, manager of the All Black team, presented his report. The trip to Sydney, ho stated, from April 13th to 17th, was rough. During the voyage the team did breathing exercises and physical drill before breakfast, scrummaging practice at 10.30, with a team talk during the day. The team arrived at Durban on May 23rd, receiving a wonderful reception, Cape Town being reached by rail from there on May 28th. The first match played, three days after arrival, was against a much stronger team . than expected, while the succeeding match, against the Western Province town team, was one of the hardest in the itinerary. These hard matches, coupled with the very strenuous train travelling, were responsible for the lack of form, and it was several weeks before the team really showed anything like New Zealand form.

The change of altitude in the tour was a big factor, several of the team being very badly affected by the high altitude, bleeding at the nose and suffering in the lungs and throat, the slightest exertion making one feel tired. The All Blacks found the various teams met very strong, particularly in the forwards, and with one or two exceptions the best available team had to be fielded with a result that some of the players were showing signs of staleness taefore the tour was completed. It was invariably found that the team did not show anything like true/form when played within three days after a long train journey. An epidemic of influenza went through the team early in the tour. In view of injuries Mr Hornig suggested that an extra back should be sent. The hotel accommodation, on the whole, was excellent. Praise was bestowed on Mr D. H. Magennis, the South African Boar4's representative who toured with the team. The grounds were not so hard as expected. Most were well turfed and the others were watered and softened specialty' Mr Hornig stated he made it quite clear on arrival in South Africa that the New Zealand team would "have to accept the rulings of the South Afrioan referees. The tour yi South Africa was treated as an affair of. national importance. The conduct of the team, said the manager, was ex»llent from start to, finish. Thev were a credit to New Zealand, were popular with everyone, and a very hapny party. Not the slightest sign of dissension occurred to tnar a very memorable and strenuous tour. The team left Dane Town on September 7th after travelling v over 7000 miles by train and nearly 2000 by motor-car. / > Mr S, S. Dean moved 'that the report from the manager of the team to South Africa be received, and that he he thanked for it He considered Mr Hornig was wrong when he stated that the conference between the New Zealand and English Unions in 1924 had been abortive. The New Zealand Union, had a great deal to thank the English TTnion for. Tf thiSy bad any grievance it was against the Scottish and Trisli TTn'ons and the International Ttiicby Board.

Laws of Game Contravened. Mr J. <i. Roache considered that Clause 4 of the agreement drawn up between the New Zealand team and the South African Union concerning the packing of the scrum was contrary to the laws of the game. Mr Hornig said that the South African referees allowed only one method of packing the scrum. They would not allow two heads to go down together. Mr H. S. Leith: It was a case of ,whan in Rome you must do v as the Romans do. Mr Roache: It was contrary to the laws of the game. Mr Leith: It was ridiculous. Mr Hornig: I do not think it was contrary to the laws of the game. Mr Roache: You show me where the rules state that the scrum must be packed according to the method insisted upon by the South African referees. Mr Hornig: You show me where it is laid down that the scrum must not be formed that way. Mr E. Wylie: Personally, I would not have signed any agreement. Mr Dean: If you were going upon another tour would you sign another agreement? Mr Hornig: Certainly I would. It would not have made the slightest difference. Mr Wylie: What about the clause stipulating that the man who put the ball in the scrum should be regarded as a half-back? Mr Hornig: In agreeing to that we considered we were safeguarding our wing forward. Mr Leith: You were not. I don't consider the South African referee had anj right to contract us out of the laws of the game. Mr Hornig said that scrum formation in South Africa was shocking. Often the ball would be put in eight times before the referee was satisfied that it had been fairly put in. Mr Dean said he did not consider that it was a right thing to siin such an agreement, still Messrs Hornig, M. Brownlie, and M. Nicholls were there and considered it ,was the proper thing to do. Why Agreement was Signed. Mr Hornig: We signed the agreement in the interests of the harmonious working on the tour. Mr Fletcher asked if the South African_ referees allowed the ball to go into the'centre of the scrum before it was hooked,? Mr Hornig: Yes, they often insisted upon the ball being put in 'as many as eight times until it did go into the centre of the scrum, Mr Leith said that in nearly every country they had different interpretations of the rules. The motion to receive the report and thank the manager for it was carried. It was decided to print the report and circulate it to affiliated unions and the South African Rugby Board. On the motion of Mr Dean it was decided to thank the South African Board for the hospitality extended to the New Zealand team on the tour. Not a Precedent. Mr Roache moved that the South African Rugby Board be informed that i Clause 4 of the agreement entered into

between Ibe W>»«> Ajjjflj 38» M contrary to the b°W.f£f#i Mr Wylie had any P°f®J ahotl M b0 «W*ssa| the game. Thpy r fflen t M to let a precedent. J" South African Board that the Wffll 10 . . JjjK it contravened La* tfwg^ On his suggest* r to inciudeth'ain rel0 Iqtl« "s this form Mr t -