FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21258, 1 September 1934, Page 18

FOOTBALL

RETURN OF ALL BLACKS VIEWS OF CANTERBURY PLAYERS AI'S'iKALIA'S CHANGED STYLE Mot only has the standard of Rugby in Australia improved immensely in the last few years, but the style of play has altered entirely, according to the Canterbury members of the New Zealand touring team, C. J. Oliver. G. F. Hart, and J. E. Manchester, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning. This alteration they attribute definitely to the Wallabies' tour of South Africa, which taught them the value of the scrummaging game. This type of play they now exploit quite as well as New Zealand teams. The scrummaging of the Australian tpams was one of the big features of the tour, and was quite unexpected by the visitors. They set out with a tacit understanding that they should throw the ball about as much as possible and play the open game. The Australian side row men played the spoiling game exactly as it is known it) New' Zealand, and there was an absence of the sparkling three-quarter play that has been such a feature of Australian state and national teams that have visited New Zealand. Fine Si-rummaging The All Blacks reverted to their customary style of play in the second test, but could do no more than hold Australia level. In the first test the New Zealand forwards faded out before the furious attack of the Australian pack. No Australian team had scrummaged like them in the experience of the visiting players. Every - where the tourists went they found the standard definitely better than on the last tour. The Canterbury men were enthusiastic in their praise of the hospitality accorded the team and the general arrangements tor the tour. Every hour that was not required for football or training wa.-. taken up with entertainments, and the members could not cope with the many offers of hospitality they received. The travelling arrangements were splendid, although the trip to and from Orange was ,<rduous. They had to take Ihe field after practically a whole day's travelling by bus. returning to Sydney only two days belore the New South Wales match. Influenza was the only" other worry for the team. Hart missed the .second lest because of this complaint, and spent the whole of the return voyage convalescing. Although he played in the match at Wellington he was still suffering from the after-effects of influenza yesterday, and had a nasty cough. The players paid tribute to the work of the manager and masseur, both of whom had contributed j>reatlj to the success and harmonious running of the tour. Hard Ground and Heat The conditions in Brisbane were such as could not be imagined by N'c.'. Zealand players who had not, been personally acquainted with the game in the northern state of Australia. While the team was there the temperature averaged I'D degrees in the shade, and consequently the tourists' training consisted only of light jogging work. In the intense heat many of the players wore only a pair of shorts for training, and some consequently suffered from sunburn. TL.j ground, naturally iufd, had been beaten down by the agricultural show held on it. just before the All Blacks' visit, and it was much the same as the football grounds of Ifagley Park in mid-summer. Although the ground was watered before the match, every player suffered from falls, and many had skin taken from their hips in tackles. Speaking of the individual form of the players, the Canterbury men agreed that Hore had been one of. I he outstanding successes of the tour, and was certainly far from a veteran on his form in Australia. : Lilburne had played finely at full-back, daringly starting attacks from all positions. Naturally, he was more popular with the Australian crowds and critics than Collins, who, nevertheless, was wonderfully sound. Griffiths had not re ceived sufficient recognition for hi.splendid defensive work. Referee's Killings The Canterbury men ridiculed the suggestion that the team was "squealing" because of its defeat by Australia. The referees had been perfectly fair, but because the practice in Australia was different from that in New Zealand the visitors had some difficulty in adapting themselves to the rulings. For instance, the advantage rule was not applied in Australia, and the referees allowed no latitude in knock-ons and forward passes. The Australian referees, too, awarded penalties instead of scrums for players taking forward passes, whereas in New Zealand it was held that as the forward pass was the prior infringement the penalty for offside was not incurred. The team did feel some resentment at the type of newspaper criticism to which they were subjected. Some of the newspapers were interested in nothing but sensationalism -certainly not in Rugby. Apart from that it had been a splendid tour, all the more pleasant because while the players were keen to give of their best, they did not attach undue importance lu the result. ALL BLACKS CRITICISE!) PORTER'S VIEWS ON COMPLAINTS Tsnfca rr:i;.is amsoci.viluv -bv tu-:.ni:i; n: i. eg rami—-coi-nuaui.t SYDNEY, August 31. Cliff Porter, captain of the 1924 All Blacks, interviewed by the "Telegraph," criticised the complaints made by some members of the All Blacks about referees. "It savours of squealing and it is bad sportsmanship," he said. "They could have done much better by saying nothing, even if they had the impression that everything was not to their satisfaction. I hope the people of New Zealand will not take too much notice ot them. "From the point of view of fairness Mr A. L. living's roforceing in ihe last test could not have been improved upon. "What reallv happened in the first test was that the All Blacks met a much better team. Australia won on lu-r merits." CANTERBURY TEAM C. .). OLIVER NOT AVAILABLE C. H. McPhail will replace C. J. Oliver in the Canterbury team to meet Nelson to-day. Oliver is suffering an injur- to n leg, received during the match in Wellington on Thursday. MARSHLAND CLCB 1',,0,1.-1. MTonx-u,

THE PAYNE TROPHY ANN LAI. MATCH IN IH'NKDIN TO-DAY The annual match fur (he Payne trophy will be played in Dunedin today between Albion 1 and University A (Otago). The trophy is competed for annually between the winner of the Canterbury Rugby Union's first grade championship and the winner of the Otago Rugby Union's championship. Albion has not played for the trophy before, but the senior team of the University of Otago

has won it on three occasions. The Albion team left for Dunedin yesterday morning. The trophy was given by Mr George Payne, and was first competed for in 1928. The record of matches is as follows: — ■ 1923 —University of Otago. 192-1 —Old Boys (.Canterburyi. 1925—01 d Boys ('Canterbury'. 1926—University of Otago. 1927--University of Otago. 1928 —Canterbury University College. 1929—University of Otago and Old Boys (Canterbury l , a draw. 1930 —Ch ristchureh. 1931 Merivale. 1932 —Sydenham. 1933—Sydenham. ASSOCIATION ki:it.in<; cur match The Welling'.. i iMnrist junior team will visit C'iiri tehurch to-day to play !lie local Mari.sl juniors for the Keeling Cup. The trophy, presented by Mr E. (..!. Keeling, of Auckland, in 1929, is at present, lipid by the Christchurch club. The captain of the wining team will be presented with the cup at a dance tu be given for the Wellington team 10-night at the club hall, Barbadoes street. The \isiting train will bo selected from tin* following (.. Foley. .1. Leonard. IT Larac.w W. Quirke, M. Quirke, 1,. Quirke. C. NTinns. M. DufYy, C. Foote, .1. Clentworth. E. Davey. W. .Vh'hi una. .1. f'.eid. -1. Yeuall. and li." Wilson. Tht' iocal Irani -v-'iH be: G. Harker. (:. Carcv. \V. Bowen. C. Bowcn, E. Holland.' A. Loach. W. Harland. L. 'Swcvne\. VV. .Milchcll. 1.. Fleeie. and C. Kirk'. TEAMS I'OR TODAY ST. AI.Ii.VNS CI.I I! <'■' 'i.i,'.',iil...' ,i'.'"i.rv.i..M.".i. i.i.i.i.-ii. ii. *t ..(• ,!„,.,. , . .■-,,,1,-p. .v. >»n, N. S. 51,' C; N. I!ill.-litT. H. K.'ii.i.!!. N. Ihin-i,...,. U-• „,,,. ; I IT. 'M ]:■'..•■ >T >' ■•■ " Vl ''■ ti;url,f.i: NOMADS (II I? r i'..i'V..v.' i'.,m. '-. 'w ;,';';• r. i.. .\!'"--. ''"■- 1 "- I •,-,,= i ;..,■ K-i. P. T.e '"l. Tr:-.] \ v. TISo! 11, ;ii lire,-'.-.' S" : - "■ ~ ,-, ~ ~ \H ~',.,. ~■, .■.■.:'|.--- , -.l_ '" ■■■■■■ :■■!■ • r..i.!-.'l'i'ui ' f'eili-,. n >'. r.""iK,v. Me.Sw't. -:-.;; t li. riolrlln- l'..Mld:i«. Sivtl. d-lelf v. Wi-e-r,;. a< Vo. i, „• i.i-lf ~.,.,. '17.-..:, M'...-. .(.■in-.-. ,5,1,1,.r. i:.0..-.e. m-l'.;,iM. IS.dl', T ,-.•■ - .'.r.,rr;-. I Siv":-. I>M.