ALL BLACKS BEAT NATAL 8-0

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25834, 20 June 1949, Page 8

ALL BLACKS BEAT NATAL 8-0

Form Still Unimpressive

F. R. ALLEN SCORES TWO TRIES

[From CLAUDE KING, Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.] (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) DURBAN, June 18. F. R. Allen, the All Blacks’ captain, signalled his return to the side after a three weeks’ spell through injury by scoring both tries when New Zealand beat Natal by 8 points to 0 today. R. W. H. Scott converted one try. Once again, however, the team failed to rise to the heights expected of an international side. The forwards were listless, and Scott was out of touch with his goal kicking, missing three fairly easy shots. The match was played in a temperature of 70 degrees, but there is no inclination among the players to find excuses for their unimpressive form. There is no disguising the fact that with only five games to be played before the first test, the All Blacks are not producing the football expected of them in the forwards, many of whom are a long way short of the form shown in New Zealand last season. The common view is that either the Otago or Auckland teams of last season could beat the present side comfortably. As travelling will interfere with training, more frequent practices are to be carried out at centres where the team may stop, even if this means night training.

The biggest problem to-day was not so much lack of ball but slow service from the forwards. Natal had a slight advantage, winning 25 scrums to 19, 9 and losing the line-outs 20 to 24, while the rucks were three each. This gave the home side a total possession of 48 to 46. But the ball came back much faster to the home side, even though it was outweighed in the scrums Dy a stone a man. The All Blacks did well to score two tries and keep out the opposition. This, however, has been the story of all the matches. The All Black backs have been more constructive and at times more resourceful than any team they have met, and this holds out good hopes should the forwards settle down. The team appeared unlucky twice not to add to the score. In the first spell J. R. McNab broke through the defence in a dribbling rush, but the referee ruled a scrum for a knockon, although McNab at no stage attempted to pick up the ball. In the second spell L. T. Savage mads a clever run round the short side of the scrum, punted and regained the ball and passed to I. J. Betting. The defence was beaten, and when Botting passed, Savage raced over for a try, but the referee ruled a forward pass. All Blacks oh the spot considered the pass perfectly fair. In to-day’s match the All Blacks made their first move toward adopting South African scrum methods by the flankers packing on an angle. Once or twice the ball came smartly out. The teams were:— AH Blacks Full-back—R. W. H. Scott. Three-quarters—E. G. Boggs, R. R. Elvioge, I. J. Botting. _ Five-eighths—F. R. Allen, N. H. Black. Half-back—L. T. Savage. Forwards—R. A. Dalton, D. T. Christian, K. L. Skinner. J. R. McNab, L. R. Harvey, H. F. Frazer, L. A. Grant, P. Johnstone. Natal Full-back—White. Three-quarters—Botha, van der Merwe, Moss, G. Smit. Halves—Parker, Arbuthnot. Forwards—G. King. Richmond. Beckett; Warman, J. Smit, NeL KrugerOdendaal.

The All Blacks had the advantage of a cross wind in the first spell. In the first few minutes Scott missed a penalty kick from 30 yards out on an angle. Natal won the first six scrums in a row, and when the All Blacks did get possession the ball came back so •lowly that the inside backs had to kick hurriedly for touch. and Frazer were working well in the line-outs, but the defenders moved up very -’uickly when the New Zealand backs got going, and it was not till play had been going for

27 minutes that the All Blacks scored. Grant got the ball back in a lineout to Savage. Boggs came in from the wing to make an extra inside back, which gave Black a chance to go through a gap. He raced to the full back and gave -.he ball to Allen, who dived over under the posts Scott converted. The All Blacks won six scrums to 11 in this spell, and 10 line-outs to eight. The rucks were two each. The five points advantage did not appear enough, as Natal had a useful wind in the second spell, but as the match wore on it became evident that the lighter home side was showing the effects of the heavy gruelling it had received. The only stage at which Natal might have scored was towards the end, when the All Blacks were attacking Allen, who had given a very pleasing display, made one of his few mistakes when be allowed a pass to be intercepted in the opposing twentyfive. However, Scott cleverly halted this move. The All Blacks’ second try came from a really good move after a scrum from which the ball came out quickly. All the backs handled, and Elvidge raced through a gap and sent to Boggs, who raced to the full-back and then passed infield to Allen, who scored. Scott missed a not very difficult kick, and also missed a penalty kick from a similar position. Just before full time Grant and Frazer cleverly broke through a short line-nut, Frazer going over in the

corner, but the referee ruled a five yards scrum. In the second spell the All Blacks won 13 scrums to 14, and 14 lineouts to 12. Each side won one ruck. Penalties; were nine to six in favour of New Zealand.