MANAGER THANKS ALL BLACKS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25913, 20 September 1949, Page 7

MANAGER THANKS ALL BLACKS

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MR PARKER SURVEYS TOUR SOUTH AFRICANS “WELL ON TOP ” [From CLAUDE KING, Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.] PORT ELIZABETH, September 18. His first thanks went to the All Black team for making his task as manager so pleasant and for the manner in which it accepted its defeats, said the manager of the team (Mr J. H. Parker) in an interview at the conclusion of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. He had no excuses to make. He pointed out that Mr Alex McDonald, the assistant manager, was a member of the 1905 All Blacks which had only one loss, and that he himself was a member of the 1924 team which was unbeaten. It was easy to be good winners. This team had had seven losses, including the whole of the test series. He was proud of the manner in which the All Blacks took these defeats. Mr Paker recalled that the 1921 and the 1937 Springbok sides had lost only three matches in New Zealand. The 1928 All Blacks had lost five matches in South Africa. That alone placed South African Rugby well on top, and the present tour confirmed South Africa as the world champion. Mr Parker said he wished to make no excuses, but probably it would be conceded that a Rugby tour of this country was the most strenuous assignment ’ that could be given to any sporting body. The present tour was, he felt, much more arduous than that undertaken by the 1928 All Blacks. Though the itinerary had been worked out with the utmost consideration for the New Zealand team, it had, nevertheless, involved some tremendous travelling, about 5000 miles more than for the 1928 side. Further, whereas in 1928 there were five or six strong unions and several weak ones, to-day it could be said that at least 12 unions tiad powerful sides. Certainly there were no picnic matches. Moreover, between the first and second tests, the travelling had been so strenuous as to have warranted more time between matches. For instance, the tour to Rhodesia involved travel of more than 2000 miles and eight nights in the train, but the itinerary provided for Wednesday and Saturday games. For the whole tour in South Africa the team had travelled 13.000 miles, which meant an average of 500 miles a match. He felt that future tours should be limited to 20 games and only three tests. Mr Parker congratulated South Africa on its test achievement. There might not tiave been a great difference between the sides The All Blacks might have won two tests with better kicking, but the facts were that South Africa took all the opportunities that came its wary, and that was what counted. His only disappointment with the game in this country was the fetish for the loose or wing-forward game, which was more destructive than anything he lad known during his exerience as a wingforward. Apart fiom that, he felt that the Rugby was of a really good standard. Mr Paker’s final message was of thanks for unbounded hospitality. "We will regret parting from the thousands of good friends we have made here, and we win look forward to reciprocating all the kindness showered on the team when the Springboks visit us,” he said. A keenlv interested spectator at the fourth test was Sir Wavell Wakefield, senior vice-president of the English Rugby Union and a former England test captain. . , , , He was asked by his union to watch the style of play of both teams in view of the British team’s tour of New Zealand next year, and the visit by the Springboks to Britain in 1951. He may visit New Zealand next year.