ALL BLACKS’ TOUR OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26874, 29 October 1952, Page 7

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR OF BRITAIN

REPLY TO CRITICISM OF ITINERARY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. Oct. 27. The criticism of the itinerary of the All Blacks’ tour by Mr J. E. Manchester, captain of the 1935 New Zealand team, finds no supporter in Hynon Ueaver. Rugby critic of the "Evening Standard. Cleaver says: "In this country the new itinerary is thought better than that carried out by the Springboks. Manchester states that the AU Blacks have to go three times into Wales and twice into Scotland, but only once into Ireland. What would he say about cricket tours; their play goes on for six lull days • week and their travelling must all be done at the evening or by night. "Rugby men play only three hours weekly and can travel in comfort by day. Starting against Southern Counties after training at Eastbourne on October 31. the AH Blacks play in Cambridge. London, and Oxford in that order, based on London, which will be no strain at all. They then go west to play Gloucestershire and Somerset, which is on the way to Wales. From Cardiff on November 21 they will go up into Scotland, then down to tha Midlands, and so into Devon and Cornwall. Here they will turn back into Wales again—no very difficult. "By Christmas they will be in London for the match against the Combined bervices at Twickenham on Boxing Day, and one in the Midlands four days later. With the coming of the new year they will cross to Ireland and back into Wales. By this time they wiU have played tests against Wales and Ireland and wiU next meet England at Twickenham on January 30 "They will visit Yorkshire on the way up to Murrayfield, followed by a game against the Northern Counties. "If the final match against the Barbarians is at Cardiff that will mean a fourth visit to Wales, but this may be played in England. "We have only to get out a map of the British Isles and trace this route with a pencil to see that it could scarcely have been bettered unless the All Blacks want to play all their Welsh opponents at one swoop. Most people would think that would be asking too much, especially if at that time the tourists are suffering from casualties.”