ALL SLACKS’ WIN OVER IRELAND TEAM PRAISED BY BRITISH PRESS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27246, 13 January 1954, Page 2

ALL SLACKS’ WIN OVER IRELAND TEAM PRAISED BY BRITISH PRESS

RUGBY FOOTBALL

“GETTING NEAR PEAK OF FORM”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON,. January 11. The All Blacks thoroughly deserved their win over Ireland, in the opinion of British Rugby writers. Praise is given the New Zealand pack while Scott, in the words of “The Times,” played with “almost insolent greatness.”

Why Kyle, after winning the toss, decided to let the New Zealanders play the first half vith the wind at their backs is something that nobody seems to understand.

The ‘‘Manchester Guardian” criticises severely the Irish forwards. Saying that it had been obvious for months that every opposing forward must work hard throughout against the New Zealanders, the correspondent notes that the Irishmen gave away 101 b a man and asks how, in- those circumstances, their pack could afford two wing forwards like McCarthy and Kavanagh “who hardly shoved at all, broke long before the ball was out, and in any case were only shadows of their old selves.” He added that the raggedness of the Irish forwards “compared sadly with the wfty in which Mullen’s packs used to outscrummage all comers.” “Iceland’s sole policy seemed to be the old one of smash and grab.” The correspondent adds that R. A. White “played one of his most tremendous games” and Scott “played gloriously after two early minor miscalculations.

“When Kyle gave the wind to the New Zealanders, he gave his own mon a part they play least well—desperate defence. The two Irish centres and McCarthy smashed almost every New Zealand open attack or forced kicks ahead and even Bowers could do little against them. Both sets of mid-field players were completely stymied.”

“Masters of Situation” The “Daily Telegraph” says the New Zealanders were masters of the situation from the start. Ireland iought courageously enough, but even in their magnificent rally during the last quar-ter-hour there was the feeling that the All Blacks always had the measure of the situation. It. was astonishing that Kyle elected to play against the wind. “No-one can say if this affected the result, but it certainly gave the New Zealanders an advantage they readily grasped. “It was a vigorous rather than a snectacular game. Finesse was completely missing, as were sustained movements among the New Zealand outsides.”

Thp “Daily Herald” says the All Blacks are getting near their peak form. “The introduction of Bowers has brought a much-needed threat to their general three-quarter attacks and allowed the brilliant Scott to concentrate on full-back play and an occasional long-range shot. The value of Rowers in this match was not what he did—the close-marking Irishmen forced him into quick nass’ng or kicking in the Haig manner for most of the fame—but the influence his reputation had on the Irish tactics. The Irish three-quarters lay so flat that on the few occasions they did get the ball Kyte often found that a pass to his centres would have to be forward ” The “Dailv Mail” says R. A. White was one of the g r eat men in this rather scrappy. unintelligent match. Scott was another hero and Bowers, thou ch Piven little rqoip by the close-marking Irishmen, did enough under pressure.