ALL BLACKS OF 1928

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28050, 18 August 1956, Page 12

ALL BLACKS OF 1928

REUNION HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH VIEWS ON PRESENT-DAY RUGBY The first reunion of the All Black team which toured South Africa in 1928 was held last evening in Christchurch. This team shared the test rubber with South Africa. “The present standard of .Rugby is much higher than the critics give it credit for,” said Brigadier J. T. Burrows, of Christc’urch, vesterday. One of the hookers in the 1928 team, he said he thought that the hooking of the two-three-two scrum was more efficient. Mr G. Scrimshaw, of Christchurch. who also held this view, said that he did not like th? way the ball was put into the scrum at present, as on most occasions it was won by the team whose half-back put it in. Mr L. M. Johnson, who represented Wellington at the time of his selection but who now lives in Christchurch, said that with the elimination of the two-three-two scrum and the wing forward, the inside ba'ks did not get the same opportunity to develop : The present All Blacks were just as good as those of T 928. and tackled just as hard.

“If all Rugby-playing countries adopted the two-three-two scrum it would result in an infinitely better game,” said Mr I. H. Finlayson, of North Auckland, who "layed as a siderow forward in the team. Commenting on the present Springbok team. Mr P. E. Ward, who now lives in Southland, said that the forwards were as good as any he had seen, and the backs were equal to those he had nlayed against in 1928. He thought that the All Black forwards were good Lut the inside backs were not ouite up to standard However, the selectors had done a good job and picked the best available. Mr Ward lived in Taranaki when he was chosen for the All Blacks. “Rugby today is more scientific than when we were plavin" and the present Sorinebok t°am is more versatile.” said Mr I. H. Harvey, who now has a hotel at D etone. “Negative Type of Game” “There are not the great dribbling •nd passing rushes among the forwards as there used to be. and with

the backs there i? toe great a tendency to kick to the wings instead of passing.” said Mr W C. Dailey, of Christchurch, a past-president of the Canterbury Rugby Union and one of the organisers of the function. “In 1927. when the backs and forwards combined in passing rushes, the football was really snectacular, but in the last two tests there have been few passing rushes, and the result is a more or less negative type of game." Controlled dribbling was lacking among today’s forwards, said Mr N P. McGregor, who caotained the Canterbury team when it won the Ranfurly Shield in 1927 He also commented on the lack of blind side movements from scrums—a move which was fully exploited by the Springboks

Other members of the tea i who attended the reunion were: H. T. Lilburn (Canterbury), now living in Dunedin; S. R. Carlton (Canterbury): D F. Lindsay (Otago), now Ox Timaru; C. A. (Wellington); A C. C. Robilliard (Canterbury); B A Grenside (Ha-’ke’s Bav); W. A. Strang (South Canterbury), now of Ti-vranga: Tp . D. Kilb- (Wellin^t^n». G T. Aliev (Cante r burv) now of Wellington; M. J. Brown!’ (Hawke’s Bay), captain o* the team, who now lives in Gisborne: W. E. Hazlett (Southland); J. Hore (Otaco); E. M Snow (Nelson): and R. T. Stewart (South Canterbury), now at Invercargill. “The outburst by the South African full-back. Bennie Osler, about the alleged attempts of the All Blacks to injure the opposition was just a piece of shocking nonsense.” said the manager of the team. Mr W. G. Hornig. a former member of the Wellington and New Zealand Rugbv Unions. “The relations with the South African players, both on and off the field, could not have been better.” C Brownlie 'Hawke’s Bay) and Mi A. Mercer, the baggage man and masseur are both Head Those who did not attend the reunion. because of ill-health o’ business reasons, are: F W. Lucas and T. R Sheen (Auckland); 14. F. Nicholls (Wellington), who now has a hotel at Te Awamutu; S Hadley and R G McWilliams (Auckland); and J. P Swain (Hawke’s Bay). The president of f ' New Zealand Rugbv Union (Mr A Kirkor + rick) was the chairman at the dinner, and other official guests included the chairman of the council - ' the New Zealand Rugbv Union (Mr C. S Hogg), one of thi_ selectors of the 1928 team. Mr N McKenzie, and the president of the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr R. W Blazey).