RUGBY ALL BLACKS TO PLAY FINAL MATCH TONIGHT

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28313, 26 June 1957, Page 6

RUGBY ALL BLACKS TO PLAY FINAL MATCH TONIGHT

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) ADELAIDE, June 25. Unless South Australia provides unexpected opposition at Adelaide’s Norwood Oval tomorrow evening, the 1957 All Blacks will return to New Zealand on Friday as the second New Zealand side in succession to return home from Australia unbeaten.

Although they are short of players in certain positions, the New Zealanders can be expected to win tomorrow. Apart from the 1954 Fijian team, and the New Zealand colts side which played on the same ground the All Blacks will use tomorrow evening on their way to Ceylon, the present team is the first major Rugby side to have played in Adelaide for many years. Adelaide is an Australian Rules' and Soccer stronghold, although Rugby Union, backed by a strong organising committee, is making rapid strides. In the last few years Rugby Union has been introduced to more than 20 primary schools.

The match tomorrow is the fourteenth and final one of the Australian tour for the All Blacks, but the first match in Australia is regarded as unofficial. Excluding their 37-3 win against Illawarra at Wollongong, the All Blacks have played and won 12, scored 412 points for and had 80 scored against them. This compares with the 1951 side’s record of played and won 12 games, scoring 366 points and having 83 scored against them. One slight advantage the South Australian side will have is more experience in night football. The All Blacks played Queensland under lights at Brisbane, but

settled down fairly quickly. They should do the same at Adelaide.

W. N. Gray, who hurt his hip at training yesterday, is a doubtful starter for the match, which is due to start at 10.30 p.m. New Zealand time. A final decision will not be made until tomorrow morning, but it is more than likely that Gray will stand down and that R. F. McMullen will take his place. “Best Team Since War”

The 1957 All Black side is the best team, on and off the field, to visit Australia since the war, in the opinion of Mr T. McCormick, president of the Australian Rugby Union.

“Unfortunately there has been some sort of prejudice building against New Zealand teams for their allegedly ‘dour’ Rugby, but this team has wiped out this feeling completely with the standard and type of Rugby it has played,” he said in a special interview in Adelaide today. Mr McCormick, a Brisbane barrister, has seen, most of the All Blacks’ matches this year, and also followed several of the Springbok matches in New Zealand last year, including two of the tests. “Frankily I am amazed at the difference in New Zealand Rugby between this year and last. Whereas last year back play seemed to be at a minimum, this season the backs are’ being exploited to the full. _ This is the type of Rugby we like to see,” he said. As a prelude to the Australian team’s visit to Britain later this year, the All Black tour had proved invaluable, said Mr McCormick.

“Although naturally we would, like to have taken at least one test from New Zealand this year, we learnt a lot which will be most valuable on tour. For example we have now realised that it is impossible for a team of brilliant backs to function unless we also have the forwards to win the ball,” he said. ' ; \ New Zealand’s combination of hard forward play and brilliance in the backs would be hard to beat. “Shot in the Arm” “This tour has done Australian Rugby a terrific amount of good, and has given the game a real lift, especially in the country districts the team has visited,” he said. “Our Rugby has never before received a ‘shot in the arm’ like this touV has given. The New Zealanders’ have done more to make the game popular over here than any team before. We are grateful to the New Zealand Union for allowing the team to spend so much time in the country areas which have a large football potential,” he said. “Players who showed up well against this side will be brought from all over the country for a a week of trials early in August, and a number are expected to make the grade in the touring team.”