ALL BLACKS FAIL IN NEW APPROACH

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 3

ALL BLACKS FAIL IN NEW APPROACH

Rhodesian XV Beaten In Lifeless Match (From T. P. McLEAN, **N.Z. Herald” Correspondent, by Arrangement with the N.Z.P.A.] KITWE, June 30. The All Blacks have been doing a good deal of soul-searching into the causes of their unexpected defeat in the first test and' a determination has been born to have done with defensive Rugby. Though a number of changes had to be made for the match with the Rhodesian XV at Kitwe on Wednesday this was nevertheless the finest of opportunities to experiment with the new approach. Sad to say the experiments did not come off. In winning the match by two goals and a try (13 points) to three penalty goals (9 points), the All Blacks gave quite the dullest and most lifeless exhibition of their tour. A grievous failing in handling affected the team from the beginning.

Nor was the forward play any less a reproach to a touring New Zealand team. The catching in the line-out was deplorable and even after Steyn, a Rhodesian centre had had to leave the field with an injury an eight-man All Black pack was still unable to win ’the ball against an admittedly superior hooker in Hill. So steeped in error did the team become that one could only wonder again at the possibility that the extensive physical training programme started by all candidates for the team from January onwards might now be exacting retribution by lessening the ardour of the players for their matches. Fortunately there were some compensations in a display watched in the greatest good humour by a crowd of about 5000.

The greatest was the display of Urbahn, at half-back. It shone like a jewel. It Was good, too, to see Nesbit showing some of his true Auckland form, though here again his defensive efforts were not always sound. Considering that he was playing for the first time in five weeks, Cameron made a useful showing. Of the forwards, Gillespie and Pickering were hard workers but like many of the backs they, too, made many errors in handling. All in aU it was a display to cause more soul-searching, rather than- to demonstrate that the test had rid the team of all its troubles.

Perhaps the answer could be a couple of golf tournaments, or some activity designed to freshen the minds of the players. On a day like this there was need of a Barbarian approach.