ALL BLACKS LUCKY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29271, 1 August 1960, Page 12

ALL BLACKS LUCKY

S.A. Press ■ Opinion IFrom GRAEME JENKINS, NZP-A. Staff Correspondent] JOHANNESBURG, July 31. South African Sunday newspapers today agree that the AU Blacks were lucky to win the match against Eastern Transvaal at Springs. Writing in the Johannesburg “Sunday Times,” Norman Canale under the heading “Clarke's Boot Is A Winner," writes: “What the All Blacks would have done without Clarke I shudder to think. The Waikato full-back again had a magnificent game. The All Black threequarters are a very sorry lot indeed. They have about as much ‘bite’ as a toothless alligator. Writing in the same paper, C. O. Medworth says the All Blacks were lucky to save the match. “The All Blacks were lucky to get out of this one 11-6 and the great Don Clarke, who played indifferently in the first half but magnificently In the second, once again pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for his team. “The tourists were undistinguished behind the scrum where smooth co-operation was not forthcoming and the trouble lay with Adrian Clarke, who played in spite of a shoulder injury whicb must have worried him considerably." In the Johannesburg “Sunday Express,” T. J. Botha write?: “The All Blacks lived on borrowed time in this match—time borrowed from Don Clarke. For once more was this fantastic full-back who pulled them out of trouble with another near immaculate display. How New Zealand can afford to rely on one man to win matches for them is a 64-dollar question, but one thing is certain, if ever a team deserved to lose it was yesterday’s All Blacks. Their backs showed little co-ord-ination, scanty enterprise and absolutely no enthusiasm for the game." In the late night edition of the “Johannesburg Star," A. C. Parker’s report of the game headed: “AU Blacks Scramble to 11-6 Win At Springs,” says Easttern Transvaal, which led 6-3 at half-time, held a territorial advantage for most of the second half. “They were unlucky to lose." he said.