All Blacks Spread Attack On Saturday

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 19

All Blacks Spread Attack On Saturday

(From A. A. MULLIGAN, a former Irieh International and Brituh Lion I

LONDON, December 16. The All Blacks have at last betun to attack on a broad front.

They began to run with the ball early in the game on Saturday. Quite contrary to their normal practice but they were able to create for them* selves the loose chances which they have missed during the recent tight games, at Cardiff and in Ireland.

I Dwelling briefly on the I Munater game, one should add that the Munster tradition of coming down from the moun- ■ J tains like cavemen and swarming all over the tourI ing team was worthily up-, held. On the last two occasions i when Munster played the; J Springboks, a South Arican ; forward was bitten on the ear by a rabid Irish forward on the first and in 1961 all 15 of the Irishmen blessed themselves with intent just before the whistle for the kick-off. Clearly then they take their Rugby seriously and considering the wind and rain the All Blacks did not half do badly. Swansea, though by no means the strongest team in Wales, defended most nobly ! and was very qnickly up on ; Arnold and Watt. The flow' of ' movement was. unfortunI ately, frequently disrupted I by too much whistle for what; ! seemed to be indefinable inI fringements. Move Paid Off I New Zealand attacked the Swansea line by throwing the, i ball about too early, but eventually the move paid off ! and produced the most convincing win for some time. ; Apart from Whineray. i whose consistency is astoundi ing, and Meads, w'ho just goes I from strength to strength. (Graham. Dick. and. to a lesIser extent. Herewini and (Arnold were the players of ' the day.

Too Much Ball

Graham once again was powerless and from his sheer energy he picked up two ex* cellent tries.

Dick, on the right wing, gave us a glimpse of class when he brushed Bebb the Welsh wing three-quarter aside as if he did nos exist and scored a superb try to put New Zealand in the lead. It was a broken field runner that Arnold, who does not play so well from the set pieces, contributed so brilliantly to the last try of the match. He went down the middle like a dose of salts. Herewini was again most impressive at full-back and whatever else he is not. he is a most able footballer whose contribution to this tour is enormous.

Unaccustomed to so much ball, the All Blacks were involved in a comedy of errors with passes that had too little decision, because the backs have not had the practice of running with the ball. Briscoe started shakily but was very good indeed before the end. although his partnership with Watt was not 100 per cent satisfactory. They still lack tactical direction behind the scrums but if they continue to improve and play to their full potential not only will the All Blacks win all their remaining matches, but they will carve for themselves a notch in the hall of greatness.