RUNNING GAME

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 15

RUNNING GAME

Trend To Continue (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. If the New Zealand selector and coach, Mr F. R. Allen, has his way, the All Blacks touring Australia this winter will show exactly why they do not need the kick-to-touch dispensation to brighten the game. He told yesterday’s annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union that the Australian tour would be a great opportunity for the All Blacks to show that they have really recaptured the movement and speed of the ball through the backs, the positioning to give momentum. “The All Blacks will run the ball from their own 25 and, possibly, from even fur ther back. That will be the intention,” said Mr Allen, who is the only nomination to travel with the team as assistant manager. Reporting on the All Black tour of Britain and France, Mr Allen said that many words had been spoken about the All Blacks* “running game.” He preferred the simpler, more basic term, “balanced Rugby.” “Four years ago, when I became a New Zealand selector, I was determined to try to run the ball whenever possible, without being stupid about it “It took a little time. It was not so evident against South Africa, but we still had at tiie back of our minds that we would run the ball. It went a stage further against the British Lions touring team. “We are far from perfect at the moment, but each season we are getting a stage onward to the point where we can perfect the running game and use the forwards to the maximum as well.”