All Blacks v. Cardiff BOTH TEAMS BLAMED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 20

All Blacks v. Cardiff BOTH TEAMS BLAMED

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) LONDON. Britain’s national newspapers are unanimous in their condemnation of the Rugby match between Cardiff and the All Blacks on Saturday.

Most apportion the blame for rough play on both teams equally, but some go a bit further and criticise the local team more strongly. Writing in “The Times,” Peter West says: “. . . my Impression was that the All Blacks were more sinned against than sinning.” In the “Daily Mall,” Terry O’Connor, in an article headed “This game disgraced Rugby,” says that pride, prompted Cardiff to try and better the performance of Llanelli, and to achieve this the local side made the mistake of attempting physical intimidation against the uncompromising All Blacks. And in the “Daily Mirror,” Chris Lander writes that in punishing Cardiff’s persistent petulance, the All Blacks adminstereo a bitter warning to British Rugby “Don’t try to outfight us, because you’ll lose.” 'SPARRING PARTNERS' Lander adds: “If I accuse Cardiff of appearing to be the initial provokers and instigators of the running fights off the ball, the obstructing, the jersey-pull-ing, and wilful kicking. I’m certainly not condoning their sparring partners in their black The Cardiff crowd is roasted by some writers. In the “Daily Express,” Pat Marshall describes the crowd as “abusive, rudely crude, and as one-eyed as New Zealand's own Christchurch mob. “Once, the Arms Park used to house the best informed and most appreciative, sportsmanlike crowd in world sport,” he says. “Not any more. At least half of them are a boorish mob out for kicks. After this exhibition there should be no more mention by Britons of the Canterbury punchup on the last Lions’ tour.” All writers agree that the All Blacks were the superior team and deservedly won the match. N.Z. DRIVE In "The Times,” West said that Cardiff failed where Llanelli had

triumphed, because they could not contain the All Blacks’ drive on the fringe* of scrummage and line-out and could not contend with the half-back, S. M Going Lander’s report in the “Mirror" says the All Blacks produced the best of the Isolated pieces of decent football, and in the "Financial Times," Peter Robbins say* the AU Black* won because of a tighter forward effort.