Error-ridden All Blacks suffer third defeat

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33094, 8 December 1972, Page 24

Error-ridden All Blacks suffer third defeat

(From

J. K. BROOKS,

N.Z.P.A. special correspondent)

BIRMINGHAM. Echoes of the unfortunate Murdoch affair resounded around the Moseley ground yesterday as the All Blacks plunged to their third mid-week defeat in Britain. They were beaten by Midland Counties, 16-8, after being 13 points down in the first nine minutes.

The team has trained poorly since K. Murdoch was sent home on Monday, and for the first half-hour yesterday the AU Blacks display was devoid of spirit. From that point, the side played more in keeping with its reputation, but a multitude of errors, coupled with poor goal-kicking by T. J. Morris, enabled Counties to retain their lead. If the side was grieving about the absence of Murdoch, the ill-mannered banter kept up by loud-mouthed spectators in the enclosure did little to help matters. Webster injured One man made frequent references to the departed prop, culminating with an unfortunate comment when the Counties half-back, J. G. Webster, required attention after a tackle by B. E. Holmes.

“That’s right, All Blacks; that’s all you are good for,” he yelled. The All Blacks, on the other hand, could not be faulted on Rugby manners, only on skills. Counties had three points on the board from a dropped goal before the All Blacks had gained the feel of the ball, and two good wings’ tries in the next seven min-

ues put the tourists at a great disadvantage. J. D. Gray won a tight-head in a scrum five yards outside the New Zealand twenty-five, P. S. Preece chopped through the gap, expertly fed M. A. Cooper, who evaded Morris’s diving tackle, and scored in the comer.

Four minutes later, a clumsy attempt at a clearing kick was checked by Counties. The ball went to the home side captain, D. J. Duckham, who raced diagonally across the field and dived over in the opposite corner.

The All Blacks’ efforts to overhaul their rivals were strenuous, but failed for lack of certainty behind the scrum. G. L. Colling, at halfback, was subjected to the classic form of offensivedefence by the opposing flanker, T. Cowell, especially from rucks, and in trying to dodge his tormentor Colling lost precious seconds which ruck-winning gives the team with the ball. Little combination Also, Colling and R. E. Burgess were not a happy combination, both because Colling was not dispatching the ball with his usual alacrity, and because Burgess was possibly taking up station a little too distant from his half-back. So although the All Black forwards, notably A. M. Haden and G. J. Whiting, strode into the rucks and mauls in the second half with purpose, the backs failed to complement their efforts. But there was evidence that I. A. Hurst, still not 100 per cent fit, was ready to do his damndest to promote moves at centre.

As it was, Hurst scored one try himself from an overhead pass by Colling after the forwards had won three successive rucks, and made another for M. Sayers through a crunching tackle of the England centre, P. S. Preece. Counties, after the bewild-

ering opening burst, played to win and, to the delight of the 10,500 spectators, achieved their end through an unglamordus display of 10-man Rugby in the second half. In this spell the All Blacks had a territorial advantage with the wind at their backs, and also won more ball, but Counties scorned counter attacks. Instead, Webster merely fed the 6ft 4in fullback, S. A. Doble, who kicked for the sideline. It was monotonous but effective play for a side with 16 points to its credit. The All Blacks struggled all the way, the only bright interludes being two runs by Burgess, some strong bursts by Whiting, and sound defence by Hurst But I. A. Kirkpatrick

looked jaded after his long run of appearances, and Holmes, the most effective forward with ball in hand, usually lost contact with his supports.

Counties forwards, especially N. E. Horton in the lineouts, and K. E. Fairbrother in rucks, did their part nobly, and J. C. White took great care that Kirkpatrick did not get away on his famous charges. Behind them, little Webster did his work deftly in spite of a barrage of hard knocks, and another small man, Preece, was always alert to chances. Doble was not at his awesome best as a goalkicker and for the All Blacks, that was just as well. If Doble had been on target, they might have lost by 20 points. For Counties, Duckham and Cooper scored tries, and Doble kicked a penalty and conversion and J. F. Finlan dropped a goal. Hurst and Sayers scored tries for the All Blacks.