IRELAND DAZZLED BY BRILLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 16

IRELAND DAZZLED BY BRILLIANCE

How All Blacks Won

BACKS AND FORWARDS IN FORM “Dominion” Special Service. —Bv Air Mail. Dublin, December 8. Everybody expected that the Ireland v. New Zealand contest would be desperately fought, and it may be said that the match, after a surprising start, lived up to expectations. Ireland had won the international championship last season, and there was a definite possibility of Ireland bringing off her first victory against

a Dominion side. The papers were full of advice to Ireland — w hat to do and how to do it. Neat diagrams of five-eighths play illustrated the arguments—and it is perhaps worth noting that the New Zealand formation did seem to have an influence on tlie allimportant opening play. Of course, the All Blacks were believed to have a plan. There were even rumours of a new scrum device which might not be photographed in advance; but like most other secret plans for winning matches', this one was mainly a figment of the imagination. The All Blacks took the field with no stereotyped plan of any kind. Tactics are always shaped by them in tlie light °t the first quarter of an hour’s play. Thus it came about that whereas against land, the reverse pass became a principal weapon of attack, against Ireland the device was not once used. The Irish were always looking for something which never came, and this had an unsettling effect on their centre three-quarters-. As for the forwards, on whom so much depended, there was no hard and last plan, though it was agreed that play should be kept tight for the, first . lew minutes witli tlie possibility ot surprising the exuberant Irish winging forwards into offside play, and bringing on them tlie ‘retribution of Mr. M. 11. Allan, the very strict Scottish referee. . As it happened he misted the boat owing to fog and Mr. R. W. Jaffares, son of the Irish Rugby Union secretary, officiated. He gave a sound interpretation of the rules, and the penalty kicks came in due course. Unfortunately G. Gilbert, who was rather badly shaken up early in the game m stopping a loose rush, was not in his best place-kicking form, or the game would have been well and truly won by the interval. As it was he kicked only one goal out of five attempts, but he more than made up for this by his wonderful line-kicking, which was even better in the second half, when it was most needed. As usual thevVll Blacks’ victory is classed by some of the critics as "lucky,” but when a team scores three trios to one—and scores all of them through its threequarter line, it needs some hardihood to call the side lut'ky to win. Admittedly most of the second half was spent in defence but with heavy rain falling constantly it was almost impossible to handle the ball sufficiently well to open up passing rushes.”

Backs in Form. The All Blacks gained their winning margin of eight points in the first quarter of an hour, and as one of the Dublin evening papers put it. Ireland was dazzled by their brilliance. The ground was firm and unaffected as yet by the rain which began just at the kick-off. 1». S Sadler, as cool and resourceful as ever, swung his backs into action with precision J. L. Griffiths dick his part, and T. 11. C. Caughey gave a great exhibition of intelligent cutting through. He retained possession just long enough to send the three-quarters away with the maximum chance. Caughey also played a sound game later on defence., and Ins day’s performance was, if anything, more useful than his good display against Scotland, when he scored three tries.

The All Black three-quarter line— N. A. Alitchell, C. J- Oliver and G. FHart —must be just about as good in tne aggregate as any that has ever represented New Zealand. Alitchell s ability to extract the last ounce from'any opportunity was well displayed in the first try, and he also paved the way for the brilliant third try when he came in behind Sadler and gave the All Blacks an extia man. The players told me afterwards that they had often tried out. tins manoeuvre. hut it had never before succeeded so completely. To my mind it was tne decisive point in the game. , „ , Gilbert played very well indeed. Except perhaps 'in dealing effectively with loose rushes, he must now be ranked xeij close to the standard of G. Ncpia in LI-4, As keen as mustard, lie can certainly be ranked as one oE the big successes ot the tour.

Forwards Heroic. The forwards did their 'part heroically in what developed into a titanic struggle. AV E. Iltullev hooked brilliantly to get the ball about, three times out of every four, and in the second spell this ability to get the ball made all the difference between victory and defeat. 'Time and again the hall came back for the half to gnin ground with a line kick or pass for the same purpose. Of the forwards A. Mahoney and D. Dalton did particularly well. The hitter, playing in his first international, was always up with the game, and should be certain of a place in the other injermitionnls if J. More is still unavailable Tlie Otago man. by the way, was hurt more badly at Edinburgh than was known at the time, and he defied tlie doctor by "oing on to the field again. It is the first time that he has ever been kept, out ot the game by injury since he began playing as a schoolboy of nine. J. E. Alanchester, as usual, played a captain’s part, particularly at the critical period when New Zealand led by onlytwo points. 11. F. AlcLean put in a hard day’s work He accepted a few dummies' from the Irish half. but. as the forwardsagreed afterward, he managed to force Alorgan to change direction and lose touch with his outsides. R. R. King. S .T. Reid, and A Lanibourn all played determined football, and the pack, meeting fierce opposition in the loose, emerged with credit.

Manager Defended. In beating Scotland and Ireland with a point margin of 35-17, the All Blacks have made a spirited ropy to the attacks of certain of their New Zealand critics. They have beeu very indignant at some of the things written about Mr. V. R. Meredith. If a little more account were taken by certain writers of the general improvement m the standard of play all over Britain since 11)24, a more just view of the All Blacks’ performances would be taken. It is much more relevant to compare their performances .with those of the Springboks of 11)31, though there has been a leg improvement even since that time, particularly in Wales and Ireland. When this All Black team takes the field in an international, it plays as hard as any team could for the prestige of its country. It is animated by a really wonderful "spirit. They have made a great name for themselves on and off the field.