ALL BLACKS LEAVE FOR SYDNEY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 241, 8 July 1938, Page 12

ALL BLACKS LEAVE FOR SYDNEY

Team Aboard Wanganella

FAREWELL BY CROWD AT WHARF

N.Z. Union’s Confidence In Players

The team of 25 All Blacks, with Dr. G. J. Adams and Mr. A. McDonald as managers, left Wellington by the M an. ganella yesterday afternoon on the Australian tour. Jn addition to Mr. McDonald, the .1905-07 AU Blacks were represented by Mr. J. J. 0 Sulliian, Taranaki, who travelled with tbe team. Five of the players. Griffiths, Lambourn, King, and McKenzie (1934 All Blacks), and Phillips (New Zealand Maoris, 1935), were bound on their second Rugby tour of Australia. To farewell the team a large crowd gathered on Queen’s. Wharf despite the rain, though not all waited from the scheduled time of departure, 4 pan., until 5.10 p.m., when tbe Wanganella left her berth. The first match of the tour will be against New South Wales, at Sjdnev to-morrow week, so that, the membeis of tbe team will have plenty of time to find their laud legs. Three Pests mH be played for the Bledisloe Cup,, regained by New Zealand in 1930—-on July 23, August 0, and August 13. Auckland plavers will possibly (eave after the third'Test on their return, but tbe remainder will leave for home on Monday, August 15. . Before the departure of the ship. A. Wright, Wellington, was banded the following telegram from J. Dick. Auckland, who was prevented from travelling with the team by an attack of measles, and whom Wright replaced: “Congratulations on selection. Wishing you best ot luck. Convey to team my best wishes for success on tour, (Signed) Johnny Dick.” W’rigbt bad time to send the. following reply: "Many thanks, Johnny. Very sporting of you. Will do my best.. Have conveyed your message to team.’ Farewell Gathering. Tbe team and its managers were the guests of the New Zealand Rugby Union executive at a city hotel yesterday afternoon, the morning having been spent by the players in completing the fitting of clothing and other gear and iu meeting friends. At the afternoon gathering the 1905 All Blacks were represented by Messrs. W 7 . J. Wallace and F. Glasgow, of tbe N.Z.R.U. executive, A. McDonald, one of the team managers, and J. J. O’Sullivan. Mr. F. Mitchimson, Wellington, an All Black from 1907 to 1913, was also present. The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union executive, Mr. S. S. Dean, apologised for the absence of the president, Mr. A. M. Ongley, Palmerston North. "We are sending you away with every confidence that you will uphold the great reputation that New Zealand teams have in Australia,” said Mr. Dean. “You are going as the. accredited representatives of New Zealand, and the country is judged by the type of manhood and womanhood that represents it. We know that yon are going to play bright and attractive football, that you will win with modesty and lose with good heart. The hospitality of our Australian friends is unbounded. They will do their best to kill you with kindness, and I know you are in for an enjoyable time.” The team managers, Dr. G. J. Adams and Mr. A. McDonald, returned thanks for the union’s farewell. Dr. Adams said they could rest assured that the team would bring nothing but honour to New Zealand. The team had two tasks before it, to play Rugby as it should be played, and as ambassadors to endeavour to link Australia and New Zealand closer together. Mr. McDonald said he was proud to be associated with such a team. He felt sure that he and Dr. Adams would find their job an easy one. He intended to put plenty of time into coaching and training, but if the Australians won the All Blacks would be the first to congratulate them. N. A. Mitchell, the captain, expressed the team’s regret that J. Dick, Auckland,' could not make the trip with them, and said that at the same time they welcomed Alan Wright, who bad been chosen to replace him. The team would be very happy if Dick could join them later. They were very happy with tbe selection of the two managers, feeling that they had two men who would put all their time and energy into helping the players. “We also welcome the arrangement to play international rules,” said Mitchell. “Rugby is a very democratic sort of game, and one that is played generally by those whose jobs leave them little time for sport. We do not think much of those who would change Rugby from a game for the players to a spectacle for tbe onlookers.” DICK TO TRAVEL LATER The case of J. Dick, Auckland, who was replaced iu the team because of an attack of measles, was discussed at a special meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union executive yesterday afternoon. when it was reported that Auckland followers were raising money to send Dick to Australia later in the tour. The executive decided that, he should be permitted to join the team on condition that, lie obtained a clearance from the medical officer of the Auckland Rugby Union, and that he left New Zealand not earlier than July 19. The financial aspect of the case was left open.