BELOW FORM

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1928, Page 14

BELOW FORM

ALL BLACKS' START NOTES AND COMMENTS PRAISE FOR .NICHOLLS (By "Drop-Kick.") From various reports to hand of the first match of the All Blacks' tour in South Africa it is clear that tho tourists did not impress as a team likely to beat South Africa's best; in fact, it was tho general opinion that tho New Zcalanders would bo beaten by the Town fifteen in tho second match of the tour, and this turned out to bo the ease, though the ■ margin of victory was represented by; a "potted" goal. . Following ' their long train journey (from Friday night to Monday morning) tho All Blacks could not havo been reasonably expected to show their true- form or to give anything like the finished display of an international side, but they themselves expected to win their first, match by a much greater margin than 8 points. This is indicated in letters from members of tho touring party. The general feeling after that first match was in-

dicated by a leading critic in the following statement: ."Wherever Igo . in. Capetown I encounter tho. same inclination to think that tho 1928 All Blacks havo been greatly over-rated, aud the same almost unbounded confidence in South Africa being cerain to win the Tests as the Town fifteen are deemed 'a good thing' for Saturday's game (the second of tho tour, won by Town by 7 to 3). It was tho opinion of that critic that, although the All Blacks had started their South African tour quite as well as the 1924 New Zealand team rin, Britain, the tourists might be beaten in their second match, for the Town team was a stronger combination, on paper, than any, British side the All Blacks met in the early part of the 1924 tour. Three of the 1924 team's first four victories, against far weaker back divisions than Capetown's, were only secured by margins of 11-0, 6-0, and 6-0 again. Yet that All Black side in tho end won all its 30.matches. FORM OF FORWARDS. From various reports of the opening match of the tour -the following items of comment are taken: As a spectacle the game was very disappointing, but that was to bo expected. Tho play generally contained too many slips, too many-lapses in handling by both sides, and was in consequence too frequently pulled up, to-provide a thrilling afternoon's sport. The New Zealanders impressed by their excellent work on the line-out, securiug tho ball with monotonous 10----gularity, but in scrummaging the advantage was clearly with tho Country forwards, though it was largely negatived by the faulty play of tho contre men in attack. The heeling by the All Blacks was neither clean nor quick. .Of the New Zealand forwards Stewart and .Finlayson impressed most by their splendid efforts in the line-out and in the open. Hadley, one of the. hookers, was also effective in open play. C. Brownlie, 'who replaced his i

brother in tho team, was inclined to "ct off-side. . ° Tho Country forwards, gave a fine exhibition of robust, well grouped, typical modern Welsh play, in which I all did well and none better than A. van dor Merwe, E. Kotze, "Boy" Louw, and V. Arnold. It was not. very scientific, but it was hard graft of the most determined kind, and very effective. Tho play of tho All Black forwards was more scattered, made up of passing movements, which wero well supported but appeared somewhat slow and cumbersome. However, these- big forwards, with their abnormal length of stride, move faster over the ground than they appear to bo doing. It was delightful to see the stamina of the Country forwards, for to real honest grafting in tho sot scrums they allied a tireless energy in loose btiilocking rushes that compelled admiration. Incidentally, twenty-five set scrums actually took place during tho course of the game, i.e., from which the ball came out or when tho All Blacks wheeled, without the whistle sounding. Of this number . the Country actually won fifteen. Scrimshaw showed that he is a fine player. He was vory'fast in getting up in support, and equally speedy at getting among and . rattling tho opposing centres in/defence. HOW THE BACKS SHAPED. Dalley, the New Zealand half-back, was very much in the picture in defence. Once or twice he-broke away very smartly in attack, but in tho main he was too-slow in sending out his

passes, and his hesitating action frequently lost his backs those precious seconds which make all the difference between success and failuro of an attack. Dalloy seemed to have considerable difficulty, early in the game especially, in gathering up the ball from the ground. Ho fumbled far too often, but practice wjll rectify that. McGregor (five-eighth) showed faulty judgment on too many occasions. Several time 3he bargod into a crowd of players when his backs were well set for a successful attack. Nicholls (five-eighth) fairly held the back division together, and had very hard lines with an excellent drop-kick at goal in the first half, as well as with a good attempt at converting the seeing All Black try. 'He showed his habitual judgment in all he did, and even if he too dropped passes his brainy game and generalship was always of inestimable value. He, like Lucas, whose hands were not. too good, suffered a little from M'Grcgor's weak display at first five-eighth. Lucas was at" centro-three-quarter. Grenside ' seemed the more finished player of tho two wing-threc-quartevs, using his head well ;and possessing a most effective side-step. Tho other wing-three-quarter was Kobilliard. Lilbumo" neither played nor even shaped like a high -class -full-back. But he may well improve, in fact, he must Ido so if the .All Blacks are to feel really safe in their last line of defence. On form in the match with Country the All Blacks, it was stated by one writer, will have their work cut out to beat the Town side, with its much stronger back division. They will probably show form 25 per cent, in advance of that in the first match,- but even that may prove insufficient. Tho Town players will feel added confidence in themselves as a result of the New Zealanders' match with Country. —(The writer of this.note did not expect the All Blacks to find their real form for a week or two after the first match.)