THE BRITISH TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 23

THE BRITISH TEAM

ENGLISH WRITER'S COMMENT

"The visit of the British team to New Zoaland —for this is what is its real intention, although a few matches will be played in Australia —may have a far-reaching effect on the future of the game in the' Dominions," writes C. W. Packford in "Sporting Life." "As many are aware, the New Zealand game differs slightly from that over here, inasmuch as the direct kick! into touch is not allowed from all parts of the field, and there are a few other minor clifference-i. In view of the arrival of the men from the Motherland, the New Zealand Eugby Union are almost certain to instruct those clubs and. organisations affiliated to them to play all games under the rules of the International Board from the very beginning of the season. [A recommendation, to this effect has /been made to the various unions by the N.Z.E.U.]. If this is done it is long odds that they will play under these rules in the future, which will certainly be a step in the direction of uniformity throughout the Empire. I have many good friends in New Zealand who keep me in constant touch with sporting matters out there. From what I cau gather from them, while the standard of play out there is up to the average, our men will not be faced with a combination so brilliant as was that invincible team of 1925 which, under the captaincy of C. G. Porter, played thirty' matches, winning them all with a score of 721 points to' 112. Nor should it be equal to Dave Gallagher's 1906 team that in thirtythree games only suffered one reverse. "The chief difficulty of; New Zealand at the moment.appears to be due to an absence of fast outsides, for A. E. Cooke, who was so successful over here, still appears the only one comparable to those wonder men who five years ago played havoc with any defence opposed to them. It would be ridiculous, however, to bank on any weakness behind the scrum, for apparently New Zealand possess several young players who display real promise of tsuceessful development. They do not appear as yet to have- discovered successors to Mark Nicholls, K. S. Svenson, John Steel, J. J. Mill, N. P. M'Gregor, F. W. Lucas, and A. H. Hart, those men whose' bewildering movements in attack created such a. sensation. The forwards, however, are causing them no worry at all. It is hoped that Maurice Brownlie will be persuaded to lead them, and on the form displayed in the last inter-Island game, and the match between New Zealand and; the Maoris, the All Blacks should be particularly well served "an this important position. It is believed that the reversion to the direct kick into touch rule will be-the means of tightening up forward play all round. '~ ' . . "As regards the team, it does not seem possible that there'will be many of the 1926 combination left to participate in the Test matches. . . There .is little doubt that if they do not play they will turn up to a man to see the British . team. ... Altogether our men appear destined to meet a new All Blacks' formation. They will face one, however, stiffened, probably, by a few of the old 1926 brigade that will battle as fiercely for the honour's'as did those great fellows who won' their chief games at Dublin, Cardiff, Twickenham, and/ Paris." The contributor to "Sporting Life" is not well informed so far as some of New Zealand's leading players are concerned. He places on the retired list sorao who will undoubtedly appear in games against the British team. Mark j Nicholls, he says, has definitely retired,

but it will be found that Nicholla is very much in action again this year. Lucas and Mill, too, will be in representative football again this year. M. Brownlio is mentioned as the likely skipper of the New Zealand team, and here, too, the fact is overlooked that C. G. Porter is on hand again, after having last year played ■ some of the best football of his career, as well as having demonstrated his outstanding ability as a leader.