NEW ZEALAND TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 22

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

EARLY FORM ON TOUR

One would imagine from the manner in which tho New Zealand Kugby team lias been hailed in Australia that it is one of the greatest of all time to have represented New Zealand, It is a. good team, lbut it is not to bo compared with some of the great teams of tho past. Without going back very far, how many of tho New Zealand players at present in Australia would have gained places in the 1924-25 New Zealand team had they been playing then and showing the form by which they are presentday New' Zealand representatives? The 1932 team with which this year's team is being compared was aho in many respects well below the best teams of the past. Some, members of the present team will profit by the experience on this tour, and they should become better dags' players; some are beyond their best. At the same tinur there are several/who aro worthy of bepg ranked with the great players of the past.

Opinions based upon tho performance of the team in its first match of the tour —with 'Western Districts, at Orange—were liable to be astray. Tho opposition in that match was poor indeed. There was quite a different story last Saturday when tho tourists were up against the pick of New South Wales. But Now Zealand missed one man greatly in that mateh —McLean, recognised in Australia, as one of tho finest forwards over seen on tho fields of play there. Making allowanco for the woak opposition at Orange, comment on the play of-the New Zoalanders is of interest, nevertheless. The first try (ono account states) fame in a flash) tho ball going like a shot from hand to hand, after Kilby had secured from a scrum, and then passed to Page, to Griffiths, to Caughey, to Bullock-Douglas, in to Caughoy, who i-.roased. Though Collins failed to convert, he made ;i,■magnificent attempt. This .was the forerunner ot! many bright j bursts, which tho home team seemed poworless to stop. PLAY OF THE BACKS. Iladley hooked continuously, enabling Kilby to reveal exceptional brilliance. Ho sent tho ball out sharply to Page, but did not play on this ono string, for so plentiful were his chances that he could practise every wile. Hero and there he would slip around the scrum, and at times work the blind sido well. He opened up play from tho line-out with equal snap. Pago showed nippiness, and on a ground less holding will be very bright again. It cannot be said that his passes to Griffiths were uniformly good, many striking tho outside five-eighth about tho shins. When Page burnishes up his transfers ho should display the clovernoss of tho last tour. Bullock-Douglas played solidly, and showed pace, too. Ho mado his openings with his strong vunuing inoro than through any trickiucss of fool;. Hart scored threo trios, exhibit-j ing great resoluteness on the right wing; and Caughoy, in the centre., was (•■lover. Collins, who was not. over- j worked, tackled well, and ho kicked .finely for tho line. Ilis jittcmpts to convert tho twelve tries wero success-

ful on six occasions, and, .tho others were- glorious failures. He also landed a fine penalty goal. The visitors wero certainly aided by the poor tackling of tlio homo team iv tho first half. Very few went low, but tho splendid combination and backing up had them bewildered. FAST FOEWARDS. The All Blacks are splendidly equipped with their forwards. They pack tho 3-4-1 scrum better than one has seen it in Australia, and with Hadley in great form raking for tho ball, they had the home set'at a disadvantage from tho start. Even the most solid scrumniager raced about like a back in the loose, blending finely with tho backs. Max, Manchester, and McLean were in every burst. Ho re was sound, and the veteran Knight appears to hay.c lost none of his fire. An incident, probably tho most outstanding of the game, was tho dropped goal by Man in tho second half. Tho big men of Now Zealand had dribbled through, then McLean, quito entitled to bo ranked with the best that has ever come across tho Tasmau, shot away, but failed in two attempts to grip tho elusive ball. It just moved away from his toes, when Mau swooped ou it, was past the forwards in a twinkling, then, without time tolaim actually, and almost before ho had completely risen, he took his flying shot from a yard or two inside half-way. Tho magnificence of tho' successful shot induced ■ handclapping by tho blaekjerscyed players.