“ALL BLACKS POTHUNTERS”

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 12

“ALL BLACKS POTHUNTERS”

A STRONG INDICTMENT "TEAM CREATED BAD IMPRESSION" [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 23. The public of New Zealand is entitled to know that the last team of All Blacks which toured Great Britain created a very bad impression. “ They were looked upon more as pothunters l than sportsmen,” said Mr H. R. Jenkins, formerly M.P. for Parnell, who returned from England this week. “ I am sorry to have to say this,” he added. “ English people do not talk about it, but New Zealanders visiting the United Kingdom find it out by inquiry. The good name created by the New Zealanders during the war was somewhat upset through the impression this team made. “Their main object was to win matches and make a Marathon of it rather than to win in a sportsmanlike spirit. I do not blame the individual players. The trouble originated in New Zealand owing to the criticism by the public of the team chosen and the object of the management was to win every match anyhow so as to justify the selection. “It is a matter for gratification that the New Zealand cricket team last year broke down the imprwiion created by the All Blacks. Thvy were splendid sportsmen and created an excellent impression.” LUCAS IN REPLY \ [Special to the ‘ Star.’] AUCKLAND, December 23. The only Aucklanders in tho 1924 All Blacks were G. E. 0. Badeley, F. W. Lucas, and A. E. Cooke (now in Hawke’s Bay). When told of Mr Jenkins’s remarks, Lucas (who also went to South Africa and played in all the four tests against the 1930 Britishers) expressed the opinion that it was absurd to raise such a question at this stage, when there was no controversy seven years ago while tho New Zealanders were imrsning their victorious career, and it was significant that before the team’s departure from England its members were the guests of one of the most representative, gatherings on record of British sportsmen, on behalf of whom the Prince of Wales presented a loving cup. The 1924 All Blacks certainly did always play to win, and was not that the true sporting spirit? They did not endeavour to maintain an unbeaten record at “ all costs,” nor at the expense of the true spirit of sportsmanship and 'bon camaraderie, which were the keynotes of their great farewell.

Lucas added that even in the few matches in which there were regrettable incidents the New Zealanders had not started rough play. He concluded with the remark that he would like to hear what Mr C. Wray (New Zealand’s representative on tho Rugby Union) would say when such a statement as that attributed to Mr Jenkins was brought to his notice.