THE ALL BLACKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10712, 9 October 1928, Page 6

THE ALL BLACKS.

REVIEW OF TOUR

&(>UTH AFRICAN CRITIC'S IMPItJKSSxUNS.

LINDSAY, DALLE Y, JNICHOLLS, AJ\D BLOWN LIE BRILLIANT.

From a special correspondent to the Christchurch Press. T , . , CAhJtXOWIv, Sept. 4. Briefly reviewing the form of the players, in their respective divisions, it must he emphasised that Lindsay yat; one of the successes of the tour in the full-back jiosition. Dig lengthy kicking, grand tackling, and line ■ sense of position made .him ail outstanding player, while he had speed and judgment always to get the ball before it. bounced, which way a rare asset to the side in some of the dests when Osier’s high punts for his forwards) to run under were often a source of danger to the an blacks, it was rather a pity that the needs of the side compelled him to play full-back, as it always struck mo that .Lindsay would have been an exceedingly dangerous* centre, the position for' which he was originally chosen. Unfortunately, he sjusta.ned a double dislocation of the collarbone and. finished the tour a cripple. Lilburne gave some highly creditable displays at full-back, and had the fine virtue of soundness, but lacked distance with ids kicking to make him a great full-back. lie played a splendid game in the last Test'match. He was more impressive in the first live-eighths position in which he plaj-ed one particularly fine game in partnership with Mark Nichoils, and: with his elusive running and fine hands should make ,his name near the scrum. Rushbrook scored more tries than the other wings and with his dash and speed was regarded by many of the critics as the beet wing, but there seemed to be doubts about his defence, and he did not get a chance in the Test matches. Robilliard, I am told, did not strike his best form, though he played very well in t,he last two games. Grenside was outstanding on oc-t-as ons with his powerlul running and strong fend-otf, but there were also times when he did not make the most of his opportunities, and none of the wings showed form of the highest class. Carleton took the centre position in throe of the Test matches and was chiefly depended upon on account of his really remarkable defence, which was one of the duel obstacles the Springboks encountered. Carleton was practically impassable in the big games, but he was not so successful on attack. It was rather surprising the AH Blacks did not make more use of Lucas, who far the i»est part of the tour was relegated to the position or reserve wing, .where he gave 'some clever displays. He got his chance in the final Test match when lie was a, pronounced success and fully justified his selection. Sheen did not get many chances, but showed himself a verv sound player before his injury at Bloemfontein put ,h.m on the crocked list for the rest of the tour, after only four appearances. Lance Johnson was the stalwart ot the five-eight position and vss always a sound, resolute player, and fully justified himself. There were times when he did not handle too well, and ,he wag a “one way” man, that way being straight forward, but his strong defence demanded hi** inclusion in the best s.de. W. A. Strang was one of Lie irest promising of the younger men jn the side ■ and his experience during. Uie to ir' should play a big part' ui his development. Jrfchndox in Ins nit'hodi, he will long- be remembered HS the player who won the Second test match with a beautiful 1 dropped goal.

In common with ail the other South African eriticSj 1 was puzzled that Mark Nicholls was not made more use of in the important matches. He was not always consistent, and in the early part of the tour played some indifferent games-. Once he struck form he met with minor injuries, but .he was nevertheless the outstanding .hack in the team on his day. .Nicholls. with his experience and judgment, would have been made much use cf in the South- African side to direct and control, the lme. He should certainly have been given a chance in the Third Test, but when his opportunity came in the final game he seized it with both hands. Apart from the fact that he scored the ten points with a slippery, wet ball, which enabled his team to win the. game, it was the masterly fashion in which lie controlled the back division which attracted the warm praise of the critics. Under a cloud for most of the tour, Nicholls came into h.s own as the great player and Rugby strategist he is in the end. McGregor s-'howed himself a great defender in the few games he played, but he paid the penalty for his resolution in. going down on the ball under the feet of rushing forwards and was on the injured list for the best part of the tour. No members of the team impressed more than the two scrum halves. Halley and Kilby. The former d.u not strike his best form early, and it seemed highly likely that Kilby would be the first choice for the Tests, as he displayed exceedingly ■fine form, but an injury soon after the First Test match, threw the burden of the position on Halley, who during an indisposition was relieved in several games by Strang. I gather from members of the team that Halley showed the ..best form of his football career in South Africa, and he will always be remembered in the Union as one of the greatest scrum halves ever seen here. A ■glutton for work, both in attack and defence, and a particularly dangerous exploiter of the blind side, he stands out as one of the successes of the tour.

BROWNLIE A GREAT LEADER. While Maurice Brownlie did not reproduce his form of the 19U4 tour and may now drop out of the game on his return to New Zealand, he gave some sterling displays in the Test matches, and he will . always be remembered for tbe magnihcent manner in which he led his forwards in the; filial Test when he played like a superman. He always had the heart'of his pack and in many, respects' was a great leader of forwards, Hut there were times when he did not keep down in the scrum as he should have clone, and this J. often thought wa s one of the reasons the All Blacks were beaten so often in the tight. ... I. Finlayson, another forward wit! a great New Zealand reputation, did npt greatly impress the South African' critics for the same reason, though' he was a tremendous worker in the loose, and a most drilled' player'in the tine-out, where his magnificent physique was most helpful to his- side. - .. . U •'. • ' South African ,critics generally ranked i McWilliams, Stewart, anti Hadley a a the; best of the forwards, and I would rank Hazlett ana Swain inline with them. Stewart was excellent m the ,1-over position, aiidv'ih the. latter stages of the /tour .was ..employed m tbe loose head, in ..which he continually worried the hookers, wild he was a .tremendous - worker m th yvas'; ai exponent ..in 'all: phases of the game, while Hadley was a solid - scrummage? who confined his attentions to xhe-and. would .have playedm

more games but for injured ribs in the Second Test.

Hazlett, with hia. youth, dash, strength, and speed, worked his way to the very top flight of forwards, as the tour progressed, and should be a great forward for New Zealand for some years to gome. Burrows ranked with Swain and Hadley as a fine hooker, arid! a fast, keen man in the loose, and was rather unfortunate, in being passed over in all the Tests. *

Alley was a strong, solid player, and an asset to' any pack, but the other lock, lan Harvey, was unfortunate, as he was during the British tour, and suffered from tad health unt f the last, month of the trip. He took Alley’s place in the last Test match, however, and proved himself a really great forward and scrum tactician. His illness was a severe loss) to the side, as 1 should judge Harvey to be one oi the very best forwards I have seenWard', Snow, and Hore were all first-class men, and worthy members) of the team, but only eight forwards can play in a match and they were often compelled to stand down. C. Brownlie was rather slow, but lie was playing himself into form when a severe kick, halfway through the tour, put him on the casualty list and he did not play again. It need not be added that the team made a most favorable impression wherever it went, and the tour will .have played its part as a link between the two Dominion*. The visit has left the question of Rugby supremacy still open between the two countries, and I would ask what letter result could either country desire ?