VERY HAPPY PARTY

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

VERY HAPPY PARTY

ALL BLACKS IN AFRICA. TEAM MANAGER’S REPORT. Th© manager of the All Blacks team which toured South Africa, Mr W. Hornig, presented his report to the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union; Mr S. S. presided. Hard matches, coupled with very strenuous train travelling, were responsible for lack of form early in the tour, said Mr Hornig, and it was several weeks before the team really showed anything like New Zealand rm. Several of the team were very badly affected T>y the high altitudes, bleeding at the nose and suffering in

the lungs and throat. The slightest e rertion made one feel tired. Tl.e All B'acks found the various teams very strong, particularly in the forwards, and with one or two exceptions. the best available team had to be fielded. The result was that some of the players were showing signs of staleness before the tour was completed. There was an epidemic of influenza among members of the team cyrly in the tour. Hotel accommodation on the whole was excellent. Praise was given Air I). H. Magennis, the South African Board's representative who tourci with the team. The grounds were not as hard as expected, most of them being well turfed and others be ing watered and softened. The tour in South Africa was treated as an atlai ■ of national importance. The conduct of the team, said the manager, was excellent from start to finish. The players were a very happy party. There w-s not the slightest sign of dissension among them. The team left Capetown on September 7, after travelling over 7000 miles by train and nearly 2000 by mo-tor-car. Mr Dean considered that ATr Hornig was wrong when he stated that the conference between the New Zea land and English Unions in 1924 had been abortive. The New Zealand Union had a great deal to thank the English Union for. If it had any grievance it was against the Scottish and Irish Unions and the International Rugby Board. The motion to receive the report and thank the manager for it was carried. On the motion of Mr Dean it was decided to thank the South African Board for the hospitality extended to the New Zealand team on tour.