Britain v. New Zealand

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 197, 9 August 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

Britain v. New Zealand

Some Sidelights of the Past

The Great All-Blacks of 1904

South Africa and N.S.W. Comparisons

(Specially written for the “Tribune” by A. C. Holmi)

In view of to-day’s great contest in Wellington, it is of special interest to recall the test results of 19°4 I 9°S, as well as note that in the first trial of strength this year (at Dunedin), the British team won by 6 points to 3; in the second (at Christchurch) New Zealand won by 13 points to 10; and in the third (at Auckland) the All Blacks again triumphed, by 15 points to 10. The only test played in 1904 took place at Wellington in the presence of some 30,000 spectators, and resulted: New Zealand 9, Britain 3.

The teams were:— New Zealand. —Full back, R. McGregor (Auckland) 12st. 71bs.; threequarters, W. G. Wallace (Wellington) list. 121b5., E. C. Harper (Canterbury) 12st. 31bs.; D. McGregor (Canterbury) 12st. 21 bs.; five-eighths, M. E. Wood (Canterbury) 12st. Gibs.; W. J. Stead (Southland) lOst. 121b5.; half, P. Harvey (Canterbury) 12st.; wing-forward, D. Gallaher, captain (Auckland) 13st. lOlbs.; hookers, G. Tyler (Auckland) 12st. 121bs.'; A. McMinn (Mnnawatu) 13st. 21bs.; lock, B. Fanning (Canterbury) 13st. lOlbs.; sides, T. Cross (Canterbury), 13st. 121b5.; G. W. Nicholson (Auckland) 13st. lOlbs.; back rankers, A. Seeling (Auckland) 13st. 71bs.; P. Glenn (Taranaki) 13st. 121bs.

Britain. —Full-back: A. B. O’Brien list. Gibs.; three-quarters, E. Morgan, lOst. Gibs.; R. Gabe, list.; W. Llewellyn, lOst. Gibs.; P. McEvedy, list. 4lbs.; halves, J. Oilc, lOst.; P. Bush lOst. Slbs.; forwards, D. Dobson, 13st. 41bs.; R. W. Rodgers, 13st. 21bs.; D. H. Trail 13st. 31bs. (front row); T. 8. Bevan, 12st.; R. W. Edwards, 13st. Gibs, (second); 8. N. Crowther, 13st.; A. F. Harding, 13st. 21bs., and B. I. Swanncll 12st. 41bs. (third). The captain, D. R. Bcdcll-Swright (Scotland) did not play that day. Harvey was injured early in the game and replaced by Fred Roberts (Wellington), this player afterwards becoming world famous because of his fine record as sole half-back of the 1905 All Black team. It will bo noted that Auckland (at the time holders of the Ranfurly Shield) and Canterbury dominated the representation. It was a truly great combination. Toward the New Zealand total Dan McGregor contributed two tries, the writer believes —he attended the match but has only his memory to rely upon for scoring details. (The writer’s memory serves him correct. W. J. Wallace kicked a penalty goal for New Zealand as did A. F. Harding for the Britishers, making the final count 9—3.—" Kick Off.”) Tho British team had won all tests played in Australia, viz. by 17 points to 3, and 16 points to nil. In 1903 the New Zealanders defeated Australia (on a tour in which ten matches were played and won, 276 points being scored, against 13) by 22 points to 3.

The Anglo-Welsh Visit. The 1908 New Zealand team for the second test (Wellington) consisted of:—Full back, W. J. Wallace; threequarters, Fryer, Mitchinson, Cameron; five-eighths, Gray, Hunter (captain); half Burns; wing-forward, Hamilton; hookers, Ready, Murray; lock, Cunningham; sides, Francis, Wilson; back rankers, Patterson, Seeling.

Anglo-Welsh: Full-back, Jackett; three-quarters, McEvidy, "Ponty” Jones, Vassal!, J. L. Williams; halves, Morgan, "Tuan” Jones (or Davey); rover, Gibbs; forwards, Harding (captain), Dibble and E. Morgan (front row), Smith, Archer (sides), Down, Ritson (back row).

Tho British side, which had been defeated by 32 points to 5 at Dunedin, was on this occasion able to draw 3—3 with tho All Blacks. Tho third test, nt Auckland, however, resulted: New Zealand 29, Anglo-Welsh 0. The English team (Stoddurt’s) of 1888 did not play a test game, but of 19 provincial matches played won 13, lost 2 and drew 4, scoring 82 points as against 33. The 19C4 visitors only played four provincial games, winning two, drawing one and losing one (q—l 3 against Auckland. Points scored: 19 against 24. A special game against the Maoris ,at Rotorua, was won by the latter B—o.

The provincial record of the 1908 team was: Played 14, won 9 and lost 5. The present team has played 16

provincial matches, winning 13 and losing 3 (against Wellington, Canterbury and Auckland). Springboks’ Figures. For comparative purposes it is of interest to recall that the South Africans played 19 games (tests inclusive) on their Now Zealand tour in 1921, winning 15, losing 2 and drawing 2. The tests resulted 5—13 (at Dunedin), 9—5 (Auckland) and o—o (Wellington), thus the test points balance was four points in New Zealand’s favour. In South Africa, however, the home representatives more than evened matters up, the tests resulting: First, South Africa 17, New Zealand 0; second, 6—7; third 11—6 and fourth 5—13 (towards the New Zealand total Mark Nicholls contributed on his only appearance 10 points). In four tests against Britain in 1924 South Africa won by 7 to 3; 17—0, and 16—9, one match being drawn, 3—3. Playing in tho Old Country South Africa in 1905 lost two games nnd drew 1 (as against tho All Blacks record of one loss, versus Wales), Our 1928 team had an unbeaten record in the Homeland. Tho South African team won all its games (three) against New South Wales in 1921, whereas the latter defeated a New Zealand team in Christchurch that year by 17 points to nil. In 1922 (twice) New South Wales, in Sydney, defeated the All Blacks, but until the three tests (all lost) against Australia last year we more than balanced our losses in that quarter. The championship of tho British Empire has yet to bo finalisedl New Zealand'a Best.

For the most important test of tho 1924 British tour 1 , versus England (17 to 11), the all-star New Zealand team was:—Nepia, Steel, Cooke, Svenson, Nicholls, McGregor, Mill (backs), Parker, Irvine, Donald, Masters, Brownlie (2), White and Richardson. The most notable absentees were Hart (back), Porter (wing, captain, tho Wellington and ex-Horowhcnua player) and Cuppies (forward). The 1905 New Zealand team, that defeated England by 15. points to nil, was as follows:—Gillett, Wallace, Deans, McGregor, Stead, Hunter, Roberts (backs); Gallaher (wing), Tyler, Casey, O’Sullivan, Newton, Glasgow, Seeling, and McDonald. G. W. Smith was unable to play, and Cunningham was another notable absentee. Otherwise this was the beat All Black combination possible. The team was almost identical with that fielded against Wales (won by the latter, three to nil), when Mynott played in place of Stead. In the match with Scotland (won, 12 to 7) Smith had played, also Stead, nnd Cunningham. The absentees of note were McGregor, Mynott, and Newton. Against Ireland (won 16—0) tho team had been:—Wallaeo, Smith, Deans, Mynott, Stead, Hunter, Roberts (backs), Gillett (wingß Tyler ,McDonald, Seeling. Glasgow, Cunningham, Casey and O’Sullivan. Owing to an injury the captain, Gallaher, did not play. Hunter, with a total of 39 tries topped the scoring list, Wallace gaining 19, Smith 19, Deans 17, McGregor 16 (including four against England when he took the place of Smith), Abbott 12, Roberts 12, and Mynott 11, Stead 9, Booth 5 and Harper 4 (All Blacks), Sealing fl. Nicholson 6, McDonald 4, Johnston 3 and Tyict 2; being the only others to exceed one try. Wallace obtained 70 gonls from tries, Cunningham 8. being next on the list. Wallace added 5 other goals to his total (two potted and three penalty kicks). Thirty-two British games were played and only one lost—the most vita: game unfortunately. Total scores

830 v. 39. 1924 team 654 v. 98. It is beyond understanding that the 1924 All Blacks Were minus tho services of a veteran couch. In oxcaptain James Duncan (Otago) tho 1965 team had the advice of a past master in back play, and a skipper second to none in New Zealand history. A 1926 Selection.

Harking back to the year 1900 (’.ho limit of his active Rugby career, which has included country representative play and experience in British Columbia, also observations at fust hand in New Zealand and Scotland of international games) tho writer in 1026 selected tho following as his ideal team of All Blacks:— Full-back: W. J. Wallace (Wellington. Three-quarters: D. McGregor (Canterbury), R. G. Deans (Canterbury) centre, G. W. Smith (Auckland). Five-eighths: J. Duncan (Otago), A. E. Cooke (Auckland-Hawke’s Bay).

Half: F. Roberts (Wellington), Wing: D. Gallaher (Auckland).

Forwards: Hookers: W. Irvine (Hawke’s Bay), Goo. Tyler (Auckland). Sides: M, Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay), J. Richardson (Southland). Lock: B. Fanning (Canterbury). Baek row: C. Seeling (Auckland), Patterson (Otago). Those who were “runners-up” included:—Back: A. Humphries (Taranaki), J. Hunter (Taranaki), M. E. Wood (Canterbury), M. Nicholls (Wcllintgon), J. Mill (Hawke’s Bay and Wnirarapa), F. Mitchinson (Wellington). Tho non-inelusion of J. W. Stead (Southland) and JI. J. Mynott (Taranaki) indicates tho almost invariable strength of New Zealand five-eighths, while J. Steel (Westland), Joo O’Leary (Wairarapa and Auckland), Peter Harvey (Canterbury), K. S. Svcnscn (Wellington) and F. C. Fryer (Canterbury) are brilliant players outside the second-best lino.

Forwards: C. G. Porter (Wellington), W. Cunningham (Auckland), (1. Nicholson (Auckland), A. McDonald (Otago), S. Casey (Otago), R. Stewart- (S. Canterbury), G, West (Taranaki), A. White (Southland) T. Cross (Canterbury nnd Wellington',. Bost all round player: Geo. Gillett Ifu'l-bnck, three-quarter, and wingforward) of Canterbury, It will bo noted that J. O’Sullivan and F. Glasgow (both of Taranaki), who were among the best 1905 All Blacks, could not be included, nor Francis, a great Auckland and New Zealand back-ranker, D. Udy (Wairarapa), or J. Donald (Wairarapa). In the light of the changes in the last four years, both in per sonnel and "form,” it would be natural to expect some amend ment of the foregoing . conclusions, but time has only served to emphasise the reliability or the 1924 players mentioned still In the van, viz. Cooke (now of Wellington and recently Walrarapa), Mark Nicholls, Mill, Porter, Bill Irvine and Ralph Stewart, while Maurice Brownlie

although not "tuned up” for New Zealand honours is still a provincial star. It does not appear that their peers have yet been found. Hazlett, McWilliams, Hore, I. Finlayson and Steere represent a quintette of present-day and 1928 players, whose records bring them into consideration. Lucas and Nepia (Hawke’s Bay and East Coast) are 1924 players who continue as players to be reckoned with, the latter seriously challenging the claims of Billy Wallace as our "best-ever” full-back.