BEST FORM TO DATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 167, 14 June 1928, Page 7

BEST FORM TO DATE.

ALL BLACKS’ VICTORY.

SCRUM WORK IMPROVES. WEAK OPPONENTS MET.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Special to the Press Association.) Received June 14, 9.5 a.m. KROONSTAD, June 13. Playing the best all-round football of tho tour so far the All Blacks to-day at Kroonstad beat the Orange Free State by four converted tries to nil. The local side was supposed to be made up of country clubs, but it bad been considerably strengthened. The All Blacks were given an ovation on leaving the field. The game was played on a dirt ground, which had been furrowed ten days previously, and watered before the match. The attendance numbered 5000. It was a beautiful day, and there was not a breath of wind.

FIRST SCORE EARLY,

From a scrum in the Free State’s twenty-five, Dailey sent Strang away, and tiie five-eighth cut in and scored a fine try under tho posts, which Lindsay' hail no trouble in converting. All Blacks ... ... 20 Orange Free State ... 0 Lilburne now changed placos with Lindsay. The next passing movement saw Crensido thrown out at the corner.

BLACK FORWARDS WORK

SCRUM TACTICS IMPROVE.

The team was as follows: Ful 1-back—H. LILBURNE. Three-quarters—B. GRENSLDE, D. LINDSAY, A. ROBILLIARD. Five-eighths.—W. STRANG, N. McGREGOR. Half—W. DALLEY.

Play hovered in the Free State’s twenty-five for a time, the New Zealand backs puzzling their opponents by a series of quick thrusts. Tiie Free Stato made one more praiseworthy, but ineffective, effort and the game ended with the All Blacks still going strong. VISITOR’S BEST DISPLAY.

Wing-forward—G. SCRIMSHAW. Forwards—J. HOPE, H. SWAIN, M. BROWNLIE, G. ALLEY, It. McWILLIAMS, P. WARD, W. HAZLETI.

Within two minutes of tho start the New Zealand forwards bustled their opponents. There was a line out neai the Free State team’s line, and from the loose play that followed Dailey dived over at tho corner. Lindsay converted with a very tine kick. All Blacks a Orange Free State ... 0 Play then travelled up and down the field twice, the New Zealanders bar - ing easily the best of things.

The latter gave easily the best display of the tour so far. Tho forwards put more weight into the serums and obtained possession of tho ball more. The scrum work was a big improvement on Saturday’s exhibition. In the line outs New Zealand

dominated tho play, the pack exhibiting bettor combination and understanding. Brownlie, McWilliams and Swain stood out, and Alley was invaluable in the line outs. BACKS COMBINE WELL. Tile backs from the start combined well, Dailey feeding them generously.

Although McGregor received a nasty injury to his back early he was valuable in attacking movements. Strang, who played first five-eighths when McGregor was hurt, showed excellent football, varying his play nicely. The three' quarters were in good form, the pace being too much for their

opponents. The team is delighted with the reversal of form, but they realised fairly that they' were meeting weak opponents.

At this- stage the ball was heeled out -from the scrum and Dailey sent the backs away, tho ball being handled in. turn by McGregor, Strang, Lindsay and Grenside. The last-'named finally ran over, and Lindsay converted. All Blacks ... ... ... 10 Orange Free State ... 0

It is now certain that they will keep the 2-3-2 formation in the scrum.

MESSAGE FROM Mil HORNIG Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 13

At half-way Grenside again got possession of the ball and set sail for the line with Lindsay and Strang op the inside. They took the ball in turn and Strang raced behind tho posts. • Lindsay again converted. All Blacks 15 Orange Free State ... 0

Mr W. F. Hornig, manager of the All Blacks, has sent the following cablegram : “Mr Coates’s message was much appreciated by tire team, who hope to show true form soon. We are not downhearted. (Signed) W. F. Hornig.”

TEAM’S SCRUM TACTICS,

ALL BLACKS DOMINATE. It was an easy matter for the New Zealanders now. The forwards were dribbling well and the hacks opening out in pretty movements. When half time came the All Blacks were still hot- on the attack. The Free State started the second spell with a great effort to retrieve their position. The. forwards played with more dash and started to got possession from the scrums. The backs were given every chance, but they mulled t-heir passes badly. New Zealand was defending for about ten minutes, the Free State forwards storming their lino and rallying in fine stylo. . When this burst had spent its mrce, the New Zealand forwards carried all before them and drove their opponents to their twenty-five. A hot offensive was kept up, the backs throwing the ball about in telling style, but the defence was strong and their movements just failed to get home.

MR H. HARRIS’S OPINION*.

DUNEDIN, June 12. “I think it is ,a great pity that the New Zealand team changed its scrum tactics. If wo stick to til©2223 —2 formation I am sure we will get our share of the ball,” said Mr H. Harris, when asked for his views on tho results of the, games in Africa. , He was still satisfied that if the New Zealanders played t1i02223 —2 formation properly they would do well, and win a majority of the Test games. Mr Harris’s experience with the Maori team in England and France in 1926 confirmed his opinion that the New Zealand scrum formation was all right. On that tour the Maoris had secured about a 50-50 share of tho ball. That was their experience in most of the games, though in Franco tho Maoris found themselves up against a clever hooker who beat them mostly for the ball. He was a small man, who swung on the two outsido men. Mr Harris claimed that the 2—3—2 formation should get the ball as often as the 32 —3 scrum if the hookers knew their job, and if the men behind put

BRILLIANT FORWARD MOVEMENT. Again the Free State, with a fine combined movement, carried to the All Blacks’ line.

in their weight th 02223 —2 scrum would get tho ball. He admitted, however, that the hookers, of the present team were, in his opinion, weak. Jt seemed absurd for the. team to change its formation, particularly to a 43—1 pack. “Wo have our style of play/A continued Mr Harris, “and they have a stylo of tlieir own. Let us stick to our style, and if they beat us let us go down with colours flying.” It was a bad rule which permitted men to lift their feet before the ball went into the scrum, and he would rather see a game played under the old rulo which made hookers keep their feet down till the ball went in. “Tho new kick into touch rule in New Zealand possibly does not conduce to produce good scrummaging forwards, said Mr Harris. At the same time lie was in favour of tho rule because he thought it, improved New Zealand football. It was football at home that Now Zealanders wanted to improve, after iall.”

By sound work Strang and Dailey cleared, and with a brilliant forward movement led by Brownlie, McWilliams, Swain and Alley New Zealand swept down the field.