“Object Lesson in Rugby ”

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 174, 26 July 1938, Page 7

“Object Lesson in Rugby ”

ALL BLACKS’ TRIUMPH IN FIRST TEST SYDNEY, July 25. The Sydney Morning Herald says: • ‘ Out-generalled in tactics and outclassed in play, Australia never looked like beating the All Blacks in the first Test. The game was not a brilliant exhibition of open play, but was extremely hard-fought. The plan with which New Zealand countered the strengthened Australian defence was an object lesson in Rugby. “The spectators might have been disappointed with the game as a spectacle, but could not have failed to appreciate the teamwork and understanding of the New Zealand team, which found the weaknesses of Australia’s combination, and exploited them to the full.” The All Blacks, the paper adds, were even more superior than the scores indicated. Every New Zealander on the field played faultlessly. Saxton, Sullivan, Taylor and McKenzie contributed most of the brightest individual items, but the All Blacks mainly owed their outstanding success to co-operation. Sid King, writing in the Daily Telegraph, says: “New Zealand defeated Australia because of their superiority in all departments of the game. Only in courage did the Australians match their opponents. The game suffered as a spectacle through the spoiling tactics of the Australians. They set out to bottle up the brilliant New Zealand inside backs, who had turned the match against New South Wales into an exhibition. They succeeded, blit the All Blacks’ coach, Mr. McDonald, had anticipated this and had planned a counter. The attack was centred near tho scrum and brought back to the forwards.” TIMARU WILL LOSE SAXTON TRANSFERRING TO INVERCARGILL INVERCARGILL, Last Night. C. K. Saxton, the South Canterbury halfback who at present is touring Australia with the New Zealand Rugljy team, will come to Invercargill to live immediately upon his return to New Zeland. Mr. Saxton is a warehouseman in the employ of Ross and Glendining Ltd. and he will be transferred from the Timaru branch to the Invercargill branch. Whether Saxton will play for Southland this season is not yet known. He will probably arrive in Invercargill before the Hawke’s Bay-Southland game but he will i.ot be able to play for Southland until he has lived in the district for tiree weexs.