FITNESS OF KIWIS BIG FACTOR IN SUCCESS

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 281, 28 November 1945, Page 8

FITNESS OF KIWIS BIG FACTOR IN SUCCESS

Praise for Forwards (Bpecial Correspondent.) LONDON, Nov. 26. There is a certain amount of ruefulness in English sporting circles at the moment, first the Russian Dynamos beat them at Association football and then the Kiwis trounce them at Hugger. Bnt all the critics are generous in tueir praise of the New Zealanders and the more discerning, while paying tributes to the Kiwis' strength and fitness, describe the game at Twickenham as grand rather than great. ‘*A real sporting occasion," says the Times, ‘‘which rather failed to reach the old standards. England's supporters had little to cheer apart from the rousing counter-rushes of the forwards, while the New Zealand scheme of things did not defy criticism and invite unstinted praise." The paper expresses the opinion that the New Zealanders' greatest success was Cook, whose clearing kicks to touch were magnificent and one at least contributed towards the scoring of a try. "Admittedly Cook seldom if ever had to operate under sustained and intense pressure,'* it adds. "As for the Kiwi attack much of it was little more impressive than that of their less experienced opponents. This was all the more surprising because this time their forwards heeled out fairly generously both from the scrummages and from the mauls. Somehow, however, most of the opening gambits from the scrummage were obvious and uninspired. Even Allen was content to be largely a mere hander on of passes up to. halftime. When he elected to seize or create openings, Allen instantly . stood out as the most polished player in the side. Smith, of course, took a lot of holding, but he was generally held bv Heaton and it was only in the exploiting of English mistakes that Smith really sustained his reputation." Mr. J. P. Jordan, in the Daily Telegraph, refers to "a hectic game, distinguished more by physical energy than by polished football." "Had the Kiwis not blundered more than once and had it not been for Marriott’s brilliant turn of speed in overhauling opponents who had got clear away, the margin must have been greater," he ■ays. Forwards * ‘ Terrific* *

"No excuses need be offered for England’s defeat. The Kiwi forwards, with Hally, Arnold, Rhind and Simpson outstanding, were terrific. They beat England in the tight scrum by getting the ball 28 times to 12; they beat them in the line-out 36 times to 21, and their crashing tactics in the loose combined with the straight and determined running of their backs kept England on the defensive nearly all the afternoon." Dr. Gent, in the Sunday Times, said the New Zealanders thoroughly deserved to win, their physique, fitness and skill combining to give them superiority. Against these qualities magnificently used, England had little but pluck and persistency to offer and yet, from beginning to end, not one of the large crowd present could have been anything bat proud to see how this rather scratch England side fought their way against tremendous odds. Slowly but surely the brilliant captain, Saxton, and his fine side wore down the defence. Dr. Gent expresses the opinion that it was the New Zealand pack that laid the foundations of success. He remarks that he would not say the New Zealand team was a great side, but it was a very good one and it played splendid football. The Manchester Guardian says: "The match—keen, vigorous and fast—was not a great one, but in tackling,, much of the kicking and occasionally in the forward rushes, it challenged comparison with some of the best meetings between the countries. Beyond cavil, the New Zealanders were a better team, even if one of their tries had an element of luck." Mr. Vivian Jenkins, the former Welsh full-back, writing in the News of the World, says: "Barely has there been such a shining example of superb physical fitness triumphing over a team of’good hard triers, who gave of their best but were obviously not at the same peak of condition as were their opponents. From the beginning it was a case of furious forward play with plenty of hard knocks and the devil take the hindmost, with the Kiwi pack gradually taking the upper hand and dominating the game." Well-blended Team

Mr. B. Crisp, in the Daily Express, says: "The Kiwis are by no means a great Rugby side, but they are well blended, and very fit and they are playing the game which every New Zealander plays almost instinctively welL England’s fifteen must have been one of the weakest representative teams this country has ever put together. It can truly be said that at no time did they look like scoring except through the medium of penalty kicks. Their thief attributes were pluck and really good low tackling—an art which appears to have gone from most club Rugby today. It was a fast, exciting game, but I think the electric Twickenham atmosphere had more to do with th«» •xcitement than any quality of the play. On a club ground on a Wednesday afternoon this would have been put down as a very scrappy game indeed." Mr. Geoffrey Simpson, in the Daily Mail, seems upset that "the best Rugby team this country has seen for many years, the Kiwis from New Zealand, arrived in an Army truck to play England at Twickenham while thousands of spectators came comfortably intheir motor cars.’* No Kiwi Complaints He adds: "I saw plenty of staff ears bringing Service high-ups. But the men who provided the show and packed the stands with 40,000 people eame in a truck which was not big enough to seat all the party. This in> eluded the team manager, the trainer and the masseur. Some of them had to stand. None of the Kiwis breathed a word of complaint about this. Nor do they grumble about the third-class rail travel provided them for their journeys about the country raising money for Army welfare. Saturday’s match must have produced another £SOOO. They are soldiers of the Mediterranean campaign, drawn from New Zealand's fighting troops. They are here to do a job, but that is no reason why they should l.e given a little comfort. I cannot imagine an England team touring New Zealand going to a big match in a truck. I cannot think they would receive anything less than the best of everything. It is time we shook up our ideas on this question of hospitality to sports teams from abroad. We appear to make a poor job of it—not intentionally, I am sure, but be* cause we are too casual." PILE TREATMENT. Hundreds write praising ZANN pile treatment. . Send 9d. stamps now for generous trial treatment. ZaDn Pty. r Box 9528, (B. M. Appleton, 154 Featheratoa Street), Wellington.