PRAISE FOR ALL BLACKS

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1936, Page 6

PRAISE FOR ALL BLACKS

ENGLISH CRITICS SUM UP LESSONS OF TOUR f United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .l (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON. January 6. The “Daily Mail,” in summing up the tour of the All Blacks, emphasised the fact that the New Zealanders owed their successes mainly to brilliant readiness to profit by their opponents' mistakes and to intensive team-work, which is common with all Dominion sides, while England had ultimately shown the easiness with which these tactics could be acquired. The tour had not evolved fresh tactics and neither the five-eighths nor the 3—4—l scrum formation was likely to be copied in Great Britain. It was significant that the orthodox alignment by Wales had beaten New Zealand twice in three matches.

Moreover, England had inflicted the severest defeat on the All Blacks in 91 matches, which was a triumph for the old school of thought—hard scrummaging, hard tackling in the middle, and speedy flanks. Nevertheless, the game generally will benefit by the prevention of baneful spoiling on the lines of the Empire Conference proposal regarding the new scrum formation, concerning which a decision was not yet available from the International Board.

THEIR LAST DAYS (Received 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 7. The All Blacks were entertained by Mr H. M. Goss, divisional manager of the United Kingdom Electra-House Cable and Wireless' Co, The players sent and received messages from South Africa, Singapore, Bombay, Montreal, Alexandria and Melbourne.. South Africa said: “Wait till |/ou meet the Springboks in New Zealand next season.” Melbourne wirelessed: “See that the Russian -is out of the next game or you are sunk.” Vorrath, Collins and Solomon have gone to Porthcawl to play for Bridgeend against Cardiff on Wiednesday, and only 11 members of the team are left in London. The Home unions are paying expenses of trips to any part of Britain, also providing tickets for any theatres and picture shows. Mahoney is in Charing Cross Hospital suffering from a malignant boil on his head. He will, however, sail for home with the team when it leaves, via Vancouver. SELECTOR IS SATISFIED tf IPer Press Association. — Copyright .] CARTERTON, This Day. Mr E. McKenzie, . chairman of the Rugby Selection Committee for the 1935 All Black team, which has just completed its tour of Great Britain and Ireland, in a review of games played, and the results the team attained, said he is quite satisfied with the showing made.

“It must be remembered,” said Mr McKenzie, “that the 1935 team had a far harder job than its predecessors. The standard of Rugby in England when the 1905 team made its sensational tour was at a very low ebb, and each year since then has shown an improvement. The 1924 team had a harder task than the J. 905 team. There were no runaway victories to the tune of 62 points to nil. The 1935 team met Great Britain when her players were practically at the top of their form, and the records they have put up against them must be considered very satisfactory.