All Blacks’ Prospects For Today

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1938, Page 7

All Blacks’ Prospects For Today

(Received 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 15. The weather for the All Blacks’ match against New South Wales today, the first of the tour, promises to be fine, crisp and bright, with a hard ground. Great interest is being taken by the public, and former New Zealanders resident in Sydney will assemble in full force, so a record crowd is expected. Newspaper critics are predicting that New South Wales will fully extend the New Zealanders, and may even defeat them. Although apprehension is felt in local Rugby circles following the disorganisation of the originally-chosen New South Wales side, New Zealand is unlikely to under-rate their opponents in their debut to-day. The most serious blow was the loss of W. Windon, but Kelly, his substitute, is an outstanding rucker. The New South Wales centres, Smith and Miller, are both young, and have the faculty for strengthening attacking moves. They are unlikely to cramp their wings. The New Zealand forwards, averaging half a stone heavier than their opponents, cannot afford to adopt loose tactics.

The manager, Mr A. McDonald, has concentrated on scrummage practice. The formation has been satisfactory, and the balance better than that of the New South Wales pack. Johnnie Wallace, the New South Wales coach, is relying on Stone’s hooking to give New South Wales at least an equal share of the ball from the set scrummages. New Zealand should prove superior in the line-out work, where indications are that they possess greater knowledge. Everyone is expecting the displays of T. R. Berghan and J. L. Sullivan to be reminiscent of Mark Nicholls and A. E. Cooke. They have an outstanding rival in Richards, the New South Wales five-eighth, who is an expert in originating moves from broken play. The New Zealand selection of forwards indicates that they are fully alive to the danger of a loose game.