ALL BLACKS RELAX ON EVE OF FIRST TEST

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1949, Page 4

ALL BLACKS RELAX ON EVE OF FIRST TEST

CAPETOWN, Thu. (11.45 a.m.).— Having completed their preparations for the first Rugby test the All Blacks are resting and their only activity today was a golf tourney for the Parker Cup. , The team’s manager has donated a trophy for four tourneys, which are to be held before each test.

Today’s winner was Christian, with 91. followed by Thornton, 94, and Delamore, 97. Then came the rest of the field, with a lot of hard-luck stories. The Cape Argus today quotes two former Springboks, including Fred Turner, who toiued New Zealand in 1937, on the test prospects. Both pay tribute to the attacking and defensive qualities of the Ail Black bocks, but they say that they cannot see the All Blacks being strong enough in the forwards to win sufficient of the ball to provide their Backs with scoring opportunities. Turner says: “Our forwards are good enough to sway the issue in our favour. “I have rarely seen a Springbok pack beaten in this country, and, though the All Blacks have shown a remarkable improvement, I do not think it is sufficient to give them the possession they will need.” BLACK CLOUDS, NO RAIN Though black clouds made their appearance today the weather was fine in Cape Province, with a steady barometer. ■ Rain would probably turn the whole tide of the match, as the big Transvaal section in the Springbok side would be all at sea in heavy conditions. However, unless there is a torrential downpour in the next day or two, the ground will be firm. Fred Allen is receiving special treatment for a knock on the knee received in training. There is every indication that he will take the field on Saturday. "We have the first leg in toward a double that has never been accomplished by any touring side in this country, namely, a win over Western Province. We hope to complete the double on Saturday by winning the first test,” said Mr J. H. Parker, the manager. TO REVERSE HISTORY "It would be a wonderful tonic to the team after a long period of trial and tribulation if we bring this off,” Mr Parker added. “We broke a sequence of 25 years by beating Western Province. Now we have to try to reverse the history of first tests between New Zealand and South Africa, which have so far been won by the home side.” Mr Parker said that when the All Blacks were chosen last October everyone agreed that the side was a fine one. Hard games in South Africa were an-’ t.icipated, but the people of New Zealand thought the team would win easily.

with the many hard games, has been the best preparation the 1949 side could have had.

"I am proud of the manner in which the men have knuckled down, and of the way in which they have taken their defeats. We now go forward into the first test with confidence.” The players chosen for the tost were the fittest who could be placed in the field, and they were dclermiued to uphold New Zealand’s name in Rugby. It might be that other players would win their way into later test sides, and some were unlucky to miss this time, but always the decision would rest on fitness. PRAISE FOR S. AFRICANS "We have heard much criticism of the South African team, but the pack looks as formidable as those of former years and the backline is a strong defensive one,” Mr Parker said. “We cannot make forecasts as to the result of Saturday’s game, for most of us have not seen several of the chosen Springboks, but we realise that we will be up against something very solid. “We have a high regard for the South African selectors, “They ho ye chosen great teams in the past and are just as likely to do so again. Perhaps some piece of luck, such as a penalty goal, will decide the game, and I am pleased to say that Scott seems now to be right back to form with his goal-kicking.

"We have struck hard games and difficulties, and they have been far more trying than anything we faced on the 1924 tour of Britain,” Mr Parker said. “In Britain we won the third and fourth games by two unconverted tries to nil. and our sixth game at Newport by-JS to 10. On that tour we did not encounter such scrummaging problems as on this one. nor did wc have ihe menace of the loose forward. At the same time. I 1 feel that the mastering of these difficulties, coupled