THE ALL BLACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 August 1934, Page 5

THE ALL BLACKS

STRONG AUSTRALIAN SIDE DEFEATED DISAPPOINTING AS SPECTACLE VISITORS’ TEST PROSPECTS ENHANCED (United Press Association—3y Electric Telegraph-Copyright) BRISBANE, 18th August. The All Blacks have tamed Australia’s test backs. That is what close students of the game thought as they left the Exhibition Ground after seeing New Zealand beat a strong Australian fifteen by 11 points to 6. The weather was fine and there was little breeze. The ground was fast. The 'match was disappointing to the crowd of 15,000, but those who .knew their Rugby found plenty to interest them. The main factors in the first test were reversed. The Australian backs were not the speedy greyhounds they were in Sydney. The New Zealand forwards saw to that, but in doing so neglected real forward play to such an extent that the Australian eight were slightly superior on the day. When it is considered that Bonis gave Malcolm and his men another feast of the ball and that Australia failed to cross the New Zealand line the extent of the effective stopping can be fully realised. These tactics also had the effect of slowing the game up and it was a pity that such a large crowd was not treated to a better spectacle in a centre where the League game is so strong. Still, the All Blacks felt it incumbent to win and set about it in the way they thought most effective. The result proved that their tactics were sound.

OUTSTANDING Looking round the star players on the Now Zealand side it would be hard to go past Manchester as the best forward. He was up with every bit of play, tackled demoniacally and nicked solidly. Next to him was McLean who worked like a trojan throughout, although. he was not as he would like to be.

In the backs the winners were best served by Lilburne. Again he never made a mistake in kicking, handling or tackling, and was content not to run tro with the backs to-day as he did on Wednesday, for lie realised that these tactics would not pay as the play was swinging. Griffiths again showed that he is developing into one of New Zealand’s best backs although to-day saw the becks get very little opportunity for attack. Bridle was easily Australia’s best) player. He broke "from scrums with amazing speed and some of his solo dashes were delightful. Had he been supported Australia would have had at least one try. Most of the Australian forwards except Hodgson, who was a passenger owing to an injured leg, did well, however, on account of finding the New Zealand pack with their attentions divided- Bonis outhooked Lamboume 37 times to 22. It must have been heartbreaking to him to see the Australian backs fail to make the best of the opportunities presented to them. Vincent, who is regarded as the successor of Ross, started shakily. Again and again he looked as though he would repeat Wednesday’s exhibition, but the, young Queenslander rallied splendidly and played brilliant football in the second spell. The only other Australian back who played true to form was KellaherS, but like McLean lie received veiy little chances.

HOW THE SCORES WERE OBTAINED New Zealand scored in the first ten minutes as a result of a neat individual effort by Holder, who must be running Bullock-Douglas close for his test place. The ball came to him ten yards from the line and though he had little room he made no mistake. Lilburne sent New Zealand further ahead with an accurate penalty goal from a reasonably easy position, and the crowd began to yell “Come on Aussies,” as though the greens were a beaten lot. Certainly the All Blacks had dominated the,early stages. Even play followed with Biddle’s individual brilliance giving Australia a chance to make up the leeway. He was always unsupported, however. Doneley, the Queensland forward who was placed in the team largely for his kicking, was then given, his first chance at goal from near halfway. He made no mistake and Australia was only three points down at the interval. It was the same..rugged display in the second spell. The Australian backs tried short punting but the bounce never once favoured thorn. There was tremendous excitement when Doneley made tire scores equal with another penalty goal, hut the New Zealanders rin not leave much doubt about their ability to win when they came back with persistant attacks launched mainly through the mistakes of the Australian hacks. Tins was how they scored the winning margin. Page high punted from a penalty and Towers called for the ball only to drop it badly. The New Zealand forwards kicked ahead, and both Vincent and Kelaher failed to keep out McLean who forced his way over. Lilbumo converted. The dying stages saw New Zealand in ti e ascendancy again. New Zealand made a last minute alteration in the team, Barry playing in place of Max, who was originally chosen instead of Mataira.;

New Zealand’s test prospects are certainly enhanced as a result of to-day’s success, hut the form of the Australian backs was too poor to be true. The Sydney cricket ground should hold a great crowd for the final test and it certainly looks to be anybody’s game, with the odds slightly favouring New Zealand.

PRESS COMMENT “MATCH A 810 DISAPPOINT* MBNT” NOT UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BRISBANE, 19th August. The All Blacks came in for a roasting from a sensational section of the week-end press. “New Zealand won a match that never once reached an international standard, and that was a big disappointment to the crowd that paid for thrills but hardly once raised a cheer. The Australian backs gave a woeful exhibition of futility and ineptitude and if the New Zealand side had been even a, shadow of former All Blacks their total would have assumed cricket proportions,” said one paper. The attack loses a lot of sting when it is known that the same paper had been boosting the improvement in the Australian standard. The general opinion is that the All Blacks would bo slightly better than the 1932 side with Purdue and Solomon in.’

The tourists spoilt Sunday orr the glorious waters of Moreton Bay in the palatial yacht. Cambria. (Received 20th August, 9.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, 18th August,

The “Herald’ says the game was not spectacular. The All Blacks dominated

the play throughout. The Australian hooker, Bonis, secured a plentiful supply of the ball from the scrums but the inner backs failed to make any impression against the keen spotting by the All Blacks’ breakaway forwards. The men from across the Tasman revealed a glimpse of their true form, and 'while they do not seem to measure up to the standard of All Black giants of other days in general effectiveness of Rugby equipment, they thoroughly deserved the victory. McLean more than once showed that he is in a world’s class of forwards. One of the features ox the visitors’ play was the sterling game by Lilburne, one of the most versatile players of recent years. He displayed uncanny knowledge of the requirements of the fullback position. The “Telegraph” says that unless the tourists improve points on their display of Saturday it seems that they will leave the Bledisloe Cup in Australia. The All Blacks will derive no great pleasure from the five points margin over a team which was impotent for the greater part of an encounter that never reached international standard. The “Labour Daily” says the All Blacks played far below the form displayed in earlier matches of the tour. (Received 20tli August, 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY. 19th August, Describing Saturday’3 match as tliei most disappointing of the tour the “Sun’s” representative says the game was marred as a spectacle by the inexplicable number of errors to which both sides contributed, but for which the Australians were most responsible. The tourists always gave the impression of triving to achieve brightness, and many of their errors in handling and passing were caused by eagerness to open up the play.

AUSTRALIAN TEST TEAM UNALTERED

BPJSBANE, 18th August.

The Australian Rugby selectors have decided to maintain the First Test team for the Second Tost next Saturday.