American view of the All Blacks

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 3, 18 October 1935, Page 9

American view of the All Blacks

Under the title of “Mighty All Blacks on War Path Toward Britain,” the “Christian Science Monitor”— published in Boston, U.S.A., and considered one of the world’s best daily papers—has the following article on New Zealand’s Rugby Reps.: “Five thousand pounds or more of muscular manhood, bronzed under clear New Zealand skies, is about to crash its way, on 58 exceedingly fast legs, through a program of matches against the strongest Rugby football teams in the British Isles. In other words, the “All Blacks” are on the war path once again ; and, if that explanation be insufficient, then I must make it quite clear that, for the third time in history, a grand Rugger combination from New Zealand, wearing black shorts and black jersies with a silver fern embroidered on the breast, is engaged upon a tour in the country where the game originated, showing the native Britons how it should be played. The last phrase is no mere complimentary figure of speech, for the two previous teams of All Blacks played, altogether, 63 matches in the motherland. And they lost one. More significant still, they furnish the fantastic points record of 1589 against 159. The All Blacks’ solitary reverse was sustained in 1905, when Wales was victorious by the margin ot one try, scored by Dr. Teddy Morgan. How do the All Blacks of 1935-36 compare with their predecessors of 1924-25 and 1905-06 ? That is the question. And the answer will be unfolded between Sept. 14, the date of the first engagement (versus Devon and Cornwall), and Jan. 4, 1936, when, as a climax to the campaign, they meet the national side of England at the Rugby Union Grounds, Twickenham. Between those two encounters they will play 29 matches, the chief of which are against the Scottish, Irish and Welsh fifteens on Nov. 23, Dec. 7, and Dec. 21, respectively.

Piece of Wet Soap On hard grounds, such as they are accustomed to in their own land, they

will undoubtedly be most formidable, and interest will turn largely upon wbat they can do in the mud, with a ball that skids around like a piece of wet soap. Their physical make-up, their speed, and their vigor hold out the promise that, whatever they do, the opposition will find it distinctly uncomfortable. If they compel the use of superlatives before they sail for home, that will be no surprise, for I learn that 10 of the touring forwards are 200-pound men over six feet tall. And when New Zealanders like that have a rugger ball at their feet or in their arms, they take some stopping. Experts in New Zealand have gone on record with the opinion that the team sent to Britain this winter can be compared favorably with the All Blacks of the past. And, if that be so, then the home players will be hard put to it to stem the tide of defeat. The visitors, it appears, have brilliant backs operating behind their devastating forwards. B. S. Sadler, a 20-year-old scrum-half, and Eric Tindill, a' young “five eighth,” are mentioned as being especially brilliant. The latter emerged as a happy “find” during the trial matches that preceded the selection of the touring side. He had been playing at half-back in club football buc it was not until he was placed in the “five-eighths” position that he showed his exceptional rugger talent. For their pack the New Zealanders have dispensed with “winging” specialists and have concerned themselves with the picking of heavy solid scrummagers, fast enough to join their backs in hand to hand passing of the type that so delighted spectators in England in 1924-25. It will indeed be interesting to see how its result card works out, compared with those of the 1905-06 and 1924-25 sides, which were as follows : 1924-25.—Won 30 ; lost 0 ; points scored for, 721; against, 112. 1905-06.—Won 21 ; lost 1 ; points for, 868 ; against, 47. The reason why the New Zealanders are such brilliant Rugger players is because the game is their paramount sporting interest. Every little town in the “back-blocks” has its Rugger Club and the means of transit are often so sketchy that players ride miles on horseback, across rivers and over mountains, to obtain their

game of Rugger. With that much zeal out -in the bush, you can imagine the enthusiasm which prevails in more populous centers. The first evidence of the game being played in New Zealand dates back to 1868, and 20 years later a visit was received from a British team captained by the late A. E. Stoddart. Maori War Cry Maoris, the native inhabitants of New Zealand, have contributed some brilliant players to the game, and the “war cry,” with which the All Blacks precede their matches, is a chant uttered in the Maori tongue. I remember that when the 1925 side was in Britain, the war cry and accompanying gesticulations were led by George Nepia, a mighty native fullback. The words were : “Ko Nin Tironu Hariru Mei; Katu te ahi ihi; Katu te wana wana ; Kirunga te Rangi ; E tu iko nei! Au, au, au.” Which, being translated, means : “The New Zeaand storm is about to break; We shall stand as Children of the sun; We shall fly to the heavens in exultation ; We shall attain the zenith !

The power, the power, the power.” The part about the storm, at any rate, was invariably true ! Nepia remains one of my most vivid memories in sport. He was not tall—--sft. 9in. to be exact—but he was of magnificent physique and I never knew him to have an “off” day. He played in every match, preserved an extremely high standard of fielding, kicking and tackling, and in the really big matches he scaled great heights. He would plunge into a rush of heavy forwards without the least regard to his own safety, gather up the ball, shake off the hands that grappled with him and kick a “touch” up the field to a prodigious distance with unfailing accuracy. Yes, the All Blacks of 1924-25 were indeed a great side. And if their present successors are really as good, then Britain’s foremost players have a mighty tough season right in front of them.”