THE ALL BLACKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18885, 6 December 1924, Page 9

THE ALL BLACKS.

Sir, —Just. .1 few recollections in reply to V A.O.M's.'.'. letter on the All. Black's ■ and criticism. ' Granted, "tho episode lie 'mentions as occurring at Neath ;is correct, •'. —as I write, I can see the, Army 'team. . making a hasty', yet dignified, exit froh*'* the field, and one lonely'digger, owing to a limp, cut off from the main body and surrounded by a 'hostile mob of Welshmen'; Whose chorus, then; was " The best ; team 105t.",, A burly giant nearest ad- ! dressed his chant directly to the poor ■ New Zealander. who cast his eyes _. heavenward, saw no help forthcoming,-bo* with guileless ' expression said, " Ycr, sure the best team lost!" The score was •• 15 to 0. But, you know the old saying ' ." regarding one. swallow failing to make a ; summer. I-- have played numerous - matches against. Welsh metropolitan and -•' smaller Welsh teams, and. Lave always " ■ found them good sportsmen, giving no quarter and_ asking '.none. The Welsh •• •community is as hospitable, as any com- ' munity I have, ever been entertained in, v- • and, note this, the Welsh Rugby Union ;. 1 was the. only Rugby Union (not , excepting ■ the New Zealand union) to wiro congratu- ',"• lations to the New,' Zealand . Army team i when it succeeded in winning the coveted • King's 'Cup. Take this: w«ird criticism i cabled *to us" for what is is worth. It is i- : the inevitable aftermath of <lefeat all over * . the world. You get the . same sort of - criticism here in New Zealand.—even after \ i representative matches. As 1 say, adverse r j criticism is inevitable. You cannot please '' 3 everyone. As for' the alleged rough play, j of course the New'Zealariders do not play t roughly. • Still ask any of the old Armv .'■'. • i Service team >\vhat their code 'word". U ''Wai r Wai," meant! -:';,.- .._ „ Peppy,.