THE ALL BLACKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19953, 23 May 1928, Page 8

THE ALL BLACKS.

ABRIVE AT DURBAN TO-DAY. MATCHES BEGIN NEXT WEEK. CONFIDENCE IN THE TEAM. * RECORDS OF PREVIOUS SIDES. The All Blacks are due to arrive at ■ Dnrban f.c-day on the Euripides. The boat was originally scheduled to arrive at Durban on Monday, but it left Australian waters two days behind time, and this, apparently, has not been picked up on the voyage across. I It is not certain whether the All Blacks i will travel overland or by boat from Durban to Capetown, whence they were originally due on Saturday next. The first game was fixed for Wednesday next, but it has been left to the manager's discretion whether this match should be eliminated or not. Howover, the tour will soon be commenced in earnest, and it is safe to say it will be followed in New Zealand with an even greater keenness than that of the All Blacks of four seasons ago in the Old Country. There has been much speculation and argument as to whether the team will go through the tour undefeated, also as which is the strongest side New Zealand can place in the field out of the twentynine players on tour. The cable messages will be eagerly scanned by enthusiasts to see who is playing in the various games, and to see how the team is faring generally. • It will be the test matches, of couriie, which will attract particular interest Four are to be played altogether, the first one on June 30. It will be recollected that when the Springboks were in New Zealand in 1921 honours were even in regard to the test matches. New Zealand won the first, South Africa the second, and the third was drawn. New Zealand football was certainly at a low ebb in 1921, not having recovered from the severe losses of players during the war period. Anyone who has watched the growth of the game since that time, and who saw those great forwards in action in the trial matches last season, will indeed receive a big shock if it so hippens that South Africa is successful. Prior to the commencement of the All Blacks' tour it is interesting to look over the records of the New Zealand Army team in South Africa in 1919, and of the British team in 1924. The Army team's record was as follows: [ I !

Played 21, won 9. lost 9. drawn 3. Points for, 175: against. 155. All Blacks' Itinerary. Following is the itinerary of matches to be played by the All Blacks:— May 50.—v. Combined Western Province Country Clubs, at Capetown. June 2.—v. Combined Capetown Clubs, at Capetown. June 6.—v. Griqualand West, at Kimberley. June 9.—v. Transvaal, at Johannesburg. June 13.—v. Orange Free State (country), at Kroonstad. June 16.—v. Transvaal, at Johannesburg. •June 20.—v. Western Transvaal, at Potshefstroom. June 23.—V. Natal, at Maritzburg. June 30.—v. South Africa (first test), at Durban^ July 7.—v. Northern Districts (Transvaal, Free State and others), at Kimberl^T. July 14.—v. Rhodesian fifteen, at Bulawayo. July 21.—v. South Africa (second test), at Johannesburg. July 25—v. Pretoria districts, at Pretoria. July 28.—v. Orange Free State, at Bloemfontein. August I.—v. North-eastern Districts, at Burghersdorp. August 4.—v. Border, at East London. August B.—v. Border, at Kingwilliamstown. August 11—v. Eastern Province, at Port Elizabeth. ' - August 18.—v. South Africa (third test), at Port Elizabeth. August 22.—v. South-western Districts, at Oudtshoorn. August 25.—v. Western Province, ai Capetown. September I.—v. South Africa (fourth test), at Capetown.

Country Clubs .. Won 8 to 6 Tow® Clubs . . Draw 3 to 3 South-western District .. Won 23 to 0 Eastern Province .. Won 15 to 0 Oranee Free State .. Won 16 to S Griqualand . . ». Lost 3 to 8 Witwatersrand .. Won 6 to 0 Mines -. Won 24 to 3 Pretoria .. .. .. Won 5 to 4 Transvaal . .. .. Won 5 to 3 Natal . . ,. . . Won 17 to 3 Universities .. Lost 8 to 9 Western Province .. Lost 6 to 17 Western Province • , Won 20 to 3 Natal .. Won 11 to 5 Summary.—Played 15. won 11, lost 3, drawn 1. The record of the 1924 British Rugln team in South Africa was as follows:— W. Province (Town and Country) Lost 6 to 7 W. Province (Universities) .. Won 9 to 8 Griqualand West . . .. Won 28 to 0 Rhodesia Won 16 to 3 Western Transvaal . . Won 8 to 7 Transvaal . . Draw 12 to 12 Orange Free State (Country) lost 0 to 6 Orange Free State . . Lost 3 to 6 atal • >■ • * »• «. Draw 3 to 3 South Africa .. • • ,. Lost 3 to 7 'The Rand . . . , Lost 6 to 10 South Africa .. .» a . Lost 0 to 17 Pretoria .. • < . . Lost 0 to 16 North-eastern .. .. . . Won 20 to 12 Cape Province .. .. t. Won 13 to 3 Border .. * • .. Won 12 to 3 Eastern Province .« .. Lost 6 to 14 South Africa . . * .. Draw 3 to 3 fouth-western .. .* .. Won 12 to 6 South Africa .. Lost 9 to 16 Western Province .. Won 8 to fi