TO-DAY'S RUGBY TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 15

TO-DAY'S RUGBY TEST.

&LL BLACKS AND BRITAIN. NEW ZEALAND FAVOURED. IMPORTANCE OF FORWARDS. PREVIOUS CONTESTS RECALLED. The Srst test match of the British Rugby team's tour will be played at Dun- / edin this afternoon and its result will he awaited with interest in all parts of the Rugby %vorld. New Zealanders will be particularly interested to note how the experienced All Blacks shape against the visitors. A great deal, in fact, almost everything* will depend upon the New Zealand forwards. If they can secure the tall the All Blacks should win comfortably, as the backs are a good attacking combination, with plenty of speed and Uippiness in the five-eighths and tho threequarter lme. On the other hand, if tho British forwards are able to control the ball, the New Zealanders will have a day of tackling the speedy British backs. Tho defence of Lilburne, Cooke and Nepia is, of course, beyond reproach, but there is a doubt about the threequarter line being ablo to do overmuch stopping. The New Zealand football public, however, will be sadly disappointed if the All Black forwards do not come out on top. and, if such proves the case, the Britishers' defence will be more severely tested than it was in either of tho Well- ' ington or Canterbury matches. Experienced All Blacks. It is difficult to conceive that the visitors have any so far unrevealed tactics which will avail them much against such seasoned and experienced players as they are being called upon to meet this afternoon. Six of the All Blacks toured the United Kingdom in 1924, six of them went to South Africa two years ago, while several of them have been to Australia and have played against Australian teams in the Dominion. The British team will be the same as that which overwhelmed Otago a week ago, and, with the exception of Sobey, who is still on the injured list, is about Ihe strongest the tourists could possibly field. Summing up this prospects it may be predicted that, barring accidents, the All Blacks will have a comfortable margin in their favour at tho finish. In view of to-day's test match, it is • interesting to recall the results of previous interchanges of tours between New Zealand and Great Britain. The first British team to visit the Dominion came out in 1888 under the captaincy of A. E. Stoddart. It played 19 matches in New Zealand, 13 being won, two lost and four drawn. The two games lost were against Auckland and Taranaki. No matches were played against New Zealand, but the visitors met and twice defeated the South Island. Bedell-Sivright's Team. The second British team to come to New Zealand was D. R- Bedell-Sivright's 1904 combination, which played five matches, / won two, lost two, while one was drawn. The visitors deieated Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast (combined), at Christchurch, by 5 points to 3, and Otago and Southland (combined), at Dunedin, by 14 points to 8. They were defeated by New Zealand, &-o, and Auckland, 13—0. while there was no score in the Taranaki match. The New Zealand team on that occasion was:—Fullback, R. McGregor (Auckland); three-quarters, W- J- Wallace (Wellington), E. T. Harper (Canterbury), D. McGregor (Canterbury); fiveeighths, M. E. Wood (Canterbury), J ,W. Stead, captain (Southland); halfback, P. Harvev (Canterbury); wing-forward, D- Gallaher (Auckland); forwards, A. McMinn (Manawatu), G. Tyler (Auckland), B. J. Fanning (Canterbury), T. Cross (Wellington), W. S. Glenn (Taranaki),'C. E. Seeling (Auckland), G. W. Nicholson (Auckland). Of the British team three members subsequently returned and settled in New Zealand. Dr. O'Brien is practising in Christchurch, Dr. McEvedy in Wellington, and A. F. Harding, who subsequently captained the 1903 Anglo-Welsh team, is now farming near Taihape. A. F. Harding's AngloAVelsh team came to the Dominion in 1908 and played three test matches against New Zealand, the results being:—First test, at Dunedin, June 6, New Zealand won by 32 points to 5; second test, at Wellington, draw, 3—3; third test, at Auckland, New Zealand won by 29 points .to 0. 1908 All Blacks. The New Zealand team for the first test was:—Fullba.ck, J. D. Colman (Taranaki); threequarters, D. Cameron (lara- ' naki), F. Mitchirison (Wellington). H. D. Thomson (Wellington); five-eighths, J. Hunter (Taranaki), J. W. Stead, captain (Southland); halfback, F. Roberts (Wellington); wing-forward, G. Gillett (Auckland); forwards, S- Casey (Otago), E. E. Hughes (Southland), A. H. Francis (Auckland), W. Cunningham (Auckland), A. Wilson (Wellington), C. E. Seeling (Auckland), A. McDonald (Otago). Tho second test team was: —Lullhack, W. J- Wallace (Wellington); threequarters, D. Cameron, F. Mitchinson, F. C. Fryer (Canterbury); five-eighths, JHunter (captain), G. D. Gray (Canterbury); halfback, P. J. Burns (Canterbury); wing-forward, D. Hamilton (Southland); forwards, W. Ready (Wellington), P. Murray (Wanganui), A. H. Francis, W. Cunningham, A. Wilson, A. Patterson (Otago), C. E. Seeling (Auckland). Further alterations were made for the third test, the team being:—Fullback, J. D. Colman; threequarters, D. Cameron, F. Mitchinson, R. G. Deans (Canterbury) ; five-eighths, J. Hunter, J. W. Stead, captain; halfback, F. Roberts; wing-forward, G. Gillett; forwards, W. Beady, F. T. Glasgow (Southland), A. H. Francis, W. Cunningham, C. E- Seeling, A. Patterson, H. Hayward (Auckland). A. F. Harding, the Anglo-Welsh captain, who was playing as rover, retired injured after three minutes' play and P. F. McEvedy then captained the side. New Zealand Teams Abroad. The first team from New Zealand to tour the Old Country was the Native side in 1383-89, captained by J. A. Warbrick. It played the remarkable number of 74 games, 49 being won, 20 lost and 5 drawn. It defeated Ireland, 13—4; but lost, to Wales, o—s; and England, o—7. The New Zealand team of 1905 became universally known as tho All Blacks, who lost but one match in the United Kingi dom out of 52 played. This loss was * against Wales. o—3,0 —3, and it is still very much discussed to this day. The late R. G. Deans was alleged to have scored a try which was admitted by several of the Welsh players. Victories were gained over Scotland 12—7, Ireland 15—0, and England 15—0. The victorious tour of tho 1924 All Blacks is still fresh in the memories of present-day • Rugby followers. Twentyeight matches were played in the United t Kingdom and two in France, and not a loss was sustained. No match was played against' Scotland, but the other internationals resulted in tho defeat of Ireland 6—o, Wales 13—0, and England 17—11. France was beaten 37—8 an 3 30-6.