IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 12

IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR.

WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY

NEW ZEALAND'S WEAKNESS.

INSIDE BACKS AT FAULT. Tlv? captain of the Wallabies, Mr. S. J. Malcolm, and the acting-manager, Mr. G. T. B- Palmer, spoke in glowing terms vesterday of the hospitality extended to the team during its tour through New Zealand. ' .Both 'expressed deep appreciation of the- treatment received at every place visited. Mr. Palmer, who took over the managership when Mr. T. C. Davis was called suddenly home, .in giving his opinion of the play of the .team, said one of the chief faults was tint the forwards were all taught to play *is backs. An Australian team would nev&r beat a New Zealand side in the Dominion until the forwards did the r work as pack. " I consider we will beat e All Rlacks on their next visit to Aii«t\alia, ' said Mr. Palmer. " The chief reason is because the grounds are faster in Australia and the. ball becomes more lively. 1 his, to a great ext?nt, will rob the All Bltfi.k pack of its wonderful dribbling ability. What New Zealand has to find if it is to win is inside backs." Forward Play Praised. Mr. Palmer was most enthusiastic regarding the forward play in New Zealand. " The best pa-.-k we met was undoubtedly that of the combined Shield districts team." he said. "'lhey played wonderful football and beat us by the biggest margin of the tour. On their day they were even better than the All Black pack. I have never seen Australian forwards look-so hopeless against any team." " A big fault with the Wallabies' backs is their indiscriminate passing, and, at times, 'bad handling," continued Mr. Palmer. "We had great difficulty in moulding our team owing to the players coming from New South Wales, Queenshind and Victoria, and conseqaently not understanding one another's play. In future it would, in my opinion, be better if touring te; ins were brought wer and given a week's spell before a match. The tourists would then play betber football and consequently it would be better for the New Zealand Union from a financial point of view." Questioned regarding.the best provincial side the tourists had met, Mr. Palmer said he would hand the palm to Otago as an all-round combination. In conclusion., Mr. .Palmer said the l'efeiecs had been most satisfactory.

Opinion of Captain. Mr. S. J. Malcolm, captain of the Wallabies, expressed the opinion that the weakness in the All Blacks at the piesent time was in the backs, especially the insido men. None of the backs had impressed by brilliance aud wero really more of the solid type. All the foiwaid teams had been good and of the rugged type familiar to New Zealand play. "We are rather disappointed at not winning more matches." said Mr. Malcolm. "At the same time the matches have created the best of feeling and, aftci all, that is the main thing with regard to touring sdes. We were unlucky to strike heavy grounds for most of our t matches, as our players display their best football on fast grounds. A sample of the football they are capable of producing was provided in the test match at Auckland, Eden Park being the fastest ground on which the team played. "Even allowing for the condition of some of the grounds our backs have let ns down," continued Mr. Malcolm. 1 hey have provided some sparkling football, but have not, shown the all-round form anticipated." Mr. Malcolm spoke most appreciatively of the wonderful hospitality extended to the team on all sides. He said he wished to thank everyone who had helped to make the tour so enjoyable. All the players were looking forward to the rvew Zealand team's tour next season. "Wo have learned quite a lot from the tour, and consider our chances against the Springboks two years hence have been greatly enhanced as a result," concluded Mr. Malcolm. . , , The Wallabies will arrive in Auckland bv the early express this morning and will return "to Sydney by the Maunganui to-morrow.