ALL BLACKS DEFEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 11

ALL BLACKS DEFEAT.

h LOSS OF FIRST TEST.

BEATEN BY EXPERIENCE.

, GREAT PRAISE FOR CAUGHEY.

FORWARDS PLAY SPLENDIDLY.

[fROM ,01' K OWN COR I! ESTON PENT. ] ' SYDNEY. July 7. and experience versus youth and enthusiasm, 3!U ' a K° anc ' experience won. ghat surtis up the glorious first test, match played between the All Rlacks and Australia before a highly-delighted crowd of 30,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground Jast Saturday. During the week sinco had been able to snatch victory frofu New South Wales in the last few

jninutes the New Zealand team had iin

proved wonderfully, and from the time the ball was kicked off last Saturday they fltincf themselves into the fight with an enthusiasm that was good to watch. Those A'U Black forwards! Will anyone who saw the match ever forget those brilliant charges up and down the field rhich were a feature of this memorable match ? Who said Rugby in New Zealand must be on the decline? Quite a / number of people were rash enough to do to after the first game of the tour, but now they have readjusted their opinions. Onco again the setting for the match was perfect, bijt more perfect for the Australians than for the New Zenlanders. It might almost be said that conditions were too perfect for the All Blacks, for erne feels certain they would have been more at home on a ground a little less like concrete. A little mud might have turned defeat into victory. There was no wind arid a cloudless sky, and the crowd was present long before the teams appeared shortly before three o'clock. Counted Out.

There was no necessity for (lie crowd to demand tho haka. The All Blacks knew what was expected of them, and performed (heir war cry first in front of the main stand, and then for the benefit of the people on the "hill." This consideration for the "hill" crowd is always appreciated. There was <S» expectant hush as tho game began. It was as though the old Union game was o n its trial. Gould it provide the thrills that the crowd wanted ? It was easy to judge the frame of mind of the crowd when, after a number of ,line-outs in quick succession, the All Blacks wefe hooted for kicking the ball to the side-line. The next time this happened there was a ''count out." But those who went to scoff remained to cheer, and cheer they did. They could not help themselves. They may have befln biased in favour of Australia, but the All Blacks, by their very brilliance, forced the/crowd 'to its feet. So did the Australians, for that matter. The fortunes of the play veered so quickly that the crowd was wondering, right up to the last whistle, which side was going / to. emerge victorious. It was a wonderful second spell, and the cries of "Black! Black! Black!" proved that there were hundreds of New Zealanders thrilled by the display of their countrymen. Resourceful Forward. Time and again the All Black forwards flashed away. It is impossible to say who started these brilliant movements, but one is inclined to give the credit to McLean, who is easily one of the best forwards New Zealand has ever produced. That is saying a great deal, but the Sydney people have, taken him fo their hearts and will never tire of watching him. He can certainly rank among the greatest of the All Blacks. It might not be too much to say that he was the most resourceful player on' the field. It would be wrong to say ho was the best player on the day. That distinction goes to ,T. Steggall, the brilliant fullback from Queensland. Steggall was the main Stumbling,'block to the New Zealanders. He was a rock, a brick wall, from which tlie ball always bounced back. ITe did not make a single mistake during the whole day. He kicked well, tackled bravely and surely, and showed amazing courage and enterprise. But the main strength of the Australian side lay in three veterans —the halfback, fi. Malcolm ; the five-eighths and captain, T. Lawtou; and the threequarter, S. King. Here were three "old heads," who knew every trick of the game, and utilised every trick. It was their experience that brought about New Zealand's defeat. Lawton is 35 years of age and he has been playing first-class football for more than 15 years. Ho may have lost some of his dash in recent years, but he has Inst none of his shrewdness. If New Zealand had possessed a captain of equal experience tho tables might have been turned. Malcolm and King are both old Waratahs, arid as these three had played so often /together they were able to combine in a way that often spelt disaster to New Zealand. Lack of Experience. Comparing the play of both sides one Is forced to the conclusion that lack of experience alone accounted for the defeat of New Zealand. Kilby gave tho impression of a perfect captain, keen and willing, and always on the look out for openings, but be had behind him only one Page, who had previously played in B test match.

Follock and Froctor seemed to he most affpcted by Ihe greatness of the occasion, and their nervousness might have accounted for a, little fumbling at critical periods of the game. Kilby sent his passes out quickly, but. there was riot that'backing up which was so evident flmong the more experienced backs who played for Australia.

Bullock-Douglas scored a beautiful try 'n the first spell, but after that bis existence seemed to be forgotten and little play came his way. Ho was opposed to the brilliant Victorian, Cowper, and it must be admitted that he did his share in defending against this fast young man. It is predicted that Caughey will hecome a great. All Black. Tie played under & great disadvantage iti the second spell, with his head bandaged and his right "ye closed. He played on pluckily and his tackling was just as game at the of the match as it was at the beginning. If New Zealand had been less unfortunate in the way of accidents there might have been a different tale to tell. No one would accuse Australia of playing a reach game, but it is well to remember that when a man was knocked out it was Invariably a New Zealander. Superb Forward Play. Although the All Black forwards were best in Ihe open play they lost most of the scrums and the line-outs. The three—two—three formation seemed to worry the AH Blacks, and when they overcome this they will be a still better lot. McLean's brilliance has already been commented *'pon, and if should lie added that he took a leading part in two of New Zealand's tries. Steere set a fine example in the tight, work, and Purdue and CottHl Tvej-p wonderful all the time. As the "vdney Morning Herald said, these forwards went, close to winning the game for New Zealand. They played superljy, changing the scene of attack brilliantly ®nd surprisingly. Tjilburne, an old hand, was safe at fulla?k, but he did not approach the brilu" C ? of Steggall. Tt was unfortunate " a t New Zealand should have been pensed on two occasions at points which ?? ve I ,a wton easy kicks at the goal. In Jsy w hol» match Australia was awarded penalties, whereas only Beven were liven to New Zealand.