ALL BLACKS' TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22259, 6 November 1935, Page 21

ALL BLACKS' TOUR

VAEIETY IN SCORING IMPORTANCE OF KICKING THE NON-REPLACEMENT RULE The All Blacks continue to provide variety in their methods of winning matches. In the game at Newport, Tindill emulated Bennie Osier, the wellknown South African five-eighths, who probably has won more matches by potted goals than any other player the Rugby world hns known. The All Blacks registered but one try, and Newport's total was gained in similar manner. Thus some people may be led to tho conclusion that the New Zealanders were again rather lucky to win. However, accurate goal-kicking is just as useful in a match as ability to scoro tries. In fact opportunities to add to a total by means of penalties usually occur much inoro frequently than openings for tries. Likewiso a brainy player with an accurate boot keeps the opposition on the qui vivo when he varies his tactics by occasionally dropping at goal instead of sending tho ball on to the backs outside him. With two potted goals, a penalty goal, a goal from a mark and a try there was almost all the variety of scoring possiblo in the All Blacks' total. It is pleasing to learn that tho forwards are still holding their own against solid opposition. It may transpire that quick-breaking by winging forwards at Newport caused Tindill to stand deep at first five-eighths and drop at goal before his opponents could pounce upon him.

GOOD PLAY BY WALES POOR EXHIBITION FOLLOWS After raising the hopes of everyone by three good displays against strong Welsh teams, tho All Blacks have again given a disappointing exhibition. They scored three tries in tho second spell last Saturday when the home team was one man short. The in-and-out form is certainly puzzling the New Zealand public just as much as it is the critics at Homo

It is disappointing to learn that the forwards once more played without energy. Perhaps the three hard games in Wales had affected them, and it must also be borne in mind that the team had to play two hard games in a space of three days, having defeated Newport on Thursday.

However, with the approach of the first international match, the cabled report of tho latest exhibition is not at all reassuring.lt looks from this distance as though tho manager of the team will have to make the forwards consistently practise scrummaging, as, no matter how good the backs may bo. they cannot possiblv score tries without possession of the hall. Some of the backs are playing just as inconsistently as the forwards and tho weak defence of Caughey and Brown will not enhance their international prospects. The fact that fifteen men were playing fourteen for the greater part of the game may revive the controversy regarding replacements. It is the practice in New Zealand to replace injured players at any stage of the game. In other places replacements are permitted up to half time. However, the International Board, under whose rules the touring team /is playing, will not allow any replacements whatever, irrespective of the countrv in which the matches are being played.