THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1936 THE ALL BLACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22345, 17 February 1936, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1936 THE ALL BLACKS

The All Blacks are assured of a warm welcome on their return this morning from an arduous and genuinely successful tour. They have done New Zealand credit in victory and defeat, both on the field and on those social occasions which are not the least part of their sporting expedition. A balanced review of the whole tour from the manager, Mr. Meredith, is published this morning, a review that should assist in getting the All Blacks' record in perspective. That is necessary because many armchair critics have been exceedingly busy and not always very fair. They concentrate on a few occasions and contrive to give an impression which depreciates a fine achievement. The fact is that the New Zealanders played the Rugby elite of the populous British Isles in 30 matches, most of them hard games, and won 26, lost three and drew one. In the internationals, they lost to England and Wales and de- ! feated Scotland and Ireland, leaving the honours even. That is a wonderful result to set against New Zealand's name and fame. On that result the Times took occasion to remark that "the words All Black still are words to conjure with and will be again." Those who are disposed to quarrel with the All Blacks' record are really writing off the bulk of the tour as of no account and magnifying the reverses. Thus they exhibit a lack of proportion, which in one respect exposes an insular conceit as to New Zealand's standing. in the scheme of things—a country with a population one-fifth that of London's —and in another lays bare a spirit alien to sportsmanship, a.spirit that counts winning above everything else.

Against all this, the. calm tone of Mr. Meredith's review is admirable. He begins with an unqualified acknowledgment that defeats had to be accepted at the hands of better teams. He goes on to a careful survey of causes and quite fairly notes the general opinion that the standard of British football has improved. Indeed it would be strange if the British had not picked up some tricks from their overseas visitors. So the opposition to the All Blacks was harder, consistently harder, for there were very few holiday games and cricket scores on this tour. That and the arrangement of the itinerary surely contributed to the staleness of the New Zealanders noted by most critics in their last match against England. Even so, it is thought that at the top of their form the All Blacks could hardly have denied the Englishmen on the day. And here is another point made by Mr. Meredith —the two or three outstanding players, particularly in the backs, that were able to lift the principal opposing sides to great heights. It is such football genius that makes all the difference when two strong teams are matched. NewZealand on this occasion simply did not possess such bright and shining stars, nor can they be produced nor trained to order. Geniuses are born, not made. That nothing was neglected that could be accomplished by study, hard work and persistence is proved by the steady improvement of the unfamiliar three-fronted scrum until, with Hadley's inspired hooking, what had been a handicap became a source of strength. This unexpected success served to show up the weakness of the inside backs, a weakness fully anticipated before the team left these -shores. Apparently experience and practice were not equal to supplying the special qualities of penetration, initiative and dash required at this pivotal point. From the team work of the side, however, and from its general record, New Zealand can be satisfied that the utmost was obtained from the material available. The All Blacks themselves were well up to average standard ; what they lacked were those few that transcend the average and transform the game, that made all the difference to England and Wales this year, that have in the past given New Zealand the palm, and will do so again. They happen, these football geniuses; nor can tedious inquests on the past nor earnest reforms in the future supply their lack. Meanwhile the immediate business is to give the All Blacks the welcome they deserve for the fine manner in which they have represented their country on and off the field. New Zealand possesses a very special place in the heart of Britain and the All Blacks have more than held it by their conduct on this tour. There have been no "incidents," no reproaches, no reserve in the British acclaim of New Zealand sportsmanship and no cause for any, A certain impression of gladiatorial grimness, of a "win-at-all-costs" attitude, that has been present on many "sporting" occasions in the post-war years, has been absent this time. The game is the better for it and so are New Zealand's relations with Britain. The All Blacks have made us many friends and raised our stature in the estimate of all good sportsmen.