ALL BLACKS' TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 10

ALL BLACKS' TOUR

(RUGBY ANNUAL REVIEW/ GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP FORM OF' THE PLAYERS PRAISE AND CRITICISM [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 16 ( The "exhaustive English Rugby foottall annual for 1936-37 contains a special reference to the All Blacks' tour last season and their "unusual" experience of securing comparatively few walks-over, a number of close shaves and three defeats. "The New Zealanders were far too good sportsmen to excuse themselves by making excuses, as the saving goes," comments the editor. "They recognised their own weak spots, but they preferred to talk of the strong points of thei:: opponents. The latter for their part preferred to think less of facts and figures than the excellent spirit in which, most of the matches were played. "The very few exceptions to this pleasant rule, it should be granted at once, were due to an excess of local keenness and the scarcity of good referees. The restraint of the New Zealanders on these occasions was admirable. Indeed, of the whole party of 29. only two—one back and one forward —seriously offended against the rules. Mr. 'Meredith was a man of courage and character, mostly invisible but charming. Now Zealand, like Great Britain, however, is apt to ignore the value of strong captaincy on the field of play. Most Constructive Back "With Page a casualty the back play sadly' lacked the essential straight running and drawing power of the first five-eighths. Oliver conceivably might have remedied the defect, but he was .used as centre except against Wales. He was the most constructive of the backs, but much of iiis work was wasted by having to make openings in the threequarter line instead of at first fiveeighths. Caugbey, a runner with a fine stride, but liable to be suppressed by close marking and heavy tackling, scored some first-class tries bat he was not a constructive player in the full sense of the vord. "Griffiths be:ame the chief first fiveeighths and, in defence, was magnificent. His picking up of the rolling ball and clearing under pressure could hardlv have been improved upon. In attack, he sadly lacked the penetrative power find elusive brilliance of the old All Blacks—he was the mere shadow of Hunter, for eximple. Among the wings Hart had the speed and polish. Given more runs for the line and he must have scored niiiny more tries. Sadler was dead game, cool, a splendid passer, and the possessor of a slipway that would have cost the British teams many more tries if tho All Black forwards had not been held for most of the time. Outstanding Players "Broadly speaking the touring team triumphed over a general situation that did not make things too easy for them. The outstanding players were Gilbert, Hart, Oliver, Mitchell, Sadler and Hadley. The list mention was not a dramatic player but in manv was the complete forward from the British'point of view. Perhaps as the chief try-scorer, Caughey should be included, while the veteran Hore was not far behind Hadley. Lambourn was another sterling man in the front row. Manchester was a thorough sportsman as well as captain." 11l reviewing the games* it is recorded that some of the All Blacks' scrummaging W as really bad. The best match of the tour is considered to have been nlaved at Murravfield against Scotland. The niost thrilling struggle was seen against Wales, and it is noted that, a lot had to happen before Cardiff. was to be lauded as Cardiff 1900 o\er r<W' In one way "1936" was the greater effort of the two for Wales lor-t their lead of 7 points and their hooker, too, and yet fought their way back to victors in the closing minutes "It was then 'Land of My Fathers with a vengeance. Defeat, By England England is considered to have upset all calculations bv beating New Zealand m the last Test, thereby beating the All Blacks for the first time. Tho prime reason for the defeat, it is stated, "was the solid work of a heavy English pack supported by close marking/heavy tackling and periodic breaks away bv runners who were both strong and fast, with, moreover, a surprising sense/of backing each other UPface of all this the All Blacks could not break loose and the backs lost confidence and grip. Even Gilbert relapsed into moderate form as a kicker. Such was the notable end of another notable tour by a {earn from one of the strongholds of Rugby."