NO ILL FEELING

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12024, 30 December 1924, Page 5

NO ILL FEELING

NEW ZEALAND AND SCOTLAND. SCOTCH PLAYERS WELCOME. (Sydney “Sun" Cable.) LONDON, December 28. Mr S. S. Dean, manager of the New Zealand team, replying for the All - Blacks at the London Rugby Onion’s dinner after the match, expressed the hope that a British team would be 1 visiting New Zealand in 1926, and that the team would include Scottish players. He dissociated himself from any suggestion that there was friction between Scotland and New Zealand. NOTEB ON THE TEAM The report of the composition of the All Blacks’ “test fifteen’’ is probably accurate. Indeed, if the teams which have taken the field for New Zealand in the major engagements of the tour ' be remembered, the team for Saturday practically ‘‘picks itself.” Nepia, of course, is the greatest “certainty” of all. In twenty-seven matches he has never played poorly, and as often as not has played brilliantly. He bas not only been a sound defender, but to the discovery of the English has frequently initiated passing attacks. THE THREE-QUARTERS. The add test of a strenuous tour of matches played under aB kinds of conditions has revealed the best threequarters as Steel, Cooke, and Svenson. The Wellington man has played most consistently-, always sure in defence, he is now, apparently, almost equally ' capable in attack. On the other . wing, in the more important matches, Hart, Parker, Rbbilliard, and Lucas have all been tried. After his pbenominal soaring record in the North of England, Hart gained a place in the film “test team,” against Ireland, but Steel came into his own against Wales, tiie Combined Services, and again against London Counties. THE RISE OP McGREGOR. Cooke in the early matches of the tour partnered NacnoDs in the fiveeighth line, but since the rise of McGregor to prominence the Auckland star has been scintillating at centre. If a trophy were offered for the “most improved pbfyer” of the tour it is likely that it would be awarded to McGregor. 'When the team left New Zealand it was recognised that another five-eighth to match NichoUs would have to be found. Information recently to hand from England indicates that McQregpr has developed into * player greater even than the expectations of his friends. MILL’S TRIUMPH. Mill, despite the batter criticism he received during, and after the Jfe* South Wales tour, has proved hamaalf the best half-back in the team. He . baa played in almost every important match of the tour—Cumberland, Chm- , bridge, London Counties (2), Cardiff, WWee, and Combined Services. Parker has definitely established himself as the superior of Porter, under the conditions ruling in Enipaad. The All Blacks’ captain nas found the English referees too much for him. FRONT-RANKERS. Unfortunate injuries to Harvey .and Mutkto have deprived the team of the sewices of two fine forwards. Donald and Irvine, with Masters as lock have gone down first in the great majority of the scrummages. About six forwards have shared the greater part of the work on the side and back of the scrum. M. Brownlie and Richardson have been remarkably consistent, and the same can be said of Whits. Stewart bad reached the front rank of forwards at the time df the Irish match, but he was prevented from playing in it by an attack of pleurisy. Cyril Brownlie is not nearly so consistent as his brother, but when “on his game” there is no more dangerous forward in the team. Guppies, whom the Springboks considered the beat forward in New Zealand during their tour,'is apparently a player better than ever.

The fifteen winch defeated London Counties cm Saturday was the same a* that which overwhelmed Wales.