ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19404, 13 February 1925, Page 4

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

THE PLAT AND THE PLATERS, AN AUCKLANDER’S IMPRESSIONS UTeOM Ova. Ows COEEESrOKDSKV.I AUCKLAND, February lE, A passenger by the Maheno last night was Mr F. J. Ohlsen, head master o£ Maungawhau School, who has jUH- concluded a tour of America and Britain, and for part of the time was a member of the All Blacks’ official party. Amongst other experiences with the All Blacks Mr Ohlsen acquired a new knowledge of languages. Talking to-day about the All Blacks, he remarked that probably “their hardest game was at Clanethy. Even when dur fellows had beaten Wales we were told that Clanethy considered they had a chance of beating us, and we subsequently found that these fellows from the coal mines played a terribly hard game.” Speaking generally about the All Blacks, Mr Ohlsen said that he saw them play most of their matches, and they had a wonderful reception from both public and players. Criticism of their play as being unduly rough and brutal came from only a very small section of the press, and one of the English referees who had refereed in six of the games protested against such criticism. In a speech this referee stated that in the six games in which be had taken part he saw nothing to justify that sort of criticism, and no sign of wilful or foul or rough play. tie referred the critics to the captains of the English, Welsh, and Irish international teams, stating that he was satisfied from their comments on the games that they were of the same opinion as himself. As to the standard of play Mr Ohlsen said the team maintained a remarkably high standard. “Our forwards probably did not do as well as we had expected,” he saijl, “for while they are very much superior to the Englishmen in the open and in handling the ball, the English forwards can .beat our follows at footwork when they get the ball among them. Wo certainly did not get the ball like the 1905 team did, but it has to bo remembered that the British teams have had a great deal of experience during war time of the New Zealand play, and have learned a great deal about getting the ball that they did not know in 1905. Then, again, in 1905 the All Blacks found their weaknesses in their Australian games, and before going to Britain they added Cunningham to the team, and ho proved super look in the scrum. With the present team the full complement was selected ■ before the Australian tour, and when some of tho players in that tour failed to come up to what was expected of them there was no opportunity to remedy the weaknesses. The complement had been picked, and no more could be added, while those selected could not then be turned downIt was, however, in the backs that the All Blocks made their greatest showing. The English standard of back play is muon inferior to ours. They have not tho same straight, strong running and nippy passing, and they have not the same instinct for backing up. Even in Wales they I*o not .I*llll straight .as we do hero. Nicholis and Cooke wore tho star backs and I think that in value to tho side they wore a greater pair than even Mynott and Hunter were, though, of course, of different stylo. Lucas also played some very line, finished games, notably that against the Combined Services, as did Svenson, while Steel was a greatly improved man and a wonderful scorer towards the end of tho tour. Parker played a great game throughout. Porter did not strike his best form at first, and he was injured, but towards the close of the tour ho showed his best form, especially in tho Combined Services match. He took a thoroughly keen and intelligent interest in his team right through the tour, and did everything that was possible for them. “The most wonderful feat of defence by attack I over saw was brought off by George Nepia in the Welsh match. Three Welshmen had broken through and were cominpg down our lino with only Nepia to stop them. It looked a moral try, but Nepia suddenly made a great leaping rush and dive for the ball, throwing himself right into the three Welshmen, who were bunched, and swept them all off their feet. He pot tho ball and cleared, and one of the Welshmen, tho captain, went off the field injured. I happen to know that both Mark Nicholis and Cooke were just as badly hurt at that time, but they stayed with tho game to the end. That is the difference between British and Now Zealand players. As a matter of fact, Nicholis was not able to play again till the match against England, five weeks later. They had a good many injuries at various times, and with Nicholis, M'Gregor, and Cooke showing great (form, the selectors wore afraid to change this combination much. I felt they were playing the good men rather often, but could see they were in a difficulty about keeping their combination. I should have liked to have seen Lucas get another game in tho internationals. Stewart would have been one of tho stars, but bo fell ill, and Harvey was

kept ant a lot by iHnoss. In fact, I think the team did wonderfully well to keep from going stale, but they watched their training very doeely."