WARM WELCOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27213, 17 October 1949, Page 7

WARM WELCOME

OTAGO’S ALL BLACKS

SIDELIGHTS ON TOUR Seven Otago members of the All Black team in South Africa returned to their homes by the express from Christchurch on Saturday afternoon. They were R. R. Elvidge, C. Willocks, K, L. Skinner, J.'R. McNab, L. R. Harvey, p. A. Johnstone and N. Wilson. I. J. Botting is now on his way to England, and the other three Otago players —J. C. Kearney, R. A. Dalton and W. A. Meates —are expected to return this week.

Harvey left the train at Palmerston, where he was welcomed by country Rugby enthusiasts, and when the remainder of the party reached Dunedin they were greeted by a crowd of several hundred people and were accorded musical honours by the Dunedin Ladies’ Brass Band.

The players were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor, Cr L. M, Wright, and the president of the Otago Rugby Football Union, Mr H. G. Munro, who said that Otago was very proud of its All Black representatives. They had proved worthy ambassadors of Otago and New Zealand, added Mr Munro, and he was pleased to see them return looking so fit and well. Speaking on behalf of his teammates, R. R. Elvidge expressed appreciation of the welcome that had been given them and of their pleasure at being home again. He also congratulated the 1949 Otago team on the “ very good job it had done ” in holding the Ranfurly Shield. Air Travel Desirable The returning All Blacks were interviewed by the Daily Times on their way south and they were unanimous that some effort should be made in future tours of South Africa for the teams to travel by air instead of having to undertake such long and gruelling train journeys. They suggested at least the same number of matches spread over a shorter period and added thafr two matches a week were needed to get 30 players fit. The climatic conditions had affected the fitness of the players,- the Otago men said and they agreed that the most enjoyable games were those played in Cape Town—the match against Western Province and the first test—where the conditions approximated* more those experienced in New Zealand. The Otago men agreed that there '•ere no particularly outstanding or illiant individuals among the South 'deans, but J. D. Brewis, they said, ve an outstanding display in the jeond test. Skinner and Johnstone classed “Bubbles” Koch, the Springbok lock or side-row forward, as the best forward the All Blacks encountered and M. Lategan as the best attacking back. Others mentioned by the Otago players were van Schoor as a great defensive player, van der Schyff as

a very sound and determined fullback, Geraghty, the winger, and younger players of great promise in Denis Fry and the winger Ochse.

“ Bob Scott was wonderful,” said Johnstone when asked to name an outstanding member of the New Zealand team, " and- so far as full-back play went he never put a foot wrong." Members of the party agreed that, the All Blacks had learnt lessons from the Springboks only in regard to set scrummaging. It was doubtful, however, they said, whether New Zealand referees would allow .the methods which were permitted by the South African interpretation of the rules, and this was a matter which had yet to be tested in the Dominion. Even though Scott was not successful with his goal kicking, the players agreed that he was still the best kicker in the side. He had a very unlucky patch, they said, many of his shots hitting the posts, and he had no easy, kicks. . Attack Lacking The players did not concede that it was because the All Blacks had any special means of cover defence that the South Africans could score only eight tries during the whole tour, but rather was it due, they said, to the fact that the South African attack was poor. They added that the South Africans very seldom endeavoured to penetrate with their forwards.

The South African No. 8 forward was very difficult to combat, Elvidge said, and the All Blacks did not find any effective counter to his play. The eighth man usually went for the New Zealand fly-halves, he added, and as the ball was not coming out quickly enough, the All Blacks had to use the line and consequently the threequarters had very limited opportunities.

Elvidge said that university Rugby in South Africa was of a very good standard. The Combined Universities team in Cape Town was a particularly good one, but the Northern Universities did not have the same number of players from which to make their selection.

Although no definite date has yet been announced, it is believed the next tour of New Zealand by a South African team will take place in 1954. The Otago members of the team all hope to play again next season.

A small gathering was present at the Balclutha Railway Station to meet J. R. McNab and C. Willocks. Among those present was the -Mayor, Mr I. Jenkins.