THE ALL BLACKS

Southland Times, Issue 19389, 1 November 1924, Page 6

THE ALL BLACKS

FIRST TEST MATCH TO-DAY GAME AGAINST IRELAND ABOUT THE HOME TEAM. A REVIEW OF THE PAST SEASON. Under the caption, “Ireland's Disappointtoent,” Mr James; W. Whitehead, writing in Wisden’s Almanack, reviews the record of Ireland in the International tournament last year. In view of the All Blacks playing the first Test match with Ireland today, the article is of more than passing interest. "Ireland,” writes Mr Whitehead, “has Dot done well in the International tourna- j ment since the war, but the season 1923 was particularly disappointing to Irishmen because, before the disillusionment at Leicester there existed high hopes their representatives would do really well in the year’s big matches. IRISH CONFIDENT. “Despite the troubled times, when January—the month of trials—arrived, the game was in a flourishing condition in Leinster and Ulster, and though circumstances over which they had no control had prevented I the clubs in Munster from carrying through their usual programmes, the fine form shown by the Cork Constitution team on a tour in Dublin convinced most peo|>le that Munster would not easily suffer defeat in the Inter-Provincials. In passing, it may be remarked that this opinion proved correct, for the southern province was * beaten in both matches only after two hard games, in one of which she was a decidedly unlucky loser. Ulster, however, won the inter-provincial championship, as from the first game it was obvious she would. The trials were interesting enough, but, as events turned out not particularly helpful to the selectors. “The evidence of an improvement in Irish club form raised eveiybody’s hopes. Dublin University, on their English tour, beat Liverpool, Cambridge University and a strong Aidershot Command team, and they returned to Dublin to defeat the Univereietis of Oxford and Edinburgh. “There is no need, however, further to detail the grounds on which Irish confidence was based, but it is strange, yet true, that the International reverses which followed did not altogether disprove the belief that the standard of play in Ireland in 1923 was higher than in any previous season since the war. Unfortunately, however, the Irish Rugby Union persists in its old fashioned trial system. As trials, the inter-provincial matches are altogether inadequate. Perhaps if they were played early in the season, they might sen e a useful purpose, but not unless they were followed by three real trials. It is, indeed, probable that Ireland has lost the services of some really useful players because of her presen: trial system. It is not easy to persuade Irishmen resident in Britain to cross the Channel two weekends running to play in the inter-provin-cials. At the same time, it is hardly fair to home Irishmen to select for the final trial Anglo-Irish players who have not been tested in games which rank as preliminary trials. Whatever new system they may evolve —the public outcry for a revision of the present trial system must in the end be heeded—the Irish Rugby Union officials will have to make special provision for Anglo-Irishmen. THE INTERNATIONAL MATCHES. ‘"Generally speaking the team to meet England gave satisfaction, though the halves selected did not please everybody. But, ever, those who were dissatisfied, did not . predict such a heavy defeat as occurred at ' Leicester For that failure the forwards ! were chiefly to blame. Much the lighter lot, they totally failed to hold a strong and speedy English pack. “Against Scotland a fortnight later, there certainly was an improvement forward. Although outplayed in the scrummage, the Irish eight tackled and dribbled much better than they had done at Leicester. In this match, the Irish three-quarters were to be sympathised with, for, with only one chance to every five or six the Scots had, they accomplished great work and came through the day with honour. "Ireland’s only victory was gained at the expense of a much weakened Welsh side. Once again the half-backs proved to be Ireland's weak point. Though they all did good things, none of the Irish three-quarters was seen at their best, but the improvement in the pack continued, the most prominent forwards being McClelland, Clinch and R. D. and W. P. Collopy. “Ireland's last match turned out one of the most disappointing of all. The chief causes of the Irish defeat lay in the failure of the forwards to mark their men out of touch, and the poorness of the Irish backs. Ireland might have done better had the forwards, realising the weakness behind them, not tried to let the ball out so often. Excepting Crawford, who played a great game, the only Irish backs to do at all well were strangely enough two newcomers to the year’s team—J. Clarke, who thoroughly justified his inclusion at scrum-half, and A. C. Douglas, who, displacing his clubmate. R. O. McClenahan, played really well. • R. Y. Crichton, selected for the first time in 1923, was very nearly the best forward on the field. THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS. “One man stood out above his fellows in Irish International teams since the war. Ireland has probably never had a more determined or pluckier full-back than W. E. Crawford. The more gruelling his task the better he seems to do, and, though in 1923, he may not have been so brilliant as in previous seasons, he, nevertheless, again served his country magnificently. He was, of course, the veteran of last year’s Irish teams, and he may now retire from International football. But, whether he does or not, he will always be remembered as a full-back who saved his country a record number of scores. “Ireland expected much of her threequarters last season. The six that played had speed, knew how to run straight, and in club games and trials had shown brilliant form. In the first three Internationals, however, they had never enough chances to get going, and for this the failure of the Irish fonvards to get possession and of the ‘halves ’to combine happily was responsible. That was bad enough, but it was worse still to find the three-quarters, when (against France), they got a fair share of the ball, failing to rise to the occasion. The biggest disappointment of the line was G. V. Stephenson, who had previously shown splendid form, and yet, at Colombes. appeared very ordinary stuff indeed. In a sentence, it may be said that all the Irish threes’ played well enough when they were behind beaten forwards to justify their selection, but, when they had some chance of shining, they failed totally to utilise it. THE HALF BACK PROBLEM. “Probably Ireland’s young and speedy three-quarters will never do themselves full justice until the selectors solve the half-back problem. Ireland badly needs a good attacking out-half and a scrum-half who can combine properly with him. W. H. Halt who played in all four matches last season, is a purely offensive player, and against England had little chance of doing welL Against Wales and Scotland he suffered because he was getting poor passes from his partner, W. A. Cunningham, but, at Colombes, he did not do so badly, even though his work with his centres hardly ever hdlding a pass bore no fruit. Certainly he was happier with J. Clarke as partner than he had been in the previous matches. The other two scrum-halves—J. B. Gardiner and W. Cunningham—are really ‘outsides. 1 They play ‘stand-off’ for their respective clubs and Gardiner often goes into the centre —where he has given promise of one day doing well in big football—and it

was hardly fair to either of them to ask Them to face such specialists as Kershaw, Bryce or Ddahay. Probably, however, the selectors were influenced by the poor form shown by Clarke in dub matches early in

■ * . r I the season—when, working hard for an examination, he had little or no time for i training. ‘‘Of the Irish packs last season, that at Leicester proved particularly disappointing. ' It was not so much that it was light as that ’ it totally lacked fire, and allowed the Eng- | lishmen to do pretty much as they pleased. However, the return of that fine forward, W. P. Collopy, marked the beginning of an improvement which continued until finally at Colombes we were rewarded with a sight of an Irish pack which played with the keenness one expects of Irishmen. An outstanding forward that day was R. Y. Crich- ■' ton, who, though so big, is also remarkably fast. Probably the most consistent of the Irish forwards last season was T. A. MacClelland, and another to do well was R. Collopy, a brother of ‘W.P.’ and a son of the old Garryowen. Bective and Ireland forward. J. K. S. Thompson, who captained the side, was never very noticeable in the • open, but he did good work in the tight, where M. J. Bradley also was best. BENEFIT BY EXPERIENCE. “Generally speaking the Irish players did not come up to expectations, but the majority of them are young and may be expected to have greatly benefited by the experience they gained in 1923.” THE BECOBDs’tO DATE. HOW THE MATCHES WENT. September 13—v. Devon, won, 11-0. 1905 I All Blacks, won, September 18—v. Cornwall won, 29-0. 1905 All Blacks, won, .41-0. September 20 —v. Somerset, won, 6-0. 1905 All Blacks, won, 23-0. September 25—v. Gloucestershire, won, 6-0. 1905 AU Blacks, won, 44-0. September 27—v. Swansea, won, 39-3. 1905 All Blacks, won, 4-3. October I—v.1 —v. Newport, won, 13-10. 1905 All Blacks, won, 6-3. z October 4 —v. Leicester, won, 27-0. 1905 ’ AU Blacks, won, 28-0. , October B—v. North Midlands, won, 40-3. 1905 All Blacks, won, 21-5. October 11—v. Chesire, won, 18-5. 1905 All Blacks, won, 34-0. October 15—v. Durham, won, 43-7. 1905 All Blacks, w’on, 16-3. October 18—v. Yorkshire, won r 42-4. 1905 All Blacks, won, 40-0. October 22—v. Lancashire, won, 23-0. 1905 All Blacks, no match. October 25—v. Cumberland, won, 41-0. 1905 AU Blacks, no match. —Total Points.— F. A. 1924 Ail Blacks 338 32 1905 AU Blacks 312 18 RECORD OF ROORFS

The cablegrams having omitted the names of two players who scored tries against Cheshire and one who scored against Yorkshire, the foregoing table is incomplete. MATCHES TO COME. The remaining fixtures for the All Blacks’ tour are as foUows:— November I—v. Ireland (Test). November s—v. Ulster. November B—v. Northumberland. November 12—v. Cambridge University. November 15—v. London. November 20—v. Oxford University. November 22—rv. Cardiff. November 29—v. Wales (Test). December 2—v. Llanelly. December 6—v. East Midlands. December 11—v. Warwickshire. December 13—v. Combined Services. December 17—v. Hampshire. December 27—v. London (second game), 1925 January 3—v. England (Test). January 11—v. French representative team, at Paris. January 18-e-v. National team, at Tou-

RECORD OF SCORES. Goals from Other Pot’d Total Player Tries. Tries. Goals. Goals. Pts. Nepia, G — 17 7 — 55 Hart 14 o — ■ . 52 Nicholls, M. .. 1 9 2 1 31 Parker, J. H. .. 9 , . 27 Cooke, A. E. .. 10 — — — 30 Svenson, K. S. 1 — — 21 Steel, J 5 —— — — 15 Brown, H. W. 3 2 — 13 Mill. J 4 — —. 12 Donald, Q. .. 3 — — — 9 Lucas. F. W. .. 3 — — 9 White, A 1 o — 7 McGregor .. .. — — 6 Richardson. J. •3 ■ 9 Brownlie, M. .. 2 — — — 6 Irvine, W. R. 2 — — 6 Cuppies, L. F. 1 — — — 3 Brownlie, C. .. 1 — 3 Stewart, R. F. 2 — — 6 Porter . . .. 3 ■ — — ■ — 9 West .. .. 1 — — — 3 Masters .. .. 2 • — — — 6