THE ALL BLACKS

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 6

THE ALL BLACKS

FIRST UNIVERSITY GAME. THE OXFORD REPRESENTATIVES. (By “Onlooker.”) For their 16th game of the tour today, against Oxford University, the All Blacks will be engaged in what amounts to a miniature international; perhaps not in playing strength, but at least in the collection of the players opposed to them. From the university team announced it will be seen that there are representatives from New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia, while it is likely that all four countries which constitute the British Isles are also represented. On this score alone the game is invested with more than ordinary interest. In past tours games against university teams have been productive of attractive Rugby, and the present occasion recalls the thrilling encounter the 1924 team had with Oxford. It will be remembered that the students put up a record by scoring three tries against the All Blacks, their total . of 15 points (with conversions) giving them the honour of scoring the highest number of points against a New Zealand Rugby side in Great Britain. Oxford fielded a great three-quarter line that day—A. C. Wallace, G. P. S. Macpherson, G. G. Aitken and H. P. Jacob—and so well did they play that a quarter of an hour from time the All Blacks had only a 19 —15 lead. The pace had been terrific, but New Zealand lasted better, and put on 14 points, in the last quarter and won by 33 points to 15.

In late years Oxford has produced some great Rugby men, and again last season the students were found strong enough to produce an international three-quarter line. They, however, went down badly to Cambridge, who won by 29 points to 4. In that match several of the Oxford regulars were forced to stand down owing to injuries. International Backs. Of this year’s team Rees-Jones, who has played for Wales, is the only member of the 1934-35 three-quarter line. The other winger in to-day’s game, Obolensky, turned out against the All Blacks in one of the earlier games. Grieve, one of the halves, who played at stand-off half for Scotland, was tried out in the full-back position for the University side last year. He is a versatile player who might again make the Scotland team this season. The other half, J. M. McShane, is the well known Sydney University Rhodes scholar who has played against New Zealand in Australia. He is one of the cleverest scrum halves Australia has turned out. M. M. Walford, one of the centres, comes from Rugby. He has no other credentials than that he comes from the district of the name of the game.

The forwards appeal, on paper, as a likely lot. They will be fast, and good scrummers. M. Cooper, the New Zealander who has been chosen to lead the side, is from Massey Agricultural College (Palmerston North). He plays on one flank on the back row of the scrum. Then there is N. F. McGrath, a front row man who has played for Ireland, J. H. Pienaar, from Stellenbosch University (South Africa), and G. D. Roos, from the same University. Pienaar and Roos, are names in South African Rugby comparable with Brownlie and Richardson in New Zealand Rugby, and it is possible that the students bearing these names possess the same great characteristics of their illustrious forbears.

New Zealand is again fielding a strong side for to-day’s match, and with one exception the back division might be regarded as the probable rearguard for the first international match against Scotland, on November 23. Should Page be fit, however, he will probably take the place given to Griffiths in to-day’s game. Sadler certainly appears to have outplayed Corner by his latest displays, and he should be found behind the scrum for the international match.