THE ALL BLACKS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 24 May 1928, Page 5

THE ALL BLACKS

ARRIVAL AT DURBAN. ROUSINGWMLCOMIC. United Press Assn.-—By Electric Telegrapii Copyright. DURBAN, May 13. ill Bi OU f ng we] ?° m e w as given the ah Slacks, on their arrival at Durban to-day. The team lauded in excellent fettle, glad that the tedious trip ok live weeks has ended. The team practised on the Durban ground this morning. Great admiration was expressed for the style of the New Zealandera. - New Zalanders here are confident that the team will be victorious.

Ihe pjxrty was met at the wharf by the Mayor and officials of the Jtu«rby Union. The official luncheon wis a great success, wonderful , enthusiasm being shown.

Ihe Natal Witnesg, i s emphatic that the New ZeaJanders will Jose the two first games and hlso that against the lransyaal Springboks expect the All Blacks to win the first test, but to lose both others. tht that after the first six games, the Africans will have learned /all the! New Zealanders can teach them. ■ liiG newspapers devote paces to the arrival of tlie team. Everywhere the team goes they, are cheered tod jubilantly applauded. Hospitality is unbounded, the team being overwhelmed by tfc, spontaneous eeptaon. The team weighed a n average of thirteen stone: Backs, 1] 10 f<i ward s 14.3. ' ' W ' l0fl " THE FIRST MATCH.

WILL: BE PLAYED AS ARRANGED.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The New Zealand Rugby team i. s to keen to the ongin/i] itinerary drawn up for the South African tour despite the fact that the Etiripidos may l)e a few days late arriving a ,t Capetown. The management committee of th© New Zealand Rugby Union decided to-night to cable to the man)i.ger of the team, Mr. Hornig, and to the South Arfican Union that it approved of the opening match of the tour being played on May 30. The following cablegram. wa« received from, the South African Rugby Union; "The following % the material part of our wireless message to Mr. Hornig on May 19: 'The ship is expected' at Capetown early on Sunday. From a sporting aspect it is vital that the fixture should stand. Cancellation means bitter piublic disappointment and great loss.' The following message was received: 'We shall be pleased to play the first match as arranged if we arrive on Sunday.' " "The more I think of it the more I am .satisfied that we should play this first match," remarked Mr. S. S. Dean. "The South African Union has , gone out of its way to make jail arrangements for our team and I think we should fall in with them if possible. The South African Union has arranged an easy match for the opening, and it does not matter greatjlv whether we win the opening match or not." Mr. E. Wylie, who agreed that Mr. Hornig should be cabled, considered that tbei. fi'nal decision should rest with the manager. Mr Dean: What doe« it matter if we do lose the first match? Thei South African Union has offered to put the match off until the Thursday. , ~ Mr. McKenzie: We should certainly play the first match if it entails no hardship upon the team. Mr A C Ivitto: We do not wish to lose a nxvteh if we can help it Mr Dean's motion to the effect that Mr Hornig should be cabled to what the New Zealand Union approved ot the opening match agaifnstj the cml . lltry elutis at Capetown being played' and that -a copy of the cablegram l>e sent to the South African Union was carried, an amendment by Mr E Wylie leaving the decision to the manager lapsed for want ot a seconder.