THE ALL BLACKS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 83, 3 July 1928, Page 5

THE ALL BLACKS

TEST MATCH DEFEAT,

TRIUMPH OF TACTICS.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. ■■■'-''-■ TJURBAN, July 2.

Newspapers throughout the country devote columns of comment and leading articles to the first test' match in whfch South Africa heat New Zealand by 17 points to nil. ' The Natal Mercury, in a leader headed ' .Triumph of Tactics," said: "There is one serious question which must inevitably be raised after a game of th e type seen at Kingsmead on Saturday.- That is the effect of the tactics, adopted by the Springboks on the popularity of the game, which must, after all, be a , large consideration with those in authority, it r\ \ ;■■ ' "'!

"To counteract the brilliance ofi the New'Ze&landers In the open, 'South'''■•Arfica'had .to close up the game and'.keep it close throughout: This was done wonderfully well. There were many who witnessed the game , who asked the question: •Is this Rugby?' Is this the best South Africa, having built up a reputation by brilliant back play, can do?', " * ' '_; , : ; ! ''ADMISSION OF INFERIORITY. ; ;i^h J e'Springtipks in 1906 were cap-! able of playing Wales at her own r ;and beating her. Should not the Springboks in 1928 be able to beat VNew Zealand also, at her own ; game r The tactics .adopted formed a tacit admission of inferiority in, : that respect; so we had a game, glorious in the matching of force with force, remarkable as a demon-stration,-of ,* the physical fitness of the two but nof ebautiful to j; watch. •■ There was none of that, captivating back play which has been in the past South Africa's peculiar pride, and none of that swift passing to wing men, followed by exhilarating bursts for thei line.

BATTLE OP STYLES. '. ' "The battle of styles is for the moment over. s South Africa has gained the first round, and that so decisively .that the tactics followed appear to be more than abundantly justified,-.,but the general public demands a ; spectacular game to-day, • and if they do not get it, support is liable to fall away. For South African Rugby to prosper the play must count almost as much as the result." '_ ' ",..'*"'■;/'', :vMr ; F. ', 'M-, Howard says: "South Africa-won one,'of the greatest triumphs; of her .Rugby ( history when the :New Zealanders were beaten in a match which, must go down in the records-as .productive of some of the finest forward play ever seen, for tiifla-South African pack, acknowledged to be a, fine one, played extraordinary Rugby from the start and gained such a stranglehold on the All Blacks that they were never ableto get away in their _ special lyto get away in their specialilyflne combined attacks with the ball slung about with' glorious freedom.. Never for a moment did the Springboks relax their grip of the game. The All Blacks were pinned down to a dour defence"'for the greater EjiCCBPTION TO PARAGRAPH. Great exception is taken by the New Zealand team to the following paragraph which appeared" in the Natal Mercury: ' It is common'talk, based on concrete fact, that everything has not been well nor run as smoothly as it might do for time in the All Black camp. Where the fault lies is, not our business to'say,, but'any dissension or lack of : pulling together must reflect equally upon every member of a party that should be held together as one man by the thought that they are above all other minor considerations the chosen representatives of

a country, charged with upholding the honour of a common homeland in another part of the globe." Both the manager, Mr. Hornig, and the captain of the team, Maurice Browlie, strongly deny any suggestion of dissension. The reporter responsible was asked by the All Blacks to substantiate the state!ment but he could not do so. He promised to publish an apology.