MAGNIFICENT FAILURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 727, 29 July 1929, Page 1

MAGNIFICENT FAILURE

All Black Test Defeat COMMENT BY SYDNEY PAPERS Story of “No Match” Threat (United JP.A..—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received 10.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. THE All Blacks were magnificent though not victorious," says the “Daily Telegraph Pictorial,” commenting on the third Rugby Test between New Zealand and Australia. “The New Zealanders generally relied upon ruggedness and the battering - forward charges for which they are renowned in the Rugby world.

“The visitors had the best of mat ters in the line-outs, but the home men predominated in the scrums. “Australia owed much to Malcolm’s clever play. The match will go down in history as one of the very few in

ternational losses suffered by the All Blacks; but the visitors have won the admiration of all sportsmen for theirgallant fight in the face of adversiy.” The “Sydney Morning Herald” says victory went to the better side. Although New Zealand had three tries to two, the home side proved its superiority in the open play, sheer pace being the downfall of the visitors. They were compelled to withstand rush after rush, in which direction was varied, and it was' obvious that every stoppage was a blessed relief to them. “Australia must take its success with becoming modesty, the All Blacks being distinctly unfortunate to be playing without Dailey and Oliver. “No one will forget Porter’s heroic, inspiring effort. He was in nearly every movement, and his great tackling and speed in short bursts were wonderful. He set the seal on his fame, and there are no signs that his career as a leader or rover of exceptional activity should end yet.” The cabled account of the match appears on page 13. ALL BLACKS HELD UP STUBBORN GATE-KEEPER THE CAUSE GAME LATE IN STARTING Reed. 10 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. The “Daily Telegraph Pictorial” reveals why Saturday’s Rugby test between Australia and New Zealand was late in starting. It appears that the All Blacks’ official party numbers 35, and 30 of these, arriving by charabanc, were admitted through the gates; but a

motor-car containing the other five met with the official order, “You can t come in.” A scene developed, and the gate official was informed that if the party could not enter there would be no match. Eventually a compromise was reached, the car remaining outside and the passengers passing through the turnstiles. The players were 13 minutes’ late in taking the field. The All Blacks’ manager. Mr. J. McLeod, stated :ast night that, his threat of*no match was only a joke. “We were so helpless.” he said.

i “HOW MANY WILL PLAY AGAINST ENGLAND?” AUSTRALIAN COMMENT “They were an assembled team l —the choice of New Zealand sel lectors after trials. They came I to Australia heralded as 4 AII Blacks.’ ” * / | A FULL report of the article ap- ! pearing in the “Sydney Morning | Herald” in defence of tne New Zea- ; land team now in Australia, portions of which were cabled to New Zeai land last week, is now available. In addition to the remarks cabled the “Herald” states that how the present All Blacks would have fared. , if at full strength in all their hard ; est games of the tour, is a matter of conjecture. At least justice should be done to their record in. the light, of unforeseen casualties. “It is fair to say that an iuside back brigade consisting of Dailey. Lilburne, Oliver, Carleton, with Porter roving, would be equal to any quintet New Zealand has sent to Sydney. The wing men with the team are faster than their predecessors in this position since 1924. “McWilliams and Snow, among the forwards, are typical of New Zealand's best. Reid and Cottrell, in the front row, rank with Irvine and Munro, not merely for the fact that they secured more than New Zealand's average share of the ball from the scrum, but from the point of view of general utility. It is overlooked j that for the first time for 20 years New Zealand was outweighed man for man in the pack, and yet seven men • tried to hold, and did hold until the second half in Brisbane, a fast-break-ing eight. “Decriers of the present All Black pack, perhaps, were looking for a Richardson or a Finlayson. Richardsons appear in Rugby as do the Trumpers in cricket. It would be as well to expect swimming to produce j a Charlton every season. “A real test of the present visitors’ merit may come when the AN Black teams are chosen to meet England next year. How many players better than those in Porter’s present contingent will the New Zealand selectors find? “These remarks are actuated by a desire not merely to present the case |of Australia’s Rugby advance,” states j the “Herald,” “but to do justice to ■ the ability of a great, sorely-stricken side, which, notwithstanding that it. j has struggled hard against adversity, i has proved itself the most popular New Zealand side which has ever | visited this country. They will uphold their country’s tradition in the ; third test at the Sydney Cricket j Ground on Saturday.”