THE ALL BLACKS’ VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 4

THE ALL BLACKS’ VICTORY.

From all accounts the Rugby match between the All Blacks and New South Wales at Sydney on Saturday was one of the most thrilling of “big” football matches of recent years. The closeness of the scoring all the way through the match and the sensational manner in which the All Blacks turned defeat into victory in the last half-minute indicates how exciting play must have been, but apart from that a high standard of play seemingly prevailed from beginning to end. From the Australian point of view one of the principal objects of the periodic All Black tours to the Commonwealth is to increase the popularity of the Rugby Union code amongst the Australian people. From the New Zealand point of view, apart altogether from the actual issue of the game, the All Blacks have always been a fine advertisement for the Dominion, and the fact that a record attendance for 25 years was present on Saturday should be grounds for satisfaction on both sides of the Tasman. If the tourists can uphold the reputation of their home country as they did on Saturday and at the same time assist the cause of the game in their opponents’ territory then their principal mission is achieved. Followers of the game in Taranaki will be particularly proud to learn that their only representative in the team acquitted himself with distinction and was considered to be one of the two outstanding players on the New Zealand side. The nature and result of Saturday’s play should rouse the keenest interest in Australia regarding the matches to come. Sweeping changes have been made in the New Zealand team to meet New South Wales in the second match to-day, presumably with the object of trying out all the players in view of the first test against Australia on Saturday. Doubtless both matches this week will command as much interest as any other fixtures of the tour with the exception of the final test.