ALL BLACKS RETURN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18337, 7 August 1929, Page 9

ALL BLACKS RETURN

MANAGER’S OBSERVATIONS. TOUR BADLY PLANNED. By Telegraph—-Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 6. The New Zealand Rugby team, which recently toured the eastern States of Australia, arrived by the Ulimaroa to-day. Mr J. McLeod, manager of the team, said:—Lilburne was the real hero of the tour. In his opinion, Lilburne was just starting to be New Zealand's captain, and played wonderful football. There might have been a very different story in the test matches, if Nepia, Carlton, Oliver, Lilburne, Dailey and Porter had been able to play in the whole series. The Australians had shown distinct improvement, and the New Zealand selectors would have to realise that. This team, Continued Mr McLeod, was chosen without trial matches. Oliver was very clever, and did fine work in defence. Dailey was a real star in the only game in which he played, but the whole trouble Was that, after losing him, the team had no half-back of real class. Tuck was a good player, but he was not a halfback, and Leys was not up to standard. The main cause of the loss of the tests was that the team had no safety link between the forwards and backs. Stringfellow made a very fine job of the full-back position, and played well all through. Hook Was very erratic. McWilliams played fine football, and was very popular with the crowds. Palmer and Snow also did well. The most improved and most promising player was Cotterill, the Canterbury hooker. Mahoney, the youngster of the team, a real giant, had great possibilities. It was a pity the team had to travel the long Journey to Melbourne after the first test, then go back to Brisbane for the second, and play the third at Sydney on Saturday. That was a great mistake, and was the only thing about the whole tour that was badly arranged. Most of the injured players had shown great improvement on the trip to Auckland, but, unfortunately, Dailey might not be able to play again this season.

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