THE ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20308, 6 January 1936, Page 8

THE ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

England’s defeat of the All Blacks in the final international fixture of the New Zealanders’ 1935-36 tour of the British Isles, will serve to emphasise the high standard of Rugby football that has been attained and maintained in England, despite the strong rivalry there exists in other codes played in the four countries. Many homeric encounters have been fought on the historic ground at Twickenham, but the All Blacks have rarely been so decisively defeated as in the match on Saturday. Doubtless the weather conditions militated against the style of play in which the New Zealanders excel, but in assessing credit for the splendid victory won by the wearers of the Rose of Old England, account must be taken for the fact that in spite of unsuitable ground conditions, the English team defeated the pride of New Zealand by a larger margin of points than any international side within recent years has placed to their credit against so redoubtable a side. Among less broad-minded critics some attempt will be made to find excuses for the New Zealand defeat in the very much criticised rearrangement of the All Blacks’

rearguard, particularly the decision to play Corner as half-back in place of Sadler, and the substitution of Ball for Hart. The game, however, has been played and won by England, and the fullest credit must be given where credit is due. The Old Land taught the children in the Overseas Dominions to play games in the true spirit of sportsmanship, and if at times the teams representing the varied branches of the sports and pastimes of the Old Country have had to strike their colours to players representing the Overseas Dominions, the most gratifying feature of international contests in which the representatives of British Isles meet the players from the younger Dominions overseas, is that taken over a number of years the standard of play in the Old Country keeps well abreast of the times; so much so, that although teams representing the British Isles in various branches of games and pastimes have at times to strike their colours to the overseas teams, the Old Country is repeatedly demonstrating her eternal youth by defeats inflicted on visiting teams, such as England’s defeat of the All Blacks at Twickenham and the Welsh defeat of the New Zealanders at Cardiff. Such displays demonstrate that the standard of play, where so many of our games and pastimes were cradled, is still equal if not superior to that of players from the Overseas Dominions. The victory for England, on Saturday, marks the close of the tour of the All Blacks, and if their record in the matter of winning matches has not equalled that of its predecessors, it ought to be said by way of explanation that during the years that have passed since the All Blacks visited the British Isles in 1925, the standard of play in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales has improved considerably; indeed, the form generally displayed by the home teams has given the New Zealand Rugby football authorities some grounds for serious thinking. The record of the team, both on and off the field, is a proud one indeed; and although the New Zealanders have had to strike their colours to the English and Welsh teams, they have carried through a most strenuous and exacting tour with credit to themselves and to the country which they represent. There have been no recriminations' and the tour will leave no soreness for time to soften, or “diplomatic” repercussions. On the contrary, the AU Blacks of the 1935-36 tour of the Old Country have lived up to the splendid reputation won by their predecessors both on and off the field, and winning dr losing they have maintained the highest traditions of the game.