WHY THEY LOST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16507, 18 August 1921, Page 6

WHY THEY LOST.

SPRINGBOKS’ STYLE. MR «l. W. STEAL’S IMPRESSIONS. Mr J. W. Stead, coach and manager of the ‘‘ All Black ” team, when asked by a “ Southland Times ” reporter to give his impressions of Saturday’s test match in Dunedin, stated that as far as he was concerned the chief pleasure he had derived from the match was the fact that lie had forecasted the result and had even thought that the margin of points in favour ot New Zealand would have been greater. On the day’s piny, however, there was not a difference of eight points between the teams. In fact, the All Blacks were remarkably fortunate to extend the Springboks at all, w hen the had luck experienced by the team was taken into consideration. Men of the ability of Storey, Beilis, Hughes and Moffitt had risked their reputations by staying on the field after being injured, and their disabilities were much more serious than most people thought. Mr Stead said that lie was not giving away any trade secrets when he stated that the visitors lacked versatility and had not learned anything since they came to this country. He had seen them in four matches and in every one their Btyle of play had been identically the same. He w’as disappointed that they had not adopted the dribbling tactics, and by this time they should surely have known their effectiveness on New Zealand grounds. He had not expected on Saturday to see anything new' in the Africans’ style of play and his expectations had been realised. Referring tG the play of the New Zealand team, Mr Stead said that on account of the casualties already mentioned the team was unable to bring off the game d« cided upon beforehand. TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS. In regard to the Springboks’ methods of training he said that they were quite different from any adopted by any New Zealand touring team with which he had been connected. The members of the team were treated more like a team of schoolboys and were placed under too many restrictions. For three or four days before the matches the players were placed under a very strict discipline. He had noticed very little difference between these men and the New’ Zealanders, but the latter certainly resented such methods of compulsion. So long as members of the New Zealand team observed punctuality in all appointments, the matter of eating, drinking and social enjoyment was left entirely to their own discretion. He had yet to know’ of one w’ho had overstepped the mark. It was because of the freedom allowed to the home players that the Springboks expected to extend them, and it must have been very disappointing for them to find that in the last quarter of an hour the New Zealanders were playing all over them. The present New Zealand team was no different to many other great New Zealand teams in regard to the comprehensive way in which they could go through n bill of fare at meals. He had found the team very receptive for “ coaching” purposes and he had been as enthusiastic in giving them instruction as he would have been in “coaching” schoolboys, who were renowned for the way in which they hang on to every word. He would like to add his appreciation of the great assistance rendered to him by Teddy Roberts, in getting to know something of the temperaments of several of the players with whom he had had no previous personal acquaintance. Being a reserve player, who had very little chance of getting a gqme, unless casualties occurred in the training, the famous half-back held rather an invidious position, hut showed undoubted enthusiasm in working for the success of the team. The week which the New Zealanders and Springboks spent in Dunedin before the test placed them on more friendly terms and it was no uncommon thing to see members of the two teams enjoying each other’s company. Mr Stead also stated that the members of the New Zealand team were rather surprised at being asked to meet the Springboks again at Auckland on Saturday week with only two days’ preparation. They certai-.ly thought that they would be sent on from Dunedin and would play a Saturday match en route to Auckland. Under these circumstances he would not undertake to prophesy about the second test, but his one regret was that the team was not able to present its best form, under the circumstances, last Saturday. SPRINGBOK RECORD TO DATE. Matches Points. Played. Won. Lost. Drawn. For. Agst. 11 8 2 1 139 S 7 ANGLO-WELSH RECORD. At a similar stage in 1908, the AngloWelsh team’s record stood : Matches Points. Played. Won. Lost. Prawn. For. Ag^t 11 6 5