ALL BLACKS RETURN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 521, 2 August 1932, Page 7

ALL BLACKS RETURN.

“ Backs Improved Out of Sight.” N.Z. BUILDING UP A TEAM. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 2. Looking happy and well and justifiably proud of the magnificent Bledisloe Cup, the token of their success against the elect of Australia, the All Blacks returned by the Zealandia from Sydney to-day. They met with a warm reception at the Queen’s Wharf when they disembarked. Mr G. H. Pownall, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, was among the first to extend congratulations to the manager (Mr W. J. Wallace), the captain (F. Kilby) and the remainder of the party. He was accompanied by the chairman of the Management Committee (Mr S. S. Dean) and members of the committees of both the New Zealand and Wellington Unions. Relatives and friends waited behind the barriers. Choice of Young Blood. In congratulating the team, Mr Pownall said it was realised that they were sending away a young team that had not a very great deal of experience in big match play, but he thought the selectors did a wise thing in choosing young blodd, particularly in view of the proposed tour of Great Britain in four years’ time. The committee showed wisdom in appointing Mr Wallace to manage the team. “We knew that whatever there was in the team he would bring it out,” said Mr Pownall. “ This team has had a very good trip and owes New Zealand a very great debt. I think they will acknowledge it, and I hope when they go to their homes that they will do their best to pass on their knowledge not only to their own teams but also to their opponents.” Trainer Thanked. In the course of his reply, Mr Wallace said that the forwards were the fastest of any team that had gone to Australia, and the backs improved out of sight. He paid a tribute to the work of the trainer and masseur (Syd. Murray), who had to be thanked for the fact that there was not one case of septic poisoning on the tour. He had been busy night and day attending the players. Kilby said: “New Zealand has every reason to be proud of these boys. This country is in the process of teambuilding, and by the time the English tour comes along we will have a very fine team.” All the team returned feeling fit, except Procter, who never sufficiently recovered from a knee injury and concussion to be fit enough to give of his best. D. Max is still on crutches, but expects to be recovered soon. Presentations Made. The high regard in which the team held Kilby and Steere, the captain and vice-captain, was evident when the players met to make a presentation to each of the pair. Mementoes were handed over by Mr Wallace, the manager, who said that the team recognised that in Kilby it had a first-class 1 captain. The team had a great affection both for him and Steere. They had sat with him on the Selection Committee, and had been very fair,, their one object being to consider the best interests of the team. Kilby’s Reply. Kilby spoke highly of the- support received from members of the team. Off the field it had been wonderful and on the field he could not ask for a better side to lead. Ilis instructions, 1 which had only been requests, had been carried out without hesitation. Steere also paid a tribute to the spirit that had existed among the players throughout the tour.

A HAPPY PARTY

Manager Speaks of Team’s Fine Efforts. (Special to the ” Star.”) W ELLINGTON, August 2. 'I he outstanding impression gained from conversation with members of the All Blacks was that their success on the playing fields—success achieved by unfailing attention to the primary purpose of the tour—and the open-hand-ed hospitality met on all sides had combined to make the tour one of the most.successful from all points of view that had ever been undertaken by a New Zealand side. There is no doubt that the tourists were a happy party in which all worked for the common end, and that their behaviour on and off the field won the admiration and respect of the Australians. Some of the players suffered from contact with the hard grounds, and in the first Test both Pollock and Caughey were feeling the effects of concussion for a big part of the game. Their displays won praise from Australian critics, buc they were scarcely conscious of much they did. While the team was in Australia there were several rumours with regard to the possibility ol members of the party remaining in Australia, but these were all discounted. When the team landed to-day it was announced that E. Jessep, the Poneke forward, would be returning within a few weeks to Melbourne. “ A Wonderful Team.” In an interview, Mr Wallace said: “ This j s a wonderful team. The members have improved their game out of all knowledge. It is a pity they are not having some more games just to let the New Zealand public see how the team has developed. Really, it is the same old story: the New Zealand public never see a New Zealand team playing at its best. A team on tour always improves. If you look back you will find that teams have gone away without a very high opinion being held of their calibre, but it has generally happened that after a few games the teams have become practically invincible.” Conscientious Training. The good fellowship of the team and the very conscientious way in which the members paid attention to training had much to do with the results achieved. lie/paid a fine tribute to Kilby, who had proved to be a great captain and a greatly improved player. Kilby also had the confidence of the team and, moreover, had turned ’ out to be quite a first-class little coach. Steere had been a capable vice-cap-tain and a very valuable man in training operations. So far as the Selection Committee was concerned there never had been a hitch, and everything had

worked smoothly. The keenness of every member of the team to engage in training was one of the features of the tour. Mr Wallace particularly mentioned the pace of the team.’Speed was there all the way and meant a great deal together with the line combination that was developed. Spectacular play was the order of the three Tests, and it was spectacular play the crowd wanted. One object was to keep the ball in play as much as possible.