22: Counting down to first Test
Heading into rugby league territory in the North of England, the All Blacks were counting down to their first Test match, against Ireland, in three weeks.
Illness afflicted the All Blacks before they played Cheshire at Birkenhead. Mark Nicholls recounted the outbreak affected 15 members of the season.
The Liverpool Echo devoted a double column to the incident, with a heading a half-inch high, 'All Black Team in a Fix. Sensational Incident of the Visit to Merseyside. Mysterious Ailment Suspected to be Ptomaine [food] Poisoning.'
Mr Dean was the first to go down, closely followed by Jim Parker, and then several others in quick succession. It was indeed a mystery, and for a couple of hours we had the 'wind up' properly. However, the doctor who was called in said that it was just a trifling indisposition, and would wear off in a few hours. Fortunately, I was not affected, although I was delegated to stay behind and keep an eye on Manager Dean, Parker, Munro and Donald.[1]
Captain Cliff Porter claimed a few of the team went to a pharmacy and were given a powder that upset them. Parker proved the worst affected and spent two days in bed.
With Cheshire being the ninth game of the tour, armchair critics made more observations of the side as it continued on its winning way. One, C.J. Wray, New Zealand's permanent representative on The Rugby Union [England], gave his impressions of how the side was shaping. His first chance to assess the side was when he joined a group of dignitaries who ventured out to the Remuera to greet them before the ship berthed.
The first thing that struck me was their seriousness, and the thought that at once occurred to me was: 'Ah, yes! It is the war-mark. These lads are modelled on the 'Diggers' – the 'Silent Division!' Then all the names that had been only names became realities to me, and I grasped the hand of their captain, the brilliant, dark-eyed Porter, the massive 'Jock' Richardson; Nepia, the boy fullback, already described as one of the greatest fullbacks Rugby has ever known, the two giant Brownlies, Cooke (who is, indeed, a chef), and all the rest – not forgetting the inseparable campaigners, West and White.[2]
Watching the All Blacks prepare at Newton Abbott, Wray believed the backs were better than anything he had seen in Britain, and the size of the forwards was impressive. After their disappointing start against Devon, the way the pack grappled with local methods gave him confidence that they would be competitive by the time they met England on January 3.
Pertinent to the point made about passing by the Birmingham Post in the last chapter, Wray said,
The quick passing of the New Zealanders is a revelation and we may be sure that the lesson will not be lost on the young players of this country." He said they would no longer be satisfied passing like 'go-slow' labourers handing bricks out of a cart.[3]
The Cheshire game, however, offered few of the delights that had been impressing in their earlier games. Perhaps it was a reaction to the food poisoning causing changes to the side. Arthur Carman said the effort was hardly worthy of a junior side. Mill broke on his own too often; he didn't pass quickly enough, Paewai muffed passes and knocked on too often, while Handley Brown was lacklustre at the centre. Jack Steel had a strong game defensively, while the realisation that Cheshire was weak on Hart's wing saw the ball sent to him often, and he responded with four tries. But Carman didn't spare him.
Hart is useless where brains are needed, but is always willing and tries hard. His handling was perfect, and his running excellent, but he is nothing more than a sprinter who can take a pass.[4]
Ron Barr said after seeing Scotland captain Archie Gracie,[5] a WWI veteran who was a Military Cross recipient, the All Blacks would not win if a team of Gracies lined up against them. Locke, an England player, also did well and scored a try that was made easier by six weak attempts to tackle him. The hooking was improved, but Munro, the best hooker, was injured and likely to be out for a month. Barr noted hooker Brian McCleary's inclusion had helped the improvement.
Scorers: Cheshire 5 (H.M. Locke try; J.V. Richardson con) New Zealand 18 (Gus Hart 4, Cliff Porter, Jack Steel tries). HT: 0-3. Referee, D Helliwell. New Zealand touch judge, L. Simpson.
Mark Nicholls was frustrated with the attention being paid by critics to the All Blacks' style and tactics. It was not new as the Originals in 1905-06 were similarly targeted, and every All Blacks team subsequently became the target of media opinion – right or wrong.
The English critics are still questioning our scrum formation. Mr Sewell, who writes for the Sunday Graphic, is a critic who does not spare the 'All Blacks.' In 1924 he was positively vindictive toward us, and I view with suspicion any statement he makes regarding the All Blacks and their tactics.[6]
A concern was the inconsistent goal-kicking – George Nepia failed to land any of his attempts, which was frustrating on the drier ground.
Andrew ‘Son’ White. Archives New Zealand Reference: ACGO 8333 IA1 1349 15/11/17721
Next up was Durham. Because they were in the north, the All Blacks expected more demanding games. Their packs proved physical but were without the cohesion of their earlier opponents. Barr said once the 1924 side conceded their first try in Wales, they relaxed, and their play was better.
Points will be scored against them, but their idea seems to be to score more than the 'other fellow'."
It looks as if the All Blacks can bear the loss of a back far more easily than they can the departure of a forward. Nepia still does his work brilliantly, and has had no spell. The start of the fifteen, however, is Cooke, who is generally hailed by the critics as one of the greatest players seen in Britain...Mark Nicholls is one of the strongest men on the side. His place-kicking is a valuable asset and the team cannot do well without him...Dalley is improving every game and inspires more confidence than Mill, who does not show out so well on defence, and does not disguise his tactics so effectually as the snowy-headed half.[7]
The game was the first time Rugby had been played on the 'Roker' ground, the Sunderland Football Club ground and the All Blacks marked the occasion by unleashing their best form of the tour. The field was 10m short with a dead ball area of only five metres. A crowd of 20,000 watched as the All Blacks' lower-strength side started. Hart scored two tries within the opening 10 minutes. Cupples enjoyed the chance to dominate the lineouts, on one occasion feeding the ball quickly to provide Hart with his third try on the end of the line. They went to halftime after Lucas scored for a 19-3 lead.
Mill opened the second half scoring, and Hart would have had his fourth, but he stepped over the dead ball line. Play concentrated then on the opposite side of the field, with Svenson scoring consecutive tries as the backs found their combination. But the best try was scored by West. He passed to Mill in his own 25. The ball went through all the backs' hands, and back again, with West in support to claim the try. West was involved again when Mill was given a chance to make a break, and Svenson scored. Durham scored four points from Alderson's dropped goal from the sideline. But Masters finished the game with the last try.
Durham saw the New Zealanders work like a machine with beautiful precision. The greatest improvement was forward, and it looks very much as if the forwards are at last settling down to play in their real form as we know it."[8]
The two oldest men in the team, White and West, were the best of the pack on this occasion, and White is especially invaluable for his dribbling. West is the best man in the lineout and gets the ball to the half very cleanly. Masters is a real solid grafter, and is making a success as lock, which is just as well with Harvey unavailable. Stewart the 20-year-old boy, is improving greatly on the tour, and is now equal to the best. He is more tricky than some of the others, and uses his brains all the time, rather than relying on mere brute force.[9]
Scorers: Durham 7 (W.H.R. Alderson goal from a mark, dropped goal) New Zealand 43 (Gus Hart 3, Snowy Svenson 3, Read Masters, Jimmy Mill, A West, Fred Lucas tries; George Nepia 2 con, pen; Son White 3 con). HT: 3-19. Referee, J. Brunton, New Zealand touch judge P Stephens
[1] Mark Nicholls, Weekly News, October 9, 1935
[2] C.J. Wray, English Life, November 1924
[3] ibid
[4] Arthur Carman, Press, 27 November 1924
[5] Archie Gracie, was carried off Cardiff Arms Park shoulder high by Welsh spectators in the 1923 Five Nations Championship when Scotland beat Wales in the last minute after Gracie scored an outstanding winning try.
[6] Mark Nicholls, Weekly News, October 9, 1935
[7] ibid
[8] Arthur Carman, Press, 26 November 1924
[9] ibid