26: All Blacks relish Ulster outing
Jimmy Mill makes a statement
If the All Blacks expected any relief from the intensity of their Test match win over Ireland, Ulster was not in the mood to provide it.
Six of the Irish Test backline lined out for Ulster, and two of the pack had appeared in the Test.
Conditions, however, were significantly better, and the pitch at Ravenhill, in Belfast, was as smooth as billiard cloth.
Mark Nicholls could remember it 10 years later.
I can still feel the turf under my feet. There is to me no turf like it anywhere in the world. We appreciated the perfect conditions under which we played.[1]
George Nepia had no qualms about the side's performance so soon after such a bruising Test.
I always remember the match with Ulster because of the behaviour of [halfback] Jimmy Mill in the dressing room beforehand. Having failed to win selection against Ireland, he was, as I well knew, extremely keen to make his number good for the rest of the tour. When I saw him hopping around while getting dressed, I was reminded of his behaviour before some of the Ranfurly Shield games back home and I thought, 'Ha,ha, Jimmy's going to play what-oh today'. With one exception, W. Hall for the injured F.S. Hewitt, at stand-off half, Ulster fielded the Irish backline and their forwards had the same bonny grit as the Irish pack, too. Hence the score of six tries to one flattered us not a little. But Jimmy was at the top of his form.[2]
Jimmy Mill (Archives New Zealand Reference: ACGO 8333 IA1 1349 15/11/17721)
One local writer, Ulidian, said one of the All Blacks claimed Ulster's pack was better than Ireland's. The All Blacks backs were stronger with Steel on the wing and Mill showing the danger he could be on attack at halfback. That made life tougher defensively for the home backs.
But one hardly expected to see two New Zealanders go through the whole seven as Mill and Parker did for the try scored by the latter in the second half. Some of the other scores could scarcely have been saved; they were the result of superiority of attack rather than weakness of defence, but this one was indefensible.[3]
The Ulstermen were thrilled at the display of combination and backing up the All Blacks served up. If there appeared to be a line of All Blacks across the field in the front row of attack, there was also a second line ready to cover any mistakes. At one stage, when Bert Cooke kicked across the field, six of his team were waiting, all unmarked and the first man to the ball was untroubled in scoring. By comparison, the Ulster players held onto the ball too long. They claimed it was because two men marked the intended recipient. But the All Blacks didn't worry about that; they knew a player marked by two men could move the ball quickly and create a mathematical overlap.
Neil McGregor said Nicholls played his best game to date, while Mill showed the benefit of having a halfback prepared to run from the base.
Every time he did it at Ulster he got away with it and made some lovely openings, and a most beautiful solo effort when he scored one of his tries from a scrum outside halfway. When he does run from the scrum, he has such pace that he is through like a flash. He is absolutely the best scoring half, and a dangerous attacking player. The way they form their scrum over here makes it easier for a scrum half to run from the scrum, for having eight in the forwards he has no wing forward to beat.[4]
At fullback, McGregor said Crawford again impressed and was better than Nepia on the day. He also taught Nepia about finding touch when receiving the ball near the sideline. Crawford always ran infield to secure a better angle for his kick, which was sensible. While Nepia sometimes did it, he couldn't achieve the accuracy Crawford displayed.
'Ginger' Nicholls was impressed with Mill's and Parker's performances.
Mill again showed improved form, running strongly and making openings from the scrum and giving the backs plenty of opportunities. This is the first time on the tour that good 'attacking' halfback play has been seen.[5]
Parker's pace is a big asset to his side, and his play generally is first-class. He is great opportunist and rarely gets offside. If there is a try to be got Jim is sure to get it.[6]
The team that played Ulster was: Back row, from left, Mr H. Murphy (NZ touch judge), Read Masters, Maurice Brownlie, Len Cupples, Jim Parker, Andrew ‘Son’ White, Referee, J H Miles; middle row, Jimmy Mill, Fred Lucas, Quentin Donald, Bill Irvine, Jock Richardson (captain), George Nepia, Mark Nicholls, Jack Steel; front row, Bert Cooke, Karl ‘Snow’ Svenson. (NZ Rugby Museum)
Mill also revealed his capacity for quality defensive play. Just before halftime, five Ulster backs were looking to score what appeared to be a certain try. Harry Stephenson, a speedster on the wing, was given the ball with the line in sight. However, out of the blue, Mill appeared to drop him in a superb cover tackle. The effect was hit home to the All Blacks when, late in the second half, a similar move developed, and, with Mill out of the picture, Stephenson was able to run away to score.
Arthur Carman felt Ulster was the best team the All Blacks had played. But the New Zealanders were also starting to click and enjoying the benefit of winning consistent ball from scrums. Scrums still dominated games. There were 31 scrums in the first half and 24 in the second.
Our forwards are now fulfilling all the great promise they showed in the trials, and are not apparently at the top of their form…The packing is now perfect, and the players realised it is better to hook the ball and then break up, rather than break up too soon and lose possession.[7]
Carman was impressed with Jim Parker's wing-forward play and his working so well with Mill. His game benefited from his not being caught offside, allowing him to break up the opposition still. His superior speed was crucial, and he supplemented that with good handling. His play was better than Porter's, although that reflected the growing pressures Porter had in off-field duties.
Scorers: Ulster 6 (Harry Stephenson try; Ernie Crawford pen) New Zealand 28 (Snowy Svenson 2, Jim Parker 2, Bert Cooke, Jack Steel tries; Mark Nicholls 5 con). HT: 3-15. Referee J.H. Mills, NZ touch judge H Murphy
[1] Mark Nicholls, Weekly News, 4 September 1935
[2] George Nepia, I, George Nepia, by T.P. McLean
[3] Ulidian, Northern Whig, 10 November 1924
[4] N.P McGregor, Southland Times, 7 January 1925
[5] 'Ginger' Nicholls, NZ Free Lance, 31, December 1924
[6] ibid
[7] Arthur Carman, Press, 23 December 1924