3: Tour confirmed, and selection process starts
The centenary of the Invincibles
By the time New South Wales toured New Zealand toward the end of the winter of 1923, the prospect of the All Blacks' tour of Great Britain and Ireland in 1924 loomed large in their minds.
It was announced on April 10 1923, that an invitation had been received from England for an All Blacks team to tour in 1924-25. New Zealand had invited England to send a team to New Zealand in 1924, but England decided to join a British team to South Africa in 1924 instead. Some saw this as ingratitude toward New Zealand for the 1905 tour and that by the NZ Army team of 1919. It was then indicated to England that New Zealand would prefer to send a team to Britain in 1924.
A special meeting was held in Wellington on September 14 1923, the day before the third 'Test' against NSW, where councillors learned England said it would meet all the expenses of the tour and pay the NZRU 500 pounds to cover assembly, outfitting and disbandment of the side. The NZRU had already decided no married men should make the tour because of their six-month absence from home, although they later said married players could be selected, but only in 'exceptional circumstances'. It was also decided that no player reinstated from league would be selected to tour.
One of the selectors, Southlander A.J. Geddes, said they received definite instructions from the NZRU. They were to select a team that would not only do honour to New Zealand but who would do honour for their clubs when returning.
For this reason, preference had been given to youth, and this had guided them in every selection, with two exceptions, and one of them had been that of ['Son'] White and the other [Alf] West, of Taranaki. These two men had been considered indispensable to the team, and anyone who had seen the North-South Island game [of 1923] must have come to the conclusion that White could more than hold his own with any of his youthful comrades.[1]
New Zealand accepted the invitation on November 8 but was told England declined an allowance of three shillings a day for players. New Zealand twice tried to grant the player allowance. England declined but did increase the assembly payment and outfitting to 1000 pounds. The way around the allowance issue was that that fee extension would cover player requirements.
New Zealand's selectors were still casting a wide net for selection. In the three games with the touring NSW team in 1923, 37 players were chosen, some of whom were injury replacements.
In the first game, played in Dunedin, Moke Belliss captained the side to a 19-9 win, although it was the Australian loose forward and New Zealand-raised R.B. 'Darby' Loudon, who most caught the eye, being involved in setting up two of the three NSW tries. Loudon was an old boy from Christ's College who later represented Australia in the forwards.
Critics said the game was a contest between the All Blacks forwards and the Waratahs backs. New Zealand's backs paid the price for an indifferent display, as seven changes were made for the second Test in Christchurch. Out went Jack Steel, Nelson's W.F. 'Frank' Snodgrass, Wellington five-eighths F.J. 'Fred' Tilyard, and halfback Jimmy Mill. Hawke's Bay forward S.W. 'Sam' Gemmell never played for the All Blacks again while Auckland forward L.S. 'Len' Righton toured Australia in 1925.
J.R. 'Wampy' Bell, from Southland, was placed at second five-eighths, replacing Wanganui's P.K. 'Peina' Taituha, who was moved to the right wing, while 'Jockey' Ford returned on the left wing. Auckland centre Fred Lucas made his debut. Otago's Arnold Perry was first five-eighths, and Canterbury's Pat McCarthy was selected as halfback.
Maurice Brownlie was dropped from the starting pack, although he came on as a replacement. Quentin Donald was named at hooker. The result was an overpowering 34-6 win for the All Blacks as they scored seven tries
.
However, the All Blacks' backs struggled again. Former All Black E.E. Booth said
In theatrical language, the New Zealand backs acted as 'stage supports.' Only the eight All Blacks forwards (including Belliss as such) supported by one back (Sinclair) alone deserve kudos. They practically played the Australians themselves. The sense and pleasure universally expected from a win was universally lacking, and in general, a feeling of disappointment prevailed.[2]
Even ordinary club form was missing among the backs, Booth said.
The forwards were a different story, backing the impressions of R.A. Barr and his former England player, a year earlier.
As the New Zealand backs were a disappointment, so in juxtaposition were the forwards something superfine. They are the finest set of forwards I've seen for many years. Though lacking somewhat in finesse and knowledge of theory, they fulfil the best traditions of forward play in the past. Their dribbling, footwork and show passing and all close rucking was overwhelming and superior to any Irish or Scotch [sic] international pack I've seen.[3]
But the notion of not changing a winning team had yet to be adopted by then, with the only player holding his position being Lucas at centre. With the series wrapped up, the selectors threw caution to an Athletic Park gale.
The most bizarre selection was that of Bay of Plenty loose forward Les McLean, a veteran of the Springbok series two years earlier, at fullback. 'Ginger' Nicholls was named at halfback and captained the side, while his brother 'Doc' was named at second five-eighths. Mark Nicholls was not on the selectors' radars for the series, denying the chance for three brothers to play on the same team. Instead, Māori All Black Lui Paewai was the third first five-eighths used in the series. In Belliss' absence due to injury, Cliff Porter made his All Blacks debut at wing-forward.
'Son' White and Les Cupples were recalled to the pack. Joining them on debut were South Canterbury's Ron Stewart, Canterbury's Read Masters, Hawke's Bay's Bill Irvine and Jack Ormond [aka Tiaki Omana] and Buller hooker Bob Tunnicliff.
Despite all the changes, the New Zealand side was rampant again in claiming a 38-11 in Wellington. McLean landed four conversions of the eight tries and kicked two penalty goals.
Reflecting on the NSW visit, Booth was certain that the All Blacks were well on their way to restoring their prestige.
Next year, with the team's departure for Britain, will return the old glories, the wild, clannish New Zealand football fever, and the back standard fully restored...and the smarting of last year's Australian defeats under exceptional conditions has been swept away for good by the revelation in these three 'tests' of a great numerical strength and wealth of superb forward talent.
New Zealand has almost imperishable memories of past packs, All Blacks included, 1897, 1903, etc., but this coming 1924 pack will easily eclipse them all in height, weight, pace and youth.[4]
Booth said the speed with which New Zealand players had assimilated the new laws had developed what he called a 'battle-cruiser' type of forward who dominated the three 'tests' with speed, fast-breaking and heavy formation work.
A point of interest during the NSW tour was the approach taken in the provincial game against Auckland when both teams did not field a wing-forward. Observers said this resulted in a much better contest. The game was not blighted by stoppages, injuries, or penalties, while unleashing grubber kicks, long-passing, playing to the corners and centring kicks from both teams. Booth was firm in his belief about abolishing the position.
The wing-forward position cannot be retained much longer. Australia, Britain, and South Africa do not want it, and if any strong referee here in New Zealand next year will stand up for the future of the game and make a name for himself, he has the power to order wing-forwards off.[5]
However, the selectors' choice of McLean at fullback in the third 'Test' did nothing to allay fears regarding the quality of back play ahead of the 1924-25 tour.
The New Zealand Times reflected that when saying a North v South game and a Possibles v Probables trial would not be enough by which a team could be selected.
It suggested a series of elimination games should be played, even if at the expense of regular inter-provincial games.
The problem is not to find a team fit to go to England – if this season has proved anything, it has proved that there are first-class players in plenty – but to find a method of selecting the best of the scores of players available.[6]
NEXT ISSUE: Trials process gets underway
Errata: The first version of this issue incorrectly stated ‘Len’ Righton did not play for the All Blacks again after 1923. He toured Australia with the 1925 All Blacks.
Archive:
2: Part 2 - Selection rebuild starts
[1] A.J. Geddes, All Blacks selector, reported in the Southland Times, 23 June 1944. Geddes was speaking at a farewell function organised by the Waikiwi club for their players, A. 'Son' White and Jock Richardson, who were selected to tour.
[2] E.E. Booth, New Zealand Times, 3 September 1923
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] ibid
[6] New Zealand Times, 15 September 1923