Agree To Differ.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

Agree To Differ.

<j w yn Nicholls and Ted. Morgan On Welsh Tactics in 1905.

In "Polity's" article of December 7 there appeared this paragraph on scrum - miring: "When the Welshmen con(juerecftlie 1903 All Blacks they officially adopted a seven scrummage, and brought out Cliff Pritchard as a rover anil spoiler. It is history now how that player and th e tactics succeeded, but it has hcen stated that Wales really ■used only s-ix men in the scrum, 3-2-1, the remaining back-row man being merely an additional breakaway, who did not actually pack in."

The writer was hoping that perhaps ono of the three Georges (Gillett, Tyler and Nicholson), present at Cardiff on December IC, 1905—the former two actually on the field—might have sent word along refuting this last-named allegation. Instead, in turning-up some listorical matter for an article on the third Test, with Wales on December 21 next, "Polity" came across the following interesting observations by Dr. Teddy Morgan, the wing-three-quarter who scored the try which enabled Wales to beat the original All Blacks (Morgan Tvas out here in 1004 with the late "Darkie" Bedell-Si vright'a Britishers, whom Morry Wood and Co. beat 13—0 at Potter's Paddock):—"Wales fielded one of the best sides that have ever turned out, but made the mistake of plaving seven forwards, a rover (Cliff Pritchard, of Newport), and seven backs. Had they stuck to their own formation of eight forwards and seven backs, Wales would undoubtedly have won well, and even on the run of the play; as it turned out, deserved to win this memorable game."'

This view was expressed on September 27, 1924, at Swansea, wlien Morgan vent there to see, the "Invincibles" beat Swansea 39—3 (no wonder revenge was so eweet eleven years later). And in expressing this opinion ho had previously admitted that the late Bob Deans did score an equalising try. His memory slipped a cog, though, for he said it was Billy Wallace who had been deprived of the reward. And still the experts differ! Gwyn Xicholle, the Welsh captain, in giving his impressions to the "Daily Mail" after the 1905 game, said: "This is the- lirst occasion on which I have had the chance oi witnessing the methods of our visitors, and I must say that the formation

triet), and I came across the field from the place where the Welsh rush, which proceeded that of the New Zealanders, had commenced (we had done our whack, and didn't feel called upon to follow up —wisely, as it turned out). Winfiekl was in front of Deans, and seeing that he (full-back) might possibly be unable to stop him completely, he headed him off so as to turn Deans towards Gabe and Harding, who were by this time quite close up. The manoeuvre succeeded, the eyes of Gabe and Harding lit up, and they hurled themselves upon the luckless Deans. Now, when either Gabe or Harding took the trouble to tackle a man, you may be sure that that man was well and truly tackled, and on this occasion Deans panic down, tackled by both Gabe and Harding, with the ball underneath him, just two inches outside the line.

"The referee was coining ii|> at top speed, saw the tackle from about 2."> yards away and naturally blew his whistle. Gabe and Harding sot off Deans, but he, having probably not heard the whistle and thinking it the chance of a lifetime, at once placed the ball on the scoring side of the goal line. And now I came on the" scene myself and I know what then transpired. Realising that the referee (Mr. J. D. Dallas, Scotland) might quite reasonably consider on arrival that u try had been scored if he found the ball over the line, I immediately picked it up and replaced it upon the exact spot upon which it had originally been placed, so that when the referee did arrive it was where it had been made dead, and, very properly, no try was allowed. So you see that my part was only a walkingon (?) one, but highly important all the same!

"What I have written is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So now, dear friends from far away, do please quit talking about a defeat as not a, defeat." Why did not Percy think of cutting out that piece of turf, just the two inches outside the goal line, and send it to the Britisli Museum? Carbines hoof or Phar Lap's heart is nothing to it. Should not Bush have described his part as a walking-off one? History Repeats Itself. Some facts following on this summary: —■ (a) Ireland cannot expect much sympathy from Xew Zealanders if the following statement in the Sunday -Graphic" of December 8 be correct:— "The All Blacks' luck is becoming a betting certainty. Sigglne' try should certainly have been awarded. He touched down well before an All Black arrived,

verted. This made the score 10—5, which lead Cardiff reduced by three points when Thomas scored in the corner after several fine bouts of passing by the Welshmen, Winfield'a attempt to equalise missing by a few feet only.

Before showing how Bush was I "roasted" for Cardiff's defeat, perhaps it should be stated that New Zealand j was minus the services of that capital j Taranaki forward J. J. O'Sullivan for | nearly two-thirds of the game, and that both All Black tries were scored after his retirement through injury. Dave Gallaher had to go into the scrum, and without a wing-forward the opposing backs had not only a free hand in opening up the attack, but had a man to the good when an attack was developed. Also notf! this well —after O'Sullivan went off New Zealand never put the ball into the scrum once, but when in possession thereof (after an infringement) invariably handed it over to the Welsh half to put in — a fact not generally commented on by critics of Gallaher in the international contest. On the Rack! Said the "South Wales Daily News": "Cardiff lost the game solely und simply through a temporary lapse on the part of one of the most resourceful players in the Rugby game. The breakdown of the captain (Bush) bailies adequate explanation. It is true that he had been confined to bod since the Lon-don-Welsh club game, in which he performed brilliantly, but his play in other stages of the New Zealand game was marked by his best skill. It seemed u easo of midden mental paralysis and his 'toying , with the ball was as though there was not a New Zealander within 100 yards of him. He had only to touch down to save the position, instead of making a present of a try to New Zealand after the ball had gone over the line as a result of poor and aimless workmanship, not skilful attack. Seeling's kick over the line was a wild one and his disgust at his hard kick was palpably shown by him. Still it was a flash of inspiration' that sent Nicholson and Thomson (wing three-quarter) over , the line on to tlm ball, when they saw that Bush had not immediately fallen on to it, so* that what stinted with accident wound up with a smart example of opportunism."

The same critic after reviewing other aspects of the gamp wound up thus:

"It was a preat opportunity that Cardiff had and Hint they lost it is matter for extreme regret to the true sportsman, wlio never likes to pee matches won through an accidental circumstance. It is no use enlarging on the cause of the mishap, which ended in New Zealand's victory, the result of which wae due more to psychological thnn physiological reasons." Famish Stuart, that bugbear of critics of the 100.") All Blacks,"wrote in the "Athletic News":—

"The New Zealanders owed their narrow victory to this error of Bush and to the two chief characteristics of their play—speed and strength. No other side would have been 'up' to avail themselves of Bush's mistake or have disconcerted that player into making the sad mistake." Welsh Fervour. More than three points belter! That was the oninion of such a competent critic as Mr. J. A. Buttery, in the "Daily Mail." on the Welsh victory. The late Dr. P. F. McEvedy, an old St. Patrick's College boy. who was a member of the lflO4 Britishers and vice-captain of the inOS Anglo-Welshmen on their Xew Zealand (ours, also president of the W.Z.R.F.U. when he died recently on his return from n trip to the Old Country, onco informed "Ponly": "Wales beat the All Blacks fairly and squarely on the day, but if the'game had been played on'a neutral ground the Xew Zealanders would have won by double figures. This is no exaggeration, as within a year the Springboks hud beaten Wales by three tries (one converted) to nil, and eleven of the vanquished had been in the fifteen which lowered the colours of the All Blacks. But to go back to Ihe Buttery epic. "The Welshmen deserved to win through their superior excellence in every depart-

feated 14—8, amid amazing scenes, otherwise the International Board would; have ordered a replay. The Welsh score j comprised two potted goals. | Toll for the Brave. _ j Perhaps the finest tribute ever paid j to Bob Deans was by Leo FamungJ (brother of the famous I^ew Zealand lock, Bernie) in his "Players and ' Slavers"—one of these days, when space, 'permits, "Ponty" hopes to have itreproI cluced in these columns. Aucklanders ot the older regime will always treasure the memory of that long last glimpse of Canterbury and New Zealand s giant ' of heart and stature, when he donned and doffed his jersey for the final roll call at Potter's Paddock on July 25, 1908. For dn that day Deans played outside that brainy New Zealand centre from 1907 to 10115, Frank Mitch.nson, when the Anglo-Welshmen were annihilated, 29—0, in the final Test, the latter scoring three tries and Deans one. Auoklanders associated with Bob here "7 winters ago were his old Canterbury comrade, Geo. Gillett, Bill Cunningham, "Bolla" Francis (whose goal saved JSew Zealand at Wellington after "I'onty Jones had scored a try), "Bronco Seeling and "Circus" Hayward. The telegram reproduced on this page is a typical Deans' gesture. Ninety-nine men "out of a hundred would hav«) ignored the "Daily Mail's" request, "Did you score a try against Wales? But Bob was made of better stuff. Bβ treated a courtesy with a gentleman a answer, and there could.never be a soul of Bob's acquaintance who would ever doubt that ho scored a fair try, despite all the Dallaeee and Bushes in the universe.

"Great-Little; , Welshman's Tribute. Finally, it Rooms peculiar that Teddy Morgan * should have credited Wallace with the alleged New Zealand try against Wales, for in 1921—only three yeans before the view expressed earlier 111 this article—the "great-little" Welshman thus terminated his chapter on the wing-three-quarter game in E. D. Sewell s book "Kugby Football Up-to-date":—

"In conclusion, I should much appreciate it if these few observations of mine were to be considered as dedicated to the memory of the late R. G. Deans, of the All Blacks' team of 1905, who in the opinion of several of the players, including myself and the Welsh touch judge, Aek Llewellyn, scored that oftquoted try against Wales in December, 1905, at Cardiff. How it happened I cannot exactly tell, you, but it was I who tackled him, to prevent him running behind. As I tackled him (a few yards outside) I distinctly saw the white goal-line underneath me; and yet, when I got up off Deans' legs, he was holding on to the ball (with two others of our side), which was grounded about a foot outside the line. Deans was claiming a try in no uncertain voice. Dallas, the referee, came running up from the gramlside side, and had not seen what happened after the tackle. I must add that, in my view, Wales deserved to win on the day's play."

A paragraph earlier Morgan has written: "In my opinion, the All Black team of 190"> was the finest combination of footballers ever seen. They were the equals of any in physique and speed, and the superiors of all in finesse."