RUGBY MANIA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 304, 17 September 1921, Page 9

RUGBY MANIA

WELLINGTON CONGESTED

NOTHING MATTERS BUT THE THIRD TEST

RECORD GATHERING ANTICIPATED

(By

"Sylvius.”)

Never in the history of Wellington—- ( probably not of New Zealand—has Rugby > secured such a hold on the public as it has this year, and never has there been evinced the great enthusiasm, streaked with anxiety, over a match as is the case with the third Test with the Springboks to bo decided on the Athletic Park this afternoon. Hard-headed critics, of Rugby in England for ten years past have said that if ever New Zealand was beaten in national Rugby it would he by the South Africans. And it came to pass that at last the -South Africans camo, and have established a record in New Zealand they might well bo proud of, no matter how the game goes this afternoon. There has been healthy rivalry and keen interest in big Rugby fixtures ere now, but they all pale before the astonishing state of the public mind to-day. For the last two days people have been streaming into Wellington from all points of the compass The Main Trunk expresses have been long and heavily-packed, whilst the southern boats have been doing "Christmas business.” All the main streets of the city were thronged with people yesterday, eagerly discussing the slightest fragment of news which at all appertained to tho great game of to-day. On every corner, and penetrating Into the shops, offices, and factories were scores of vendors of badges and ribbons (of the colours of both sides) —men, women, and boys—soliciting each and all to deck themselves out in tho colours of the team they fancied—an invitation which was freely accepted, until all the world seemed to divide itself into black and silver or green and gold. At all events, the visitors cannot complain of any lack of supporters, as 50 per cent, of those who ’paraded the city streets yesterday Sported the colours of the Veldt-men. Shops made special displays of photographic football groups of the present teams, or those out of the past, and each window so decked out had its throng of interested spectators. Out of the Past. Old players of note from other cities, and tho near and far way-back—men who were Rugby giants in the *Bo’s and *9o’s—met each other along tho sidewalks, and after a long, hard look gripped hands, and the talk slid backwards to other days and other games. Many o'f these are grizzled old men to-day, but what lasts unchanged through all the seasons is the evergreen love for tho old game, and the fear that New Zealand might lose that prestige the veterans in their day fought so hard and well to create. Searching for "Digs.” "Could 1 you let mo have a bod for tonight?” The. young man, leather suitcase in hand, looked that weary and knocked out, that he almost looked the answer before it was uttered. It had to be in the negative. The good-natured proprietor of the city hostelry whose "Sorry, old man. quite impossible,” was visually anticipated by the inquirer, said he could have filled a house four times as big. and' would then have to refuse applicants. "It is as bad as the Prince’s visit,” ho offered. "T.ook at this.” Tn camo a stream of six or seven men, each MTryrng a lug or portmanteau, and after the usual querv and the usual reply, they tailed out again, to resume the quest for n m.nttress and a pillow for tho night. With Wellington already congested, the search for "digs" must in some cases have been a trving and tiring one, but one hopes that they all pulled up somewhere for the night. The conditions ns far as accommodation is concerned promise to bo Inst as bad' tonight and to-morrow night. Concerning the Ladies. Ono of the remarkable features of Rugby this year is the lively interest that is being taken by the ladies. Posstbly the leakage through the Press that tho fair are playing football at Home has stung tho "flappers” into a spirit of emulation, but be it what it may, the attendances of ladies at tho Park matches have steadily increased for the past season or two until there are women who know just as much about the fine points of tho game as tho men, and are not shy in discussing them in any company. And in connection with the “third Test," their knowledge of individual players, on both sides, and their particular degree of talent on the field is little short of amazing. The writer was standing near a female mercer’s show-window yesterday when two flappers stopped to inspect the goods displayed. "There they are, those black ones, with the double heels —if the Boks win, I give you a pair, and if the All Blacks do, ymi part up!” "It’s a wager!” said tho other as they moved on. Sure, this is a great day! "’Ware, Pickpockets!” As there has lieon a good deal of successful pocket-picking on the crowded tramcaTs and at section functions, the assumption is that such slim gentlemen will not be backward in taking advantage of the big crowds that are sure to congregate nt tho Park, in the trams, and’ streets to-day. Tho proper word to the wise is not to carry anything in tho pockets of any value, and for women to leave their bags and purses at home—for once'. Do Not Rush! The traffic authorities have made every reasonable provision for coping with tho big traffic to-day, and are convinced that if tho public, more especial- • ly at the conclusion of the big game, will refrain from rushing the gates, no trouble will ensue. It is to be hoped that all will keep their heads at the end of tho day, and proceed leisurely to tho nearest exit after the battle is lost and won.