"SPIRIT OF THE GAME"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 22

"SPIRIT OF THE GAME"

NEW ZEALAND CRITICISED

In his remarks about New Zealand's "negative game," the visitor from Yorkshire who was interviewed in Dunedin this week said that he thought the wrong spirit had crept into the manner in which the game is played. Elaborating on this theme; the visitor explained that there seemed to be too much of the "playing the man element," instead of the old-fashioned system of. "playing the ball." Although sound defence was, of course, necessary, it was neither essential nor legal that a man should be tackled before he had possession of the ball, or that defenders should risk the off-side rule penalty of "camping" on a clever attacking opponent. Such tactics as these were not, he hoped, the general rule in the Dominion, but he had seen enough of them in some of the so-called big games to disgust him.

He went on to state that the All Blacks of 1935 had a big responsibility ahead. It was sad but true that, while New Zealanders as a whole were very popular in the Old Country—perhaps more popular than any other visitors —the Dominion's Rugby footballers were not admired as greatly as they

could be. This was not oh account of any personal shortcomings, but rather because of the over-grim spirit in which they played their harder games. It would have been quite all right, however, if this grimness had been confined to legitimate hard play, but it was a regrettable fact that, during the 1924-25 tour, at' any rate, there were instances of illegal tactics which, coming from a team so good otherwise, did not create a favourable impression. He had heard it said, moreover, that the Springboks of 1906 were more popular than the All Blacks of 1905, .and at the same time their record was nearly as good. However, he had no first-hand personal knowledge on that point. The New Zealand Army team, which won the King's Cup in 1919, were regarded as "stout fellows," and . were very well liked wherever they went.

'It is to be hoped that the new' side, while on tour, will ignore any undesirable subtleties which appear to have crept into New Zealand Rugby," he concluded. "I honestly believe that the men chosen are big enough to do so, and I am sure they will have a most enjoyable trip."

One would imagine that New Zealand representatives were the only people in football who took their games seriously. Is there no seriousness about the international clashes in the Home countries? And is not the will to win very evident? New Zealand teams know how to play the game, and, while their portion of success .has been great, they know how to- lbse. It is a matter of considerable

I doubt as to whether New Zealand teams have been more serious in their efforts to win than teams representing other countries. The British team which came here.-four years #go was none too happy about its defeats, and it most certainly played to win. The Springboks of 1921 played in, all seriousness, and teams • from : Australia have done the same. Let those who seek to criticise New Zealand make as close a study of the type of'play of others, and they will find that New Zealand's play and its sporting measure up very well with what is shown by other countries.