SYDNEY CRITICISM

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 351, 23 August 1907, Page 4

SYDNEY CRITICISM

1 In a final cr iticism of i be New Zea t land toot ball team alter the conclud ■ ing match, the Sydney Daily Tel«- --> graph says:— i The New Zealanders won the rub > ber against Australia, while) with ie ' gurd to New South 'Wales, hc-no-ars were easy. The visiting team was less 1 successful than any previous New Zea--1 land comlination to visit Australia ■ for the reason that there was a loss - and a draw recorded against it, in addition to the telling fact against > lie • strength of its defence, that it was scored against in every match. ' n \ two previous occasions— in 1393 atu: 1 1897— the New Zealanders lost a ! match. While the team was uiifor l';---nate in regard to injuries and illness, it is the general opinion that it V ' the weakest side seat from New Zealand, and what was said when the ' team was selected can be repeatou ; with more force: "Too much All Black." The team was certainly inferior to that of 390H as an all-round combination. It is evident that the strenuous wovk of the tour in Gre-_t. Britain— in which the .New Zealand \ ers 'Established a record as one of the most brilliant und most «ac.essic : Rugby combinations ever banded together, which will riot be forgotten while the game lasts— has told un tbe men, and deprived thorn of their dash. The result of the tour must have an encouraginY effoct on the yoongir generation of players, as H has clearly demonstrated that the "Old man' footballer idea can bo overdone. Wilu this tour the "baldheaded father nf a family" player should almost disap pear from the ranks of New Zealand players. Six of the New Zealand team are married men, nearly all with fa v llies. The Australia., authorities wiii act wisely in selecting their te£m fcr Britain next year, it they bear th s fact in mind, and not place too mv".i reliance on th% veteran players. It is likely, although there are raarv who would have preferred tt make the discovery under different circumstances, that the play of the forwards oi tli© New Zealand professional teiu i.ext Saturday will reveal the fa "it, that while the "All Blacks" have the reputation, the "pros." nave got tbe i form. The forwards are certain 1 v younger men than the "All Black" , vanguard division. The '-curious wi'l no doubt be attracted to see their firs*, display, for the purpose of making comparisons with their veteran predecessors. The New Zealanders, both players and officials, before they left on Saturday, were unsparing in their ge i •- rous praise of tlio play of New South Wales men. Whilo freely recognisiiu that the play here had improved vc /y much, they were certain that they had not done themselves justice, e£ cept en the occasion oi the first tesc match. But instead of improviu^ from that point, they got worse. "It's no use disputing th© fact," said or.c of the former stars -i the team, (i wo are dene for. As lor myself, I • v beginning to think I am too old i-:r j the game " "Me. too/ -aid another J "has been" at his elbow. Generally the New Zealarders are satisfied that j the results of the tour will have a i stimulating effect on New Zealaid j players. It would teach them that they were not all they thought they | were, "but," said tne, "w e will ro j cover, and when the Australians coma ■■ over in two years, I think they will ! find we have still got a gallop in us.'' j The tour of the New Zealander*. which closed, as it began, with a stroke of luck for them, marks an in teresting, and, perhaps, critical period in the history of the game in the Southern Hemisphere. A new element has entered into it -the professional, that is, the player who thinks that his skill shiuld be financially rewarded, in the same way as the su: cessful cricketer, sculler, or «*ycli.t Whether he his come to stay is hard j to say, but there is going to be a j keen fight, although it may be only '* short one, and the events Of the next few weeks may effectually se 4 - , tie the question, in New St uth Wale., ! at all e/ents. The lact is intefesti-a; in connection with the "All Blacks,' because it was the remarkable linancial success of their tour in Great : Britain that has set up the professional movement going.