RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 December 1924, Page 9

RUGBY.

THE ALL BLACKS

The King is deeply interested, in the doings ol the New Zealand “Rugby” visitors, the “All Blacks,” and he intends to take the. first opportunity available of seeing 'them. He may bo at Twickenham in November, when they play their first game against London, but it is more likely that lie will wait until the international match against England is staged.—Dundee Courier. Thus the well-known writer, F. J. Sellicks: —At a rough estimate Porter and.M. are responsible between them for about three-fourths of penalties inflicted on the side, and unless and until these two mend their wavs the displays of the “All Blacks” will not he appreciated as they would otherwise be. AT CUMBERLAND.

The accommodation for the visiting press at Pruton Park was of a. most primitive character —a damp form for a seat, and a taller form, also damp, for a table, says an English paper. Happily it didn’t rain whilst the match was in progress, and the mild discomforts only served as a peg for the exchange of reminiscences with other “old hands” present. We remembered, of course, the first time a New Zealand team visited Carlisle, and we could’nt very well forget what happened or. that occasion. The date was Novemehr 20. 1888. and the game ended in a Maori victory by two goals and two tries and nine minors to two minors. This never-to-be-forgotten game was played for the most part in a blinding 'gale of

snow and sleet-, and so severe was the weather that five of the Maoris and eight of the Carlisle' team “chucked it up” ere the finish. And no one could blame them. As a. matter of fact one of the players who “stuck it” to the bitter end, ;told the writer some days afterwards that his recollections of the last half of the game were practically nil. He had only a hazy recollection of 'being carried to the dressing tent. The Maoris played a second match at Carlisle three . days later, when they met and defeated a team designated “East Cumberland” and won a “slay and spare hot” match bv 3 goals, 3 tries and 6 minors to 1 minor. It was in this match that Barlow Madigan, the finest three-quarter of the New Zealand team, had his ankle fractured as a result of a tackle by a local player known a s “Long” Bell* These Cum-' berland matches were both—to use pretty words —“very strenuous,” and produced an abundant crop of casualties on both sides. As to whose fault it was my view was that it was a case of “six of one and half a dozen of the other,” but though in the north the Maoris managed to get the reputation of being “a murderous crowd,” the fact is that they were quite content to play the other fellows at their own game, and modify, or tensify their methods according to the treatment they received from the other side. The 1905 All Blacks did not meet Cumberland

The All Blacks made- such a deep impression in that "hot-bed of scientifc Soccer, Birmingham, that a scheme has been organised for developing It ngger iu the council schools there (says the London Star). Itugbv clubs are to give the- implements of the game and supply coaches. There seems to be'a good deal of enthusiasm and energy behind the plan. The idea is at first to recruit the boys from several schools to form each fifteen. It is the fact that ltugby is played in the elementary’ schools that has made New Zealand and Welsh llugby what they are and have been. • " A most interesting time is ahead, especially when one. remembers that at the Imperial Conference of the Intermix tional Board an attempt will be made by New Zealand and Australia, who will have at least the support of Wales, to introduce certain —one would almost write sweeping—reforms into the laws of the game (writes “Onlooker” in the Birmingham Gazette and Express). Having been permitted,to see a draft of the innovations, on condition they were not broadcast, one may state briefly that, among others, they refer to the tackle, appeals,, offside, scoring values, representation on board, arid, chief of all, perhaps, reinstatement. The interest which will be aroused will be centred chiefly in the attitude Scotland will'take up. It is evident to even the most disinterested person that Rugby has increased, and is still increasing, in popularity more than any other kind of sport, but there is one branch of the game which; is not advancing pro rata, with the play, and one says it with all deference to those gentlemen who so ungrudgingly, give up their leisure to referee the matches.

The New Zealand team, known familiarly as the All Blacks, , attracted a large, crowd to Vilia. Park, where, for the first time in the history of the ground, the Rugby goalposts iiad been erected (says the Birmingham Post). The presence, of many spectators who obviously understood the game attested the increasing hold of Rugby; football in the North Midlands. The most attractive figure on the field was the 19-year-old Maori full-back, Nepia, who, besides playing an excellent game, which even the uninitiated could appreciate, led the New Zealand team before the game began in that curious performance, their, Maori war-cry. While it is true the New Zealanders defeated the North Midlands, by 40 points to 3, the local team h,ad much more of the play than the result, indicates, for their tackling was as clean and vigorous as their opponents’,. whose burly forwards they bundled about with hearty goodwill.. The New Zealanders played a game that was sound rather than brilhant,. and there was no really great exhibition of that most captivating spectacle of the Rugby field,.a brilliantly .concerted movement of the threequarter backs. Parker, the wing forward of the New Zealand team, was almost as • conspicuous as Nepia, and his stalwart figure moving swiftly through his opponents will linger long as a memory of the game. • Even football enthusiasts who are not followers of the Itugbv code will probably agree that the leading attraction of the football season is tTie visit to this country of the All Blacks from New Zealand (says th© London Daily News). The Rugby game in Great Britain has not only gained greatly in popularity since the last All Black team won an unbroken series of victories over the best British sides; it has also developed enormously in the method of play—in speed, in field tactic*, and particularly in the more flexible and intelligent use of the forwards. It would seem that our present visitors, even if they are afe good as their predecessors, will have much more stubborn opposition to face, from local as well as from regional sides. And yet they have won all their matches so far, with a masterfullness which •suggests that they are. a really formidable combination, and,one that is quite likely, barring physical accidents, to keep its record free from defeat.- The supreme tests will come, of course, in the representative mate-lies with England and Wales. The New Zc-alanders have already so firmly established themselves in public favour that wherever they go they draw vast crowds of spectators. This public interest will reach its zenith in the international match at Twickenham. The English Rugby authorities announce with pride that they have made accommodation for the presence on that occasion of C0,(X)0 people; they do not suggest, however how 60,000 people are to reach the inconveniently situated ground, and get away from it, or how they propose to deal with tens of thousands of additional people who will be unable to enter at all. We have never been able to understand, the obstinate refusal of the Rugby Union to use the great Stadium at Wembley. It is the obvious place for a match of this magnitude; the argument that it is too large to permit the onlookers to follow the details of play lias been disproved completely in the Association Cup finals. It is equally obvious that there is a very real danger of the disorganisation of Twickenham culminating in a serious disaster.

ENGLISH CRITICISM.

AX effective reply

WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. Of the criticisms which are being made at Home against the All Blacks a Wellington business man, who has just returned from a visit to England, had something to say to a Post reporter to-day.

“As far as I could see it,” he remarked, “the position seems to he that the game in England to-day is ‘soccer.’ A good many of those responsible for the reports of the All Blacks’ matches can only see ‘soccer’ and England.

Anything in the nature of dirty play on the part of the Home teams, is overlooked, but when cun fellows'are thought to lie playing -roughiv much is made of it. Our boys are playing clean football, though: at times offences against them are such as to make it almost impossible to refrain from retaliating, not openly of course. On one occasion an opposing front-ranker showed that he was looking for trouble by deliberately kicking the All Black hookers.

“However, there is nothing to worry about in the' conduct of the New Zealanders on the field or off it. Those who know the game and follow it are greatly impressed with the New Zealanders, and recognise that they play a really , good and lair game. An example of this was given by the crowd at one of the games in Wales, when h Welsh player charged into Cooke in adecidely unfair "manner and caused the New; Zealander to be temporarily incap'afiiated. There was a demonstration against the offender with many cries of ‘Put him off.’ ‘ ‘The 1 reference which had been made by the Bystander to- rough play byPorter, in fact the whole article, was most unfair, and had beteh treated with contempt. Rugby people who know the game simply "ignored it. “Some members or the team, one of them Porter, were at tea with -the Post’s informant when the. article was brought to their notice. “If you want a good and fair report of the games you will get it in the Daily Telegraph by Colonel Trevor,” the returned New Zealander added.

This in conjunction with the most emphatically expressed criticism of the London Times which effectually disposed of the allegations for New Zealanders. We acknowledge; said an enthusiast, that our men. play a very hard, vigorous and fast,game, but they are all good straight goers, keeping up the best traditions of the 'national game of the Dominion.

: This is confirmed too by an account bv the Irish Times critic. After the international match, he said:—“lt was very pleasing to- see such sporting spirit prevail throughout the game. Plenty of robust, 'holiest tackling there was; no quarter was shown within the rules, but never a semblance of anything foul, and between tlie spells of play , a good-humoured frendliness was exchanged between the players” EXTRACTS FROM HOME PAPERS. Another batch of press clippings from Home papers containing reports of the matches played by the All Blacks has just come to hand. The visit of the All Blacks is featured in dozens of papers, and apart .from the wonderful football record they are putting up, there is also the very line advertisement for the Dominion as a land of promise for the intending immigrant. The All Blacks were present, as the guests of Sir William Grey, at the launching from the Wear shipyard oi the s.s. Querimba, a vessel of 12,500 tons. Birmingham Daily Mail: —-To-day’s headline: “The All Blacks Go North.” But when, oh, when, are they going west? “Has the savage war cry of the 1 All Blacks anything to do with their victories?” asks an enthusiast- in London Opinion. The idea is worth considering. Couldn’t the English teams lash themseivefe into a fury by chanting extracts from Schedule DP—.(The reference to Schedule. D is, of course, a mystery to the people of .New Zealand.) Our good friends from New Zealand go on their way rejoicing in their big scores by carving up the scratch county sides (wrote the special correspondent ;of the London Morning Post under date .October. 18). This huge accumulation of points makes pretty reading ill print. But it cannot stiffen their game. And when they come up Against Ireland, Wales, and England - they wili find fifteens of a vastly different calibre., For any team it is the worst experience imaginable to play a series of one-sided games a preparation for'stiff matches. It was ,a club and nob a county programme that would have helped the New Zealanders best. IRISH COMMENT. The Irish Times devoted a sub leader to the match in which the writer said “it was a remarkably even struggle which was football at its best —played strenuously, genially and cleanly by two sets of fine sportsmen from opposite ends of the world.” Generous praise and appreciation by a - countryman c.f the vanquished team which will go a long way to counteract the very illnatured and, we are sure, .unjust criticism of some English papers.

An excellent series of photographs are given showing the New, Zealand rnaseotte and kiwi, the team, Nepia’s fine kicking, a mudlarking incident, strenuous struggle for possession. The Maori war cry, a New Zealander, though tackled, has arms free to : pass, a view of the ground. A part of the crowd Land Richardson leading on .the All Blacks. 1 , Writing of the referee’s work with the Irish match, the Times critic said:—‘‘Mr-J. E. Ereethy, of the Welsh Rugby union, paid particular attention to feet up in the scrummage and other infringements difficult to defect, and was most painstaking in' handling the game, which-he did, 1 think, with entire satisfaction to all.. • ; The Irish Times -Special Rugby Correspondent wrote as follows: — “Though the Irish XV. suffered defeat by 1 penalty goal and 1 try to . nil in the .match with the All Blacks at Lansdowna road last Saturday, a good deal of satisfaction can be got from the game from the Irish standpoint. There was no walk-over for the visitors, as many anticipated; it was, in fact, a very even game, with about the difference- of one score between the teams. Granting tiiat the ground aim general Conditions were against the New Zealanders, they had the advantage in many other respects. A well, trained, well-coached, ueil-orgauised set of skilled athletes, with nothing to do or think of save football for the past three or lour months were pitted against fifteen Irish players gathered from Dublin and Belfast, meeting on the field of play l'cr the first time this season. These fifteen Irish players held the great team of overseas footballers for more than three-quar-ters of the; game ; they only allowed their line to. he crossed once, the best achievement of any Slue so far against the New Zealanders. Except for the last few minutes, there was no period of the game at which it could be said that victory was certain . for either side, and a particularly' pleasing feature of the Irishmen’s play .was that they did not crack up when, the tide of fortune turned against them. This, unfortunately, has been the case in many of our international games in the past. Far from being the case now, the best piece of Irish forward play was when the side was .six points in arrears and playing a forward short.” He continues: —“The opinions expressed by many that the All Blacks are not a great side was not my impression of the match. That they did not pile no a huge score, as they did in other fate-lies, was due to their being up against another very fine team. Under the conditions prevailing, and against the deadliness of the Irish tackling, their backs worked out some wonderfully clever movements;, their forwards worked like demons to gain the mastery over a pack only the merest

trifle below them in strength. I have yet to be convinced that this team of All Blacks is not as good as the 1905 combination. A team will play as well as it is allowed, and the Irish team did not allow this great side to play any better on Saturday.” . THEIR, GREAT RECORD. The team continue their unbeaten record and look likely to continue so to the end of Hhe tour. We in New Zealand who follow with such keenness the results as they are received seem to have come to almost to expect over twenty points for each, match, and to look upon anything less, as only a medium win. Twenty 7 points and over would generally have been considered almost a runaway victory. Now we look on it as the usual. * ;

THE CROWDS

GOOD-HUMOURED

(Irish. Times.) It was the crowd, moreover, that was not put about by the weather. Rain and wind and mud underfoot seemed to be ignored while the match was was played. At Lansdowne road on these occasions one expects .to hear a good roar, of shouting at exciting moments. Last -Saturday the roar'was almost continuous, although the game was necessarily ; slovv ,in comparison with many, lb was a hard game, fought keenly all the- time— though with great good humor, umnarred by any ugly .incident—but'.- with a sodden' ground against {. rapid movement, and a greasy ball difficult to handle,' there .' were lew of those sudden changes and openings which are the ordinary cause of a crowd’s excitement. When the 'game* began there, were hints of a .clearing in the weather. There was. almost a gleam of sunshine a moment before the teams came. out. The New Zealanders, wearing dark jerseys—the uniform that brought them the .popular name of .'“All. Blacks”—-came out rather solemnly in single file, and, lining up in .front of the stand, • performed a kind of wiir dance, accompanied by a weird song and shouts. They were watched with interest by the Irish team, who had some oil to, the field with their usual 1 gay rush.

With the kick-off the shouting began, and thence, almost without, interval, the spectators gave: audible token of their keen following of the game. Helped by the wind, the Irish team pressed as often as they were pressed themselves, and showed that the “All Blacks” were a,t least not going . to fun over them. Irish supporters) \yere fairly well pleased wli©n half-’ time was reached without score'. ' It was in a way something to the good, for tlie visitors were noticeably put about by the heaviness or the ground and the spoiling tactics of their opponents. The rain had come oil again, making things, perhaps, worse for them. ; ■

VIEWS OF ENGLISH PRESIDENT

REPLACEMENT OF PLAYERS

... Mr. \V. S. Donne, president of, the English Rugby Union, wlio met the All Blacks on their arrival at Plymouth, and, who has witnessed all the “big” games played by the New; Zealanders to date, holds a high appreciation of the All Blacks as a team and the players in person. He is optimistic concerning the; tour and its prospects; from a playing-and a financial point of view. Mr. Donne believes that the New Zealanders will not be beaten, but he feels that they are going' to meet strong sides in London. Chatting with the president of tlie Rugby Union in the pavilion after the Blackheath-Cardiff contest, Mr Donne stated that the prbfits from the tour would go to assist the weaker clubs, not alone in London, but clubs far afield, spread as they are 'over the British Isles. . ’ "• Referring to the replacing of injured players, the president of the Union was adamant on the point. “We never have, and do not intend to now, change our rules relative to the replacing of injured players.” When it was pointed out that the rules lay down definitely 7 that the game, is to be played'by fifteen players aside, the president of the Union for a moment hesitated to reply. When told that in New Zealand injured players, are replaced during the game, at every stage up to half time, Mr. Donne reiterated his statement that it was not so in England. “You may do that in Neyv Zealand, but we know that we could not do it liere.” It was pointed out that surely the New Zealand system of replacing injured players was playing the true spirit of the game, whereas the English Union was playing rigidly to,the letter of the' law. Then came the cryptic reply: “•You may .know your players, but Ay© know ours.” , ’

IMPERIAL RUGBY CONFERENCE

The Imperial Rugby Conference, for which tlie New Zealand Rugby Union luis appointed as its delegate Mr. S. F. Wilson, who is at present travelling with the team, is to oe field in London on December 12. Important matters relative to the game will be discussed, most important of . all being future tours overseas of international teams. It is nob anticipated that the laws and rules of the game will come under discussion, as these matters are not provided for at the. Imperial Rugby Conference. . .

WHAT THEY SAY IN ENGLAND

“What the English selectors have to discover (says a London writer) is who to play in place of Luddington and Robson, two front-rank forwards of last season’s championship' side. The latter underwent tlie operation of trepanning during the war, and a motor cycle accident some months ago lias complicated matters,, so that he had probably finished with Rugby. Luddington injured his knee so badlp some time since that lie is also a very unlikely starter. The loss of two such key players is . a serious one, and a lot will depend on their successors.

The. Manchester Guardian, commenting on the games in the North and Midlands,:' says: “Three New Zealanders have made a great impression. One is- Nepia, surely one of the best full-backs the game has over produced. Never once, no matter how the ball went to him, did he fail to make a. clean catch. His hands seemed, as safe as a huge net, and several times -when lie rau instead of kicking his “pace left his opponents almost, hopeless. Once he almost scored a try- from his own twentyfive, and on another accasmn, when he crossrkicked into the centre, nothing could have prevented a try had a colleague made sure of the catch. Another prominent player was Richardson, a giant in stature, who is clearly the best : of a great lot of forwards. Richardson is always near the ball, and when he is close to the line his weight is. such that two or three men are required to keep him from going over. Ho and Guppies sometimes brush opposition aside in a manner that makes an unbiassed spectator laugh. Porter, the cantain, is another great player. As ,a half-back

he is. full of resource,, and his -weight and dash, enable him to ighore tackles that would stop many a' man;

LONDON TIMES COMMENT

The ‘‘All Blacks” continue to win their matches with great ease. They heat Cumberland at Carlisle on Saturday by four goals and seven tries (41 points) to nothing. .. As in ail their recent games, the All Blacks had largely to thank the brilliance- in attack of their backs for their victory. Although a good deal heavier than those of Cumberland, the forwards- were given a fairly stiff fight by the county pack, who not only had a reasonable shave of the ball, blit were particularly good in the loose. Several spirited rushes were made in which the. New Zealanders’ / defence was well tested, hut Cumberland had not the speed behind .sufficient to drive home any temporary advantage gained by these rushes. . Whenever the AH Blacks’ hacks hatVtlie ball, they looked like scoring. The. pace at which an -attack was developed proved too much for the county backs, the gaps in whose defence were quickly seized upon with a skill and resource for which the visitors have already become famous. Cumberland, last season’s .county champions, were completely outclassed, .the speed and handling of the New Zealanders coining as a complete revelation not only to the Cumberland side themselves, but to. the large company who watched the game. The county forwards tackled quickly and doggedly, but the only jxu-t of the play in which they were really gooci was in tile loose. Without suggesting for a moment that it affected the result, it is only proper to point out that the Cumberland three-quater backs were disorganized by the last minute change. A chill kept. Holliday , out of the game, Gass being brought from the wing to centre and a place being found for Johnston of Kendal, to make' his first appearance. for the county. Tueker, who had much to dd> with Cumberland winning the Championship last season; could not, play, having returned to his regiment in India, and Cumberland badly misted his services because, of all -things, he, was a most virile player iii attack. . Brough made vfefy few . mistakes and gave a thoroughly s'ouiid display .at back, but generally found hiiriself ili a difficult position, due to the tackling of some of his colleagues being weak. The brothers Little at halfback, were beaten for speed and skill. By kicking for touch so much they cettainly played the wrong game. Negative tactics are riot calculated to lead to much success against players like the New Zealanders. As it was, the All .Blacks found themselves with plenty of opportunities, and they used them splendidly. Hart, who was in great form both individually and in combination, scored four of the tries. For once in a: way. the place-kicking was weak.

FOOTBALL AND BOLL FIGHTING.

Not long ago a. traveller in Spain bore testimony to. the prowess of the Association footballers of Barcelona' Another traveller, writing to The Times from the City of London Club, gives a more general account of the game in Spain, and suggests that it may provide overwhelming opposition to the national pastime. He says that on going from Algeciras to, Seville he was struck by the appearance of a column in . the Spanish newspaper headed ‘‘Futhol,” giving accounts of football matches in different parts of the country. The popularity .of the game (“Soccer”) was emphasised by the appearance of .goalposts erected in various directions., even soi remote and small a town as Alkala, .having its football ground. On inquiry; the opinion -was expressed that so. many young men were how taking to the , game, and such crowds being attracted to the matches, that there would soon be no room for the bullfight. This correspondent goes oh to hint that the S.P.C.A, might doi Worse than give encouragement to- the gain© by organizing toui’s of English “Soccer” to the Sunny South. /