THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13029, 21 November 1905, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS.

MORE PRESS COMMENTS. - f " GLOUCESTER AND NORTHUMBER- , LAND MATCHES. By Telegraph Press Association Copyright.(Received November 20, 9.43 ,p.m.) • ■j iSvhxby, November 20. - Exchanges by the English mail, just to band, contain further comments on the New Zealand football team. "■» . • The Daily Mail, on the Northumberland match, says : —"The defeat was mitigated by the reflection that- the local men did better than ihad been expected. The New Zcalanders do not shine so brightly- under th« -.stormy weather conditions which prvailed. Their scientific methods are so well thought out; and. so mathematically correct, that 1 such weather upsets the perfect working of; their machinery. If the New Zealanders • are fated to receive a. beating at all it will probably happen when their machinery gets blown out of. order, and their, opponents,,.; trusting more to good luck than good' combination, take advantage of the elements to secure an. unorthodox victory. Therefore, it'll to whom the prestige of British Rugby is dear will probably pray for dirty weather for the internationals." The -same paper pays a high tribute, to the visitors' camaraderie, and the absence of jealousy and- selfishness to which arc due their homogeneity on the field. Even New Zealanders themselves were surprised at the brilliancy displayed. Their brilliant little five-eighths,-Hunter, five times get the ball from behind the scrum,- wriggled' Jiis way through almost a. solid phalanx of opponents, and all the time scarcely deviate from a, straight line. A more meteoric display would be inconceivable. - Commenting on the Gloucester match, the Daily Mail says : "For w time the Gloucestershire forwards nonplussed the visitors by '. their low tackling. The colonials seemed surprised that their opponents should have ; the impudence to attempt to put only pro- ■ per methods into force against them. Their experience against London and Northern ! teams led them to imagine that ,the high tackle was the only method adopted in this ; country. The game was a triumph of mind plus matter over pluck and grit minusi'physique, and originality of conception. The Gloucester men worked twice as hard as the New Zealanders, but lacked their combination and method. Their tackling was superb, and their pluck against a clever and. a) physically stronger team, was'magnificent. Wallace, the Admirable Crichton of the New, Zealand team, gave really a glorious display at wing three-quarter. His kicking and fielding are always above reproach, but ; it was left for the Gloucester match to briny | out to the full his wonderful powers of at- : tack.". ■ ■' : v.;'.