THE WORLD OF SPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 10

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

ALL BLACKS IN BRITAIN.

NINETEEN YEARS-THEN AND NOW BY C. S. TEXDAIX. A great change in New Zealand's posi* tion in tho Rugby world has taken placd in the last nineteen years. When tha original All Blacks commenced their, worn derful tour of Britain in 1905, the Dominion's football strength wan an absolutely unknown quantity. When thd present team landed at Plymouth a few weeks ago, the English papers were full 0 f references to then- arrival and predictions as to their prospects of defeating the strong, est teams in Britain and Ireland. Thess altered circumstances were referred to ai a recent Rotary Club luncheon in England at which the All Blacks were guests, by Mr. T. S. Kelly (Exeter), honorary secretary of the Devon Rugby Union, who played for Devon and for England against the New Zealanders in 1305-6. Mr. Kellv recalled tho 'fact that when Devon plaved the first game against the 1905 team, little was known of football in this country. Before the match it was generally considered that the odds were 20 to 1 in favour of Devon winning Ho remembered the referee remarking to hira before the match that the rules in New Zealand differed somewhat from those in England, but he would let the game go as Devon could afford to give them a good deal of rope! The result of that match was 55 points to 4 in favour of the All Blacks. Unfortunately Mr. Kelly did not state what the referee said after the game.

At the end of this month the All Blacks will play the second international match of their four, against Wales, and will doubtless go "all out" to reverse the result of that memorable yet unsatisfactory game of 1905. If we are t£> believe ail we read, these are dark days in Welsh Rugby circles by reason of the depredations of professional football agents. The Welshmen have also changed their style of play since 1905 to .the detriment, it is said, cf their attack, which in past years so often made them invincible. This gloomy talk is all very well, but it docs not altogether dispel * a suspicion that Wales may have a surprise packet ready for the All Blacks on November 29. Tha meeting of these old rivals after 19 years will be full of interest.

A cablegram last week announced that the King will witness the match between the All Blacks and the Combined Services at Twickenham on December 13. This match is likely to prove a hard one for the Navy, Army and Air Force have some fine Rugby material to draw upon. The forwards will be a heavy and fast division, while there will doubtless be several internationals among the backs. The Services are playing a trial game at the end of this month with a view to the selection of their team.

We have heard little of late of the war cry of the All Blacks which was said to bo a very remarkable composition. The cablegrams mentioned some time ago that the team had abandoned it, and the following reference appears in the London Daily Dispatch, of September 16:—"The New. Zealand footballers have decided to drop their war cry as being not exactly complimentary to the great Maori race. Apart from this, the decision is wise, for the war cry was hardly in keeping with the tradition of the game. , At the same time wo aro scarcely in a position to cavil. If our Eugby teams refrain from musical defiance, our crowds. English excepted, do not. Scotland and Ireland bring the bagpipes to their aid, while 'Land of My'" Fathers,' as sung by the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park, is wonderfully impressive. Indeed, the original All Blacks confessed that it staggered them, and for the first ten minutes or bo of that still much-discussed match they had their tails down. Such demonstrations, however, are different from team war cries, which are ,apt to border on the ridiculous."

There are some pessimistic athletic folk in England just now. "It would be pleasant," writes one of them in the Nation, "to have a victory for this country in the world of sport to vary the monotony of defeat. The tale of disaster is unceas- *: ing. The gojf team which went to • America was beaten and the polo strugglo has gone, as it was expected to go, decisively against us. • The first match of the New Zealand • footballers has ended in a result which foreshadows a repetition of the former triumphs of the visitors in this country. America has appropriated the trophies of the golf world and the boxing ring, and all the world beats us at tennis. Intellectually we know, on the authority of Mr. Bernard Shaw, that we are a dull people, made great by the brilliant aliens like himself, who honour us with their presence. But in sport we used to think that we played the violin to the world. Have we lost pur cunning, are we really as physically inferior as, according to our critic, we are mentally inferior ? j It is a disquieting speculation."

Some of the English critics seem Jo be going out of their way to say unkind things about the All Blacks, and much of their comment is merely silly. "I observe with surprise a tendency in some quarters to question the sportsmanship of the New Zealanders," writes "Olympian" in the London Evening Standard, when referring to this matter. "It is to say the least of it unfair at this early stage to attack our visitors because their style of play does not commend itself to our notions of Rugby. The New Zealanders I know are more concerned about leaving a good name behind them than with winning their matches." It is a pity there are not more critics in England like "Olympian."

Right at the end of their tour the All Blacks are scheduled to play two matches against France. They should win fairly easily, because France has only taken to Rugby in recent years, and has as yet failed to develop the finer points of the game. France has never yet.filled first place in the international championship in which England, Scotland and Wales also participate. The Frenchmen, however, are enthusiastic Rugby players, and if the visit of the All Blacks helps on the gamo in that country it will have beeu well worth while.

The position regarding the world's sculling champiouship is a bit obscure just now. The holder, Paddon, wished to retire and hand the title over to Hadfield. Then it was stated thatPaddon could not do this and consequently he was reported to have decided to race again. Among the aspirants for championship honours are GoodseU, McDevitt, Hannan, and Hadfield. The last-named, however, is laid aside with a broken arm, and is unlikely to outer a boat for some considerable tune to come. Of the other three, McDevitt is not class enough to expect to extend the champion. Hannan is probably a good deal better sculler than Goodsell. and Aucklanders at least would be glad if he s&cured the first race with big J" 11 Paddon.