Rugby Acrobatism.

NZ Truth, Issue 124, 2 November 1907, Page 3

Rugby Acrobatism.

. _____ The/great "I, am" .of football, ''Off-Side Mac," who only a week or two ago championed the family party which mfisrules the N.Z.R.U., has suddenly awoke to the fact that so far as present-day football is concerned, he is a Rip Van Winkle and now he has shaken off his sloth and donned the armour of modern ideas, and as a result he is attacking his late cobbers with a pole-axe for doing what he has so long countenanced himself. "Off-Side" has put forward, m his. usual nonchalant way, views that have been expressed m these columns for months. However, "Pakeha" bears "Off-Side" no illwill for that commission, but congratulates him on having lifted himself put of the ruck of bounders and exploiters of the football players and placed himself on a plane consistent with honest ideas. "Off-Side" m attacking the paid services of Rowland Hill,.secretary to the English R.U., might have given a line to our own paid servants. "Pakeha" has nothing to say against Mr J. D. A very, but some previous holders of that gentleman's office have sadly neglected their duties, otherwise "Pakeha" would not have had to chronicle the | lamentable fact that the N.Z. Union had not even m its possession a copy of the English Rugby Union annual. I "Off-Side Mac" might also have given the Northern Rugby Union secretary the credit of being an honest supporter of the game, seeing that Mr Platt is purely an honorary secretary. "Off-Side" has, during the last fortnight, performed some wonderful somersaulting, and it is a case of "'c dunno where 'c are." However, to those who are able to judge of this Rip Van Winkle's motives, it comes as no surprise. "Off-side" has for so long considered himself the "Be all and end all" of all matters pertaining to New Zealand football, that when he finds himself on the los- j ing side he quickly recognises he is! as usual, "Off-Side," and endeavors to get oft side and recover his previous popularity with the presentday players, that he throws over all his previous notions of the "Purity of Sport," etc., for the sake of a little cheap popuJarity, not to mention notoriety ; but "Off-Side" will find that the present generation of toeballcrs are not to be caught wi>h such a miserable bait No, *t)ffSitlp," once a giant, is now but tv puny, derelict of prehistoric foo.tb/all days.j