Outside Chat.

NZ Truth, Issue 152, 16 May 1908, Page 3

Outside Chat.

If Wellington had a couple of real smart and expert wingers of the buU-doj; breed. I would advocate playing them against the over-feea visitors on the 27th inst. But Wellington unfortunately hasn't. Ellisons, Lees, Mc-Kenzics, iCellyu and Oliphants don't flourish very plentifully m these times ; the wingers of today, m comparison with the giants of former times, are veritable 'pigmies, both as regards skill, resource, and fieeincss. Give the writer a couple of "OH-side Macs'' and tjie Englishmen could have the very best halves* m the world's Rugby domain with a Gwyn Nicholls or Morgan to assist theiti. Back-spoilers of a former era's type would soon smash up all the Welsh Bushes and Nicholls that grow on this planet.

The strategical movements initiated "i)V Wellington senior back teams for attacking riurposes nowadays compares unfavorablyywith thosj m vogue about ten, fif- ! teen; or twenty years ago. One hears a lot about what the All Blacks team did m Great Britain, but from' the displays j given by representatives of that combination on local fields, it is 'safe to say that the checking formation of its adverj saries' forces must have been weak m tho extreme. lam led to make these re- ; marks by the. displays given at Miramar 1 'this season. Never once have I seen the 1 whole division m perfect unison for concentrating, a smashing assault on the opposing citadtl. In. individual cases there have been som«. fine efforts, but the systems, when collective excellence is necessary, fall far short of requirements. [ Again, the clustering, of both divisions when driving home a strong attack is not up to the standard of the days when Wellington forward teams with a weak rearguard behind them, knocked anything out of sight m. the Dominion. The rearEuard then took a strong hand m the avalanche rushes of the black scrummagers, which swept everything .before them. The break-u;) of our packs is invariably slower than it ought to be. and to a team which possesses a quick, rushing brigade this means much. Bustling and fralloping forwards want plenty of play and the greater rein, given them, the ' more dangerous becomes their aggressive force.

Wellington forwards might improve their line-out work, which is not infrequently slovenly and inaccurately executed. Take Saturday's . Oriental v. Southern and St. James v. Melrose exhibitions: . The taking on both sides was so poor that there was next to no chance for a pass back when at an advantageous position. Some years ago it was quite the thing m local competitions for a passing rush to be initiated from the line-out, and to get the ball transferred deftly from player to player while going at top for the line. With the exception of Roberts, no half m • the city appears to have the proper conception of exact position when a line-out is m evidence, either m his own territory or that ofhis opponents'. In nine cases out of ten their tactics render them practically; negligible for offensive purposes. George Evatt who played m Wellington Old Boys' three-.quarter line for a few seasons .is now m Wanganui, and will orchably throw m his lot with thelocal Old Boys.

The same old blunderbuss, loaded up with bounce and bluster, has again been leyelled by. the Referees' Association at the devoted head of the Wellington Rusby Union, and tnc latter body m retaliation heaves back a brick-bat which raises a nasl;y buron on the whistling brigade's "chivy." The Association Will' never be happy till i'» takes over the judicial functions of the Union, lock, stock and barrel, and when that event comes < to pass, it will be time for players to set right out o! the game 'and leave the field to devotees of Soccer and other rival football pastimes. It is a cert they will pass out m shoa]s. The Association takes up the stand" that its members should be protected by the U»>ion. no matter ' what hideous mistake may have been perpetrated by a "tooter." and that* summary punishment should be meted out to the unfortunate player who comes under the displeasure ol the "hass" who is selected to interpret Rugby law. In short, the Association, which seercingly consists nowadays of Laws, Sievers and Lusk, acts on the principle that its members nre absolutely infallible m fact as well as law. The Rugby Union has to protect the interests of players- just as much as referees, and its bounden duty is to size up the correct facts and not act at the instance of some, coot who is unable to graso the difference between vicious and hard olay. The cast-iron cheek of the Association m demanding a copy of tbs evidence taken m the Crewes— Wilson case a few weeks ago is an awful example of what players might expect were the Association entrusted with judicial

functions m the matter of dealisg with, men who had been reported by on© of its clan for some alleged ofien.ee on .the field. What an impartial tribunal St> would be to be sure.

Dunedin'.s Chief Magistrate this year*is Mr J. McDonald, wlio walloped his op- 1 ponent out badly m the April contestJack, to use a familiar term, is a former Eresidcffu of the Alhambia Club, and has ahvuyj, evinced a keen interestin the dokL&s of the Red and Blacks. : Arthur Brus&den, the Poneke Club, andjj Wellington and Qan-terbury iep. forward, •': intimates to me that he is conigletely settled down m Kaiapai, where he isr< earryjag out the duties of second engineer of the Woollen Mills. Arthur, who modes.tly admits that he is now auito settled dowti to married life, informs me that he has been coaching the KaJapoi team m the third-grade competition, but asserts tlta* it gets very little encour-' agement from tie Canterbury RugbyUnion. "BTi-ry" still takes the greatest interest m the doings of the : Ponekes, ami expresses his regret at | them having to bite lie dust m the first , championship match. Also, he says some *cry nice things about this poou- i lar but misunderstood journal and the , reputation it enjoys among sporting people down his way. He wishes to be remaindered to all his old friends m i the Dominionls capital city.

Taking a line through this season's doings, the task of selecting Wellington^* baqk divjfeion to meet the Englishman should be an easier task than shelling peas. The vanguard, however, will take, some sorting out, that is to get togesb- < er a combination that -embraces weight, strength,- pace and devil, we&ngfcpn is; not overburdened with strenuous anc| clever rushers. Honest toilers, and ex* pert but cunning scrummagers, who gen-v ■erally shirk graft, axe m profusion. Gordon Thomas, who is said to be one of the finest forwards the Wanganui Var ion has produced, left this week foe*; Christchurch, having accented an engage* ment there. His departure will greatly weaken botn the Pirate Club and rep. teams.

An effort is being made by the Manawatu.to mcc.V .Wellington on the following Saturday as a curtain-raiser to the: Anßlo-TTclsh— New Zealand j^ame.

''Ran.fi" Wilson is such an unassuminsj vounK fellow that his top-piece is not likely to get out of gear by the fulsome adulations ladled out to him on his play by "ToT&hline" and another local writ^ cr. .The former's assertion that "Ranii" ia asgeod. and, m some respects, a better player than Jack Sw.dfcdl.ey, who played for th<v Athletics and Wellington some years ago. nearly sent me into convulsions. ■ Swindley was a weightier and more tigerish scrummaeer than "Ranji" is ever likely to be affd was, if anything, a surer aad deadlier tackier, and, if not quite so iiacy m the loose, yet oossessed sufficient foot and devil to beat most ot the great . open-play forwatds of his day. His linc-ou.t work was a treat, and I have never seen "Ranji," good as he is m this depart: ment, excel him. Swindley was also more expert with his feet when manipulating the leather towards an opponent's chalk-mark than the present-day Athletic player. No. no. "Touchline," comparisons m this instance won't do. However, your barrack and that of your fellow scribe ma'- sufficiently work on "En" Kelly's fechngj; as to ensure "Ranji" cettinp- a place m the New Zealand team to meet Harding's men, and I think he is worth it.

On perusing a Wanganui pamper I noticed that J. Smith, who took un the secretaryship of the Molroso Club a few years aeo. /and who subsequently discharged thij duties of a '-ommitteeman of the Rucbr Union, is now acting as the Wavcrley Club's delegate to the.Wanaanui Ruebv Union.

The writer' came across dozens of people present at the opening of the Senior Championship competitions at Miramar who vowed that they -t^iM never he seen m such a hole of a place again. The/ had just gone out on that occasion, so they said, more as a matter of curiosity. On the ?,sth ult. it was a nice tempting day for a suburban cruise. Saturday's northerly buster was enough to chill one to one's marrowbones, yet my friends were all there, sure enough. As the old song sayeth. "They couldn't stay away for Father Peter."'

Byrne; Christchurch Old Boys' half, is shaping for interprovincial honors.

Canterbury College 'as a dangerous factor m the local championship is a pricked football and a bursted bladder. The two Collegiato wins to date were against Linwood and Christchurch, the admittedly /weak team;; m the contest. Old Boys crawled all over College on Saturday. Canterbury Rugby Union publishes weekly, or furnishes authority to have published, a guide of senior matches on Lancaster Park, and gives it away free, gratis, and for 'nothing. In addition to the names of players, there are printed the season's fixtures, results of past matches, and the positions for the championships to date m Christchurch. Auckland. Wellington, and Dunedin. The cost is defrayed by advertisements, and the idea might, with advantage, and convenience to tbe public, be copied by \)ther unions.

A one-legged line umpire officiated m the Aibion — Linwood match on Lancaster Park. Satvrday. The game was fairly fast at times and the crutched person sprinted Ntrth and South like a disabled Elliott dodging his -creditors.

Old Boys arc leading for Canterbury championship but play a bye to-day, when Albion should take the lead, unless Merivale wakes up, Albion and Old Boys don't meet till June 15.

Fryer, ex-Dominion rep., seems to have developed nerves, and, like the unmarried lady, misses more than he catches. Playing with a weak team doesn't enable him to shine, and Canterbury Selection Committee is already pursing up its lipe thouehtfully m view -of the British match.

Merivale's wing forward is not inaor propxiately named Shanks, particularly when fast following up gave Mm a try on Saturday against Christcburch. The Hbrthe'M Union game is evidently catching on m Australia to judge by the Kates that have been recorded. At last Saturday's match, m Sydney, the gate numbered 20,0*00, and the Australian Dress is unanimous m its verdict as to the superiority of the N.U. game from a spectator's point of view. There is no doubt that as a spectacular game it outshines Rugby, notwithstanding the strictures of one Sewell, who would never have bee* beard of m this part of. the world but for the existence' o! the N.U. limitiis the E.R.U. selector to the mediocre nlayers of Southern Entrland. When Baskeryille and his boys return to t* o Dominion they will doubtless nush the new game, and if a central ground can be secured for an exhibition match or two, there is no saving but what the game may catch on here. A noint of the utmost importance to New Zealand Rugbyites, is manifest m a rumor that BaslcecvilJe registered the New Zealand colors before leaving for the Cold Country, and, if this is so. there has been gross neglect on the part of tlie N.ZvR.TJ., as the New Zealand team cannot wear the black and silver frrn if the rumor is correct.