FRANCE V. NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 3

FRANCE V. NEW ZEALAND

"ALli BLACKS". IN PARIS. , AX INTERESTING GAME. (Fjtosi Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 5. ■ Scores. Now Zealand, 4 goals 6 tries .. 38 points France, 1 goal, 1 try 8 points Now Year's Day was a groat day for football in Prance—perhaps the greatest day ever known, for Franco scored 8 points against New Zealand, and in tho circumstances the New Zealanders' 33 points are relatively nothing to the French goal and trj-, The French people wero delighted with their achievement against tho wonderful New Zealanders; it was a red-letter day for French football, and the New Zealanders I 'cries of "Bravo,' France!" "Well played, France!" with which (hey encouraged tlie Frenchmen at the close of the game will long ring in tlio cars and licarfs of tho home team. The fiict that the Frenchmen wero able to emulate the feat of Cardiff by twice crossing tho New Zealand line was generally regarded with the liveliest satisfaction. British teams have from time to time visited Paris, but never anything approaching tho stir which prevailed on.this occasion has been caused. Rugby football in Franco has ninde good progress in. recent years, and from the many clubs playing the carrying coclc a very strong side was selected. Now Year's morning broke fine and clear, and everything pointed to the internationals being favoured with the best of weather; but as the forenoon advanced tha sky bccamc overonst,' and just when thoughts wero directed towards the Pare des Princes, a drizzling vain began to fall, so that many peoplo who had paid high prices for seats declined to face the gloomy outlook and a journey of 15 miles to the Velodromo du Pare des Princes, which is near to tho great racing centre of Auteuil. The match, which was expected to prove a record one in tho matter of attendance, wa<i a failure, for only about 10,000 spectators wore present. Tho ground, as nay bi' supposed, was in a terribly bad state, frost having made it- hard, while the surface was rendered slippery by the sleot and chilling rain which fell throughout tho game. Had the weather been fine it is estimated that fully 20,000 peoplo would have attended. Tlie money taken at tho gate is, stated to have amounted to 12,000 francs (£480), and French sportsmen in general were delighted with the result qf the invasion. Tho colours of the French team were white, with a thin circle of rod and blue over the heart, and vormilion stockings; tho New Zealanders, of course, wore in black, and their designation of "All Blacks" had caused some of tho French people to imagine that tho visitors were "men of colour," 6o that some of the spectators arc said to havo been disappointed in this respect. Tlie New Zealanders' combination was quite a revelation to the spectators, and tho speed a.nd precision with which the ball was passed and repassed by the threequarters caused great admiration; as one onlooker remarked, "There was always someone in tho right place to take tl'io ball." But, although outclassed in all departments of tho game, the Frenchmen obtained the distinction of equalling tho highest scoro made against, the colonists cn this side of tlie channel. Owing to the shocking state of the turf, the players tumbled about-grotesquely, falling down in turning round. Accurate passing and quick swerving were out of tlie question, and tlo Now Zealanders, although they did very well, could not show their best points; they managed, however, to score five minutes after the start.' Cheers were heard as the teams entered tho field, tho New Zealanders treated the spectators to tlie Maori war chant, and then play began punctually at 2.30 p.m. Tho Frenchmen looked slenderly built" be-side-tlio _ tremendous physique of most, of th« colonist's. I learnt that" considerable difficulty was experienced by Mr Dixon in the making up of his team, owing to the number of his men on the "crocked" list, and it was not until after breakfast on tho morning of the in a I eh that ho, willi (lie other members of tho New Zealand Selection Committee, decided on their team, as they wished to pick tho most fit players. Fortunately tlie leading players, in Gallaher, Seeling, Cunningham, Newton, and Wallace were available, and with Abbott fully recovered, a very strong side was" placed -iri the field. Tho teams were as follows;— Frakcb.—Crichton (Havre Athletic Club), back; Lusno (ltacing Club do France), Levee (Kacing Club do France), Sagot. (Stado I'iancais), and Vareilles (Kacing Club tic France), three-quarter backs; Lacassagno (Stado Bordelais) and 11. Amand (Stado Francais (captain), Lvalf backs; Cessuwx (Lyons), Jerome (Stado Franchise), Commuueau (Stado Francais), Mnhr Uiacing ' Club ue France), Branlet (Kacing Club do France), Verges {Stade Francais), Dcdeyn (llacing Club do France), and Dufourco (Stade Bordelais), forwards. New Zealanders.—E. F„ Booth, bad;; W. J. Wallace. E. Harper, and H. L. Abbott, three-quarter backs; H. ,T. Mynott and \Y. J. Stead, five-eighths; J". Hunter, half back; F. Ncvrton, F. Glasgow, \V. S. Glen, G. Tyler, C. Seeling. W. Mackrell, W. Cunningham, and D. Gallaher (captain) forwards. Monsieur M. L. Dcdet was the referee. According to the special account, sent to London by the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph;—" Play had not been started two minutes before.the Blacks wero right up to tho French line, scoring a try, which was not converted; one minute later came another fry, and tho goal this time was kicked by Wallace. Tho Whites now came up again pluckHy, and kept the war in the enemy's camp for some minutes. Quick passing brought tho Blacks across tho border again and nearly gained them a try. A good kick gave France a fine opening for attack, which they failed to use, and I he Blacks were on them again. A minuto later France had another fair attack, and keeping it up longer this time two scrummages took place in New Zealand ground. The Blacks tlion worked, up well, and were Perilously near to the French line, but Jerome made a fine catch, and the Frenchmen, for once, backing each other up, the ball reached Ccssieux, who by this time was right across the field, and lie grounded it in the coveted ground beneath tho New Zealand line. There was a cheering then, with war-whoops and war-dances among tho French spectators, and the Englishmen, who were present in thousands, cheered enthusiastically too. Tho goal missed, but that was nothing. . Franco had scored a try against Now Zealand. It was more than any Frenchman had hoped." "Up went a great shout," observes another spectator. " 'Lc Brave 1 Cessieux, Cessieux! tin essai, mi essa Beauti-fully-dressed Parisicnnes waved their umbrellas and added their pretty voiccs to the tumult. Dignified and substantial-looking Frenchmen were looking more cxcited than if they had won £50,000 in a lottery or in the Kaffir market." To return again to the Telegraph account of the play;—"Tlie Whites, exhilarated, played up, and after this wero in their opponents' camp for some minutes. Then camo a magic piece of quiek-changc passing, a lightning rush, and before tho Frenchmen knew where they wero tlie visiting forwards, playing beautifully, had the ball across their opponents' line. Wallaco kicked the goal, bringing his side's scoro up to 13 points. Moro rushes and more passing and feinting, which completely nonplussed 'the Frenohmon, secured ono moro try, made bv Harper; Wallace kicking another goal. However, the 'Whites managed to prevent further scoring before the whistle." At half-time New Zealand was leading by 18 points to 3. But- what of that? France knew their record by heart, and waswell content- with her .ono try against the redoubtable and all but unbeaten invaders. "When play was resumed, tho Frenchmen started fiuely," says the Telegraph correspondent, " and in a good tusli secured a second try, made, I think, by Lacassagne. This was far more than any Frenchman had ever dreamed of and tho cheers were good to hear. When the try was converted there was a burst of enthusiasm in which wo all joined, for the Frenchmen deserved it. 'Cardiff's score,' excited boys told each other, and one liked to hear them. They are learning the good old football spirit at last." At this point I quote aeain from the Mirror, whose writer remarks;—" The delight was increased in the second half by a goal. 'Figure to yourself, my friend, a goal and a try!' was passed from mouth to mouth. There might haye been earthquakes and floods in place of mero cold and sleet and the French would have been quite happy. Nobody admired the French team moro than their antagonists. 'Well played, Franco!' they shouted after the greatest match ever played this side of the Channel was over. And the Frenchmen cheered in return without a suspicion of chagrin." But I am anticipating. I return at once to the Telegraph, and take up the narrative after tho scorin? of that French goal. Thus: "After this, however, tho Whites appeared to think it time to rest, whereas the Blacks were as cool as possible. Not a spurt by the Frenchmen had the slightest effect upon them. Time after time they turned a French ~ advap.tage for themselves

merely by a little dodging play, which looked, and was, wonderfully neat. Gallaher scoured a try, which "was not converted, and two moro tries followed after some splendid) passing, which tho whole crowd cheered, but tho goal was missed on cach occasion. The Frenchmen managed a few counter-attacks, which wero soon repelled, whereas they failed utterly •to resist any of the swift rushes of their adversaries, who wero cheered over and over again. Ono more try, by Cunningham, 1 think, brought up tho score to 30 points. Scrummagcs followed ono another in French ground, the Whites resisting - well in tnem, but being hopelessly manceuvrcd once tho ball camo out. Again the Frenchmen managed a good run-up, but, as usual, failed to support each other, and in a (lash were turned by their opponents. One of theso turning movements scourcd yet another try for them, which was not converted. Crichton, the French back, afterward made two fino dashes, and, thanks to him, tho homo side found themselves in tho 'All Blacks" camp, where a series of scrummages worked them up near to tho enemy's goal. Gallahor ,at this moment left the field, bis face bleeding from a scratch duo to a fall, but tho injury is insignificant. Just as the Frenchmen had been comfortably scrummaging closo up to the New Zealand line tho latter suddenly turned thein, and wero across tho field together in a flash, and Abbott walked over the iino with tho ball. Not a Frenchman was on that side of tho ground at all, and what had become of the full back ono could not tell. The try was converted, bringing tho Now Zealand score up- to 38 points, and a few moments later M. Dedet, chairman o£ tho Rugby Committee of tho Stado Francais, who made an excellent referee, blew his whistle. Tho crowd in the cheaper seats opposito the stands instantly leapt the barriers, and tho 'All Blacks' and the Whites, after cheering cach other, wero surrounded by a rapturous mass of people, through which they had to fight their way. The two teams dined together, and spent tho evening convivially, after this great day of football in France." The Telegraph correspondent writes further ;j-" I camo back from the game in a delirious crowd of young Frenchmen. They dreamed of tho day when football shall becomo a national game in this country. They were intoxicated with triumph, measuring tho distance between what Franco showed this afternoon slio can do in tho field and tho miserable achievements of but half a dozen years ago. Young Frenchmen, all of whom seemed to liavo in England dreamed of a time when the street boys in Paris shall practise _ guttor-football and pavepicntcrickot. in winter and summer, as they do with us, and to-day's match gavo them a groat liopo that that time may now not be so far off after all. One had only to sco and hear tho delight of all young boys, and elderly boys as well, when Franco scored a try, then actually a second Iry, and converted it, to understand what 'strides athletics have made in France within the last few years. Eight points against the ' All Blacks,' the same scoro as Cardiff—it was wonderful. France actually equalled the top score recorded against Now Zealand during tho entire tour. It was, indeed, a great day for football in Franco, and all the greater because the French crowd appreciated thoroughly how great it. was. Of course, the Frenchmen do not delude themselves into tho belief that the New Zealanders played up to their best form. 'Wo scored as much as Cardiff,' one told mo, ' but I know jolly well that if Cardiff camo over they would boat .us hollow, and don't think I imagine -we gave tho colonials as much hard work as Cardiff, scores notwithstanding. A novice of 10 will score by accident where an old hand misses and the New Zealanders were a bit put out, perhaps, twleo by our lack of method, just as a swordsman doesn't always know where he is against a raw'beginner.' The visitors, rather washed out for lack of sleep, undoubtedly were nqt quito up to the mark. At the start, they wero slow and sluggish comparatively, thinking, perhaps, they need not put themselves out over much. They scored rather lazily up to 8 points, when the Frenchmen secured their first try, and that woke New Zealand up. ... At tho start of the second half the 'All Blacks',seemed a bit, sleepy again, and allowed the Frenchmen to register their second and last try, which was converted. After that, however, it was pretty well up with the homo team. Tho passing of the Now Zealanders, once tho latter were on their mottle, was altogether .too much for the Frenchmen, which was hardly surprising. Save for one fine run uo the field by Crichton, of the Havre Athletic Club—an Anglo-Frenchman, by tho way,rt.lie homo team made no resistance, and tho visitors pilotl up try upon try, missing most of the goals, however, owing to ihe slippery ground, which gave no hold to tho kicker. . . . When all is said and done, however. it was a good jame. The Frenchmen stood up wonderfully, as they needs must have done, considering their score. They made several fino individual rushes, practically always unsupported. Combination was an unknown quantity to them, whereas that, of course, was the, art in which the 'All Blacks' shone. They did not play very hard, but their lightning passes, their feinting, and their combined rushes were grand. The crowd appreciated and cheered generously " Several of the correspondents say that towards the close Wallace received a. blow on the head, and had to leave t.he field, but his injuries are not- considered serious. The Mail observes;—" The play of the French team, all things considered, was admirable, and I,here is no ipieslion of the good influence this game will have on football in Franco. . Tlie brilliant exhibition of the famous colonials was a lesson by which the Gallic ream will profit, while the fact that I,hey wore defeated by a quasi-invin-ciblo (cam took away almost all eauso for discouragement., it was a red-letter day for French football." "As frequently happens," says the Sportsman, "the selection from various clubs affected the combination of the homo lot, and they showed in play a sad want of cohesion. . . . Creditably as Ihe French fifteen had performed, it was felt that the Blacks were not putting forth all they knew, being evidently desirous of encouraging their opponents, and affording the semblance of a fight instead of carryingeverything before them. The Frenchmen stuck pluckily to their work, though on changing- ends the visitors' advantage mounted steadily. . . . Toward the closo (lie Frenchmen put in somo good work, displaying some neat passing, for which they were heartily cheered bv the spectators."' After the match ihe opponents met at a banquet in tlio winter garden of the famous Champcaux ltcsiaurant, just outsido the Bourse. whore at mid-day tho Bousiers, or Stock Exchange members, meet to discuss famous "Poulct. Chiunpcaux." and other good faro. After the coffee and liqueurs, and a fow words snoken oh both sides, a move was made to the Boulevards, and tho heights of Montmarte, where the visitors were initiated into the mysteries of 1 Paris qui s'amuse." Professor Dcdet, the referee, one of the pioneers of Rugby football in France, and one of the best- judges of the game in the country, was asked by the correspondent of Tho Standard, after tho match, for his opinion of tho New Zealanders He considered that thero was not much difference between tho Welsh and tho New Zealand style of play, in spite of an altered forma-t-ion, the offensivo being the object always in view. The New Zealanders, perhaps, run straightcr than the Welshmen, but are not I so good at changing the venue of the play by kicks across the ground. The forwards, he thought-, would lie well matched, both packs playing with equal science in the serum' and breaking up with the same rapidity and effect-. Questioned about what has raised some controversy in the United Kingdom—Gallaher's wing play,— he stated that lie had noticed absolutely nothing in the match to warrant even a suspicion of unfairness** " Certainly," said M. Dedet, "Gallaher played no tricks in putting the ball into the scrum, and he was not penalised for off-side; the fact that the French team had fewer tries scored against them than many first-class English fifteens, and that they had been able to cross the NewZealand line twice, was," M. Dedet said, "very encouraging to Frenclj players, and would do much to arouse greater interest in the Rugby game in France." The Sportsman says: —" The New Zealanders adapted themselves well to their surroundings, and remembering that the French peoplo were politeness incarnate, they were not to. be behindhand, and when a native journalist interviewed tho captain* of tho visiting team (Gallaher), he was informed the French public was the most sporting and unbiassed public before whom it had ever been his good fortune to play, while file referee. If. Dedet, who certainly handled the game very well, was the fairest man ho had ever nj*t. Th«re words,, coming from a man who had just- spent a couple of months in England, the home of sport, atoned for the defeat of tho home team in no small measure." Gallaher is reported to have said that it was certainly the most amusing match tho New Zealanders had played, and he should term them "the gentleman players." As to the crowd, they were unquestionably good sportsmen, and the referee was remarkably just. In. fact, the French team \

played much better throughout than tho colonists had anticipated. Mi' Dixon described Cricliton as one of tlio best pla.vors who had opposed tlio "All Blacks" during their tour.