FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12498, 26 March 1909, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

■• . i Seveji New Zealanders played for the English hospitals in the* match with the Irish medicals recently. ' This Wallaby tour confirms my view (says- "The Cynic" in the "Referee") that the best Rugby footballers in the world 'are the • New Zealanders, with the Welshmen second. Australia is coming up. If is good to know that as the New Zealanders and Welshmen have their own distinctive styles. Australia is evolving her style. Her system of forward play in the scrummage is evolved, and there is nothing better. But in the backs and in' the loose forward play the New Zealanders are immense. However, Australia is coming up.. The next Australian team to visit New Zealand should be a powerful one if some of the ablest players of the day do not retire in the meantime. If the standard of-play be still further improved, the record attendance of 52,000 at a Rugby match will probably be eclipsed in the early future on a Sydney ground. An interesting spectator at the Wales v. England international game was W. J. Bancroft, who had represented Wales at full-back on thirtythree occasions. > The record holder has, taken little interest in international football since he was professionalised for accepting a monetary testimonial of over £400 from his Welsh admirers. Tho fact of his brother making his debut in international football, however, atracted him all the way to Cardiff, and the praise the younger brother values most was "W. J.s" brief words— "Good enough boy."