FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7068, 9 April 1901, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE OPENING OF THE

SEASON.

FOOTBALL NATIONS.'

INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS.

["Star" Special.]

The first football matches of the present season*, under the rules of the Canterbury Rugby Union, were plaj^ed on Saturday. In the Australasian colonies, end especially in New Zealand, football has become the great national game, predominating above ail other outdoor sports. The game - has been transplanted fromEngland, and has grown strongiy and -vrell. It may be even said that it has grown better here than in the mother country. The question has been asked, does Rugby in England stand where she did? The anSAVer is given in* some interesting statistics. If the period from 1890 onwards is alone included, England has unhappily never occupied a position of superiority over 'the other countries of Great Britain on any succession of seasons — Wales, "cufioußly enough, excepted — tfhich would justify a nvoajv being made over her present decadence, which ife more apparent than real.

This position i* at once justified by a glance at the Scottish and Irish result* since 1890. Prior to that year England had beaten Scotland six times, a-nd lost only three games— the first match, and again in 1887 and 1882, while she had beaten Ireland eleven , times, against one success and one draw achieved by the green-jerseyed brigade. \

On the other hand, since and including 1890, England has only thrice vanquished the Thistle, whereas Scotland has won six games, while two have been dr^awn.

Ireland, in the same period, has won fiv£ and lost six games, though since the adoption of the four three-quarter game by England in 1894 -th** iften of Erin have wen* five of -the seven ganves played. Against England Scotland has been the most consistently successful and superior side since the last decade of the nineteenth ojntury began, and the equality of the nations as football powers was ejstablished. But the Scoring in the varum*? matches sinoe that date ''affords still more conclusive ■evidence that the superiority of WM«*. over England has never been so pronounced as that of Scotland over England, while the scores show that Scotland is more difficult to beat than Wales and Ireland, and segs-i-s as a rule better "defensive players or an offence mote capable of breaking up thei attack of her opponents, qualities which Ireland has of late y^ars also displayed. This method of dealing with the international figure-! reveals equally curious result* in the case of Scotland and Irtland. Including the matoh of 1890, Scotland has crossed the English line only ten times in winning six matches—one being won by two dropped goals— -and has a majority of but four tries in eleven gam6s, two of Which have been drawn.

Ireland, in^ winning five out of eleven ganies, is in a minority of eight tries, hay* ng -scored 13 to 21 tries. ;■' The English and Welsh attacks have always been the most deadly, the defenfce of thesa countries the least strong. Th-e defensive! power of Scotland is iradoubted, a n 4 the ability of that country, and of fteland, to break up the opposing attxick— -itself an " Irish " sort of defence.