FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11153, 11 August 1914, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION GAME.

TRIUMPHANT "ALL BLACKS."

The New Zealand team (said a Sydney paper on August 5) won its seventh match on Saturday by decisively defeating the Australian sido in the second test g;ime at Brisbane, and the figures now .show that JG9 points have oeen scored by the All Blacks against 24 by the other teams. No previous team has been better in attack than the All Blacks now touring, although the greatest of them all, in 1903, gathered 169 points to 10 in its first seven engagements. As 107 were scored against 3 in the Inst three games of the tour, it is not probable that the record of 1903 will lx> beaten in either attack or defence; but, talcing into consideration the great improvement in Australian football in the Inst eleven years, the achievement of the present year shows that football in the dominion has maintained its high standard, and that in meeting the present invasion local Rugby plavers arc facing the world's best. In the three remaining matches strong home teams will contest the games, and perhaps even yet the performances of 1907 and 1910 will be repeated- Tn the test match, at any rate. Australia, at full strength, has an excellent chance of winning. This was shown in the first test game. The secrmd test showed the visiting hacks at their best, and the absence of Watson and George in the front rank _of the forwards had a decided weakening effrct. To possession to a representative New Zealand side means the lore of the came, as their backs are mO"e resourceful than nny other team, Wales perhaps excepted.