MORE PRESS COMMENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11730, 4 December 1905, Page 5

MORE PRESS COMMENTS.

• The London Daily Ghtfonicle -went to the expense of employing^ ,'i& i Welsh Referee" to, criticise the match :**t' Gloucester, arid from. Ms remarks thereon. I cull ■ "these. fragments: — ''Although. o'&t certain etag*es of the game the-" Gloucester men lield "their opponents, there, was no comparison between the two teams, and the ONew Zoalanders'" win ' was ' a tribute to their allround cleverness. Smart heeling-out, clean handling, and safe catching,' lengthy and well-directed kicking, and abnormal speed were the characteristics of the side. The passing was . . . the lob sort of toss, more liable to be intercepted; yet the backing up of the man with the ball made the pass-, ing very effective, and practically • bewildered the Gloucester men. There were blemishes in the New Zealand play, and one or two things in evidence that were to be deplored. Gallaher's methods are certainly opposed to the English conception of tho game* and His putting the ball in the scrummage was too often, unfair.--Johnston,- one of the forwards, was riot too precise in his method of. handling an .opponent, and once exceeded alllimit. The star player of the team was -Hunter, and

his burst through- the, centre led up to most of the scoring.." The Rsfcree winds up thus profoundly: "While appreciating I the merits of the victors!; if is an opinion [ that they will not go through without a defeat. So far,' they. have not met a team with backs capable -in > attack", - and with their eeven forwards -beaten — » not impossible contingency — their • defensive work would first be on view.-" How wise some people are after the event ! And how' deftly somo of us can. trim our sails whenever tBo wind shifts !— e.g.: — »' ■ '. • Pall Mall Gazette editorial,- -September 9 (date of New -Zealand teain'e-'arriva"^ : '"But the" Now Zealanders play- rather" fen old-fashioned • game, and English/ -team* may very well hope to teach them something." - , ■ ■-- Pali Mall Gazette editorial, October 16 (after the New Zealanders' ninth consecutive viotory) : "But the very consideration which enabled us, whe'ii- welcoming thess •wonderful fellows from -the -Antipodes," to foreses the possibility -that -they "would give our Rugby players a lesson, suggests," etc. • ' ■• '- - Fortunately for the •of the PaU Mall Gazette, the public's -memory is short. A Daily Mail correspondent suggests the following "funeral card" for the English Rugby Union, 'in .view of the New . Zealanders' exposure, of the somnolent condition of the governing body: — In Memoriam. ' In loving memory of the Rugby Union officials. and players, who went • to sleep at the formation of the Northern Union, and have been asleep ever since. . Deeply regretted by. lovers of ' the game. Good ! Thus . C !M.S." in the London Daily Chronicle: — 'Twas a player,^sorely sighing, .Asked- me — wretehedest of men: "Whon, since tries come, not for. trying, Shall we beat "New Zealand-r-^hen?"- • '•"Friend," I said, ''I strongly feel, and, Feeling, tell you with, .good-will — . You will never beat New Zealand Till you chow new zeal and skill."