PUT THE BOOT IN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1, 6 July 1907, Page 25

PUT THE BOOT IN.

-By

P. A. Vaile.)

Rugby football is without question * great game. I always think it has a far greater claim to rank as England's national game than has cricket. for to excel at it one has need of all those qualities which go to make a good Englishman. Strength, speed, stamina, quickness and cririnalitv of thought, restraint in time of grad. excitement, dogged courage in facing .Unger and indifference to physical pain are only some of the attributes which the distinguished Kugbeian should p-rssess. So in many ways 1 consider that Rugby, properly played, brings out the man and the gentleman in a fellow mere than does any other game I know of. 1 shall never forget the pleasure I had from watching many of the historic struggles of the famous All Blacks in England, nor the pride I felt in them as worthy representatives of the manhood of New Zealand; and in their natural anti unassuming demeanour on the held at a time when hero-worship was at its height, and a less well-balanced lot might have succumbed to the heady draught: and onlv those who have tasted its exhilaration in the only place that makes fame know that by ' comparison champagne Hows like milk.

But above all this there was, and is, cause for New Zealanders, footballers and otherwise, always to be proud of her All Blacks, and to emulate their example.

They played the game! Nobody can say it more eloquently than that if allowed the free run of a dictionary and a fortnight to do it in. They played a dean, hard, fast, sportsmanlike game that won admiration in spite of much idiotic railing at the wing forward by ignorant persons. But people who do not quite understand how they are being beaten cannot be expected to thoroughly appreciate the tactics leading to their downfall. So when volleying was first introduced into lawn tennis, the enterprising fellow who bounded to the net and cut off in mid-air his opponent"s most telling returns was deemed in very truth a bounder. Perhaps the most remarkable match I saw in England was Oxford University v. New Zealand. During my visits to the Old Country I had noticed that strange disintegration cf the moral fibre of England's men that is undoubtedly taking place. About the date of New Zealand’s first match I had a three weeks’ controversy in the "Spectator” on the subject, and in "The Tinies" and "Daily Mai! ” I pointed out most forcibly that the New Zealanders ’tour meant something more than mere football: that, indeed, it was a question of the manhood of the nation being tried out. and I did nc-i hesitate to indicate dearly what my opinion as to the result was. New Zealand and South Africa have since emphasised my view, and probably Australia will drive the argument home. Holding these views it was only natural that I should be much interested in the meeting of Oxford University and our players. “Here.” I said to myself, “I shall see the pick of the brainv muscle cf the kingdom pitted against the New Zealand lads.” I scanned the teams with the utmost interest as they filed on to the ground, and I was well pleased. In bone and brawn and inches it was New Zealand every time ■ but my hyper-critical faculty was net satisfied with that. I searched the faces, and compared the carriage and. so far as it is given to an ordinary student cf men to know, I saw in the bora from Greater Britain no want cf intellect, strength of mind, or refinement as compared with England's elect. Hiah words, perhaps, some will say. When I praise I mean it. Indiscriminate adulation is nearly as bad a habit as general swearing. When the words are really wanted —when, for instance, one kicks a trunk in the dark with one's big toe—they hare lost their power of expression. From the moment the referee's whistle went it was apparent that the Oxford match was going to give point to my remarks about England's men. For some ten minutes or so there was a semblance cf defence—then a rout. I shall never forget tie absolutely bewildered condition cf the poor Varsity players. Hunter that day was meteoric. He’darted in and out amongst his opponents in a manner that was truly amazing, finch dodging, or swerving as It is miscalled in England, I never before saw. He ‘cut in” almost at will, and cm one occasion, after paaa-

tog everyone, walked over the line be tween the posts and touched down amidst shoots of laughter even from the Varsity barrack ere Oxford’s play was mi-orably stereotyped and feeble. and the score 47 to 0 barely indicates the difference of the teams. The match, if such it can be called. was a memorable one. It was the first meeting of an English University team with a team of New Zealand footballers. and it resolved itself into a team of big bronzed good natured fellows actually playing with, scarcely against, a team of semi-paralysed anxious looking youths.

This may sound like erowing over tie defeat of an opposing team. It is not so, for, were that the object, a dozen other matches might easily be added. My desire is to emphasise the value of strength, and quickness of resource. and. above all things, the desirability of “playing the game” even under the most adverse circumstances. Oxford was hopelessly beaten within a quarter of an hour, and abandoned any hope of scoring. merelv attempting to defend: but from first tc last there was no incident in that match which might bring the flush of shame to the face of any participant in it: and this brings me right home again to Auckland.

A few days ago I watched a football match between seme Auckland gentlemen. ex-college boys, and I saw some things that “gave me furiously to think." There has been much talk in the South recently of foul play. It isn’t all in the South. We have our share o f it here. One of the teams was being beaten. Certainly not as badly as Oxford was, but it didn't take it the same way as Oxford did. "Put the boot in,” said one ruffian, as they formed up for a serum, and they did “put the boot in” to good effect, as one player had to give up the game for a few weeks and wear four stitehes in his head On another occasion I saw one of the

ex-college gentlemen on the ground in a serum. He was across an opponent who lay en the ground face upwards. 1 observed that college gentleman roughly “sawing” the face of his prostrate opponent with the bony part of his forearm, which he drew backwards and forwards across it several times. On the line out I frequently saw players who had no chance of getting at the ball deliberately “wipe” the ms n who was marking them across the faee or throat with the forearm. On several ©cessions I saw plarers who were nowhere near the ball hit an opposing player on the face with open hand, striking with the palm at the end of the wrist, in which way, as is well known, a very severe blew can be dealt, especially when one is not expecting it. I repeatedly saw players trying to strain their opponents’ necks, and wilfully attacking men who were not near the ball. On one occasion 1 saw an ex-college gentleman racing after the ball. There were many players on both sides in front of him. and one of the opposition was near him. He “landed” him on the head from behind, and promptly “downed” him. “ During a scrummage I distinctly saw an ex-college gentleman jump with all his energy so that he landed with both knees doubled up on the ehest of a fallen opponent, and later on I saw another one holding a player down on the ground. I eannot fully explain the hold in the press, but the man seemed to be in pain, and on rising warmly remonstrated with the offender, but, of course, it was an accident! When things were going very badly I heard another ex-college gentleman say. “Now, then. Lads. You know your game. Keep the boot going.” And the blood-stained shins of their opponents showed clearly that they did know that portion of their game at least very well, but even then they didn't win, and the lads who played the game like men and gentlemen beat them handsomely. Now. the question arises. “If these things are done by players who practically claim to be on an equality with University men. what are the All Blacks of the future going to be?” The answer is easy. All blackguards. As I stood within a few feet of the players and saw these things my mind flew back to the Crysfal Palace, to Cardiff, to Blackheath, to many places where clear-cut football gems stand out brightly in my mind, and I could not help comparing these fellows with men who play the game. •

It is many a long year since I played Rugby football. butT can well remember the solid satisfaction I felt in grassing aty man, especially when he had only me

to beat to score: and 1 didn't try to do it gently, either. That doesn’t come into Rugby, and so long as a man has the ball he must take anything that comes his way fairly, but this everlasting foul play which is continually increasing, must be stopped unless the game is to become Americanised and lose its hold on the peopJe. I have spoken to some of the Rugby authorities about it. They know :t is not exactly confined to ex-college or alleged ex-college gentlemen, and some day there will be a shocking example, and someone will “go up for life.” During the matches 1 refer to 1 was Sieving up and done the line, and so 1 and others saw the things I refer to distinctly. “What about the referee?” Well, he is not argus-eyed. and these p-leasant gentlemen know that his eyes must follow the leather. The line-um-pires should be given some specific powers with regard to foul play, for they can see much more of this kihl of thing than the referee can, and in all eases they should be appointed by the authorities. The teams referred to by me are not playing under the Rugby Union, but the practices referred to are not confined to them. 1 have repeatedly been asked to deal with this matter, and have as often deelined, for although I have seen Tots of rough play one realises that Rugby is not a lady's game: but when ex-college gentlemen deliberately lay themselves out to maim or incapacitate their opponents. often in the most cowardly way, ii is time for someone to speak. It is no uncommon tn mg for a player when fairly "grassed" to inform his cellarer that he wi.l “lay" for him. and a week or two ago I saw one player eight er ten yards over the line make a violent effort to throw a man. who had hackled him keenly, but absolutely legitimately, a little while before. Which shall it be, “All Blacks “ or “AU Blackguards”?