Rugby Football in New Zealand.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 236

Rugby Football in New Zealand.

By W. McKenzie (Off-side Mac.)

'N New Zealand, where the passion for

aesthetics may be defined as microscopic,

q|| considerable attention is devoted to field sports, of which Rugby football is

the chief factor, and " Globe-trotters " often wonder, and ask the reason of this paramount influence evinced in the minds of all ages and sexes of the colony. A portion of the fascination is due to the love of excitement innate in all Colonials, numerous holidays — by the way, a perennial delight — and a climate which neither ennervates the powers, nor militates against the game being played under favourable auspices. Our progenitors had a belief that, if an individual subsisted for any length of time upon partially raw beef, a sanguinary lust was the sequence ; perhaps the quantity of mutton and beef consumed by Colonials is responsible for the special liking for the exciting rushes, chaotic rallies, and evidences of British pluck, which are characteristics of Rugby football in Maoriland.

Baden-Powell remarked that, though football was an exciting game, man-hunting was more so. Colonials have had few chances of man-hunting, therefore, they have succumbed to Rugby, even as Antony did to Cleopatra, sans the misfortunes which eventually befel the Roman hero.

If the Boer l-ebellion could have been settled upon a football ground, the vigour and grim earnestness of a Maoriland team would have effectually controlled all exigencies ; inasmuch as no " drawingroom" tactics are allowed in their illustrations of the game ; " drawing-room "

tactics meaning if players do not offer themselves to voluntary immolation when disaster is threatening their side. Were there even a suspicion of this in a big interprovincial match, newspapers and populace would cry out for the obliteration of the delinquents, thus providing a modern analogy to the conduct of enlightened citizens in the Caasarian epoch.

From the urchin of six to the sexagenarian, the allegories pertaining to that voluminous olla-podrida, i.e., the laws of Rugby, are the subject of much study and discourse, and life becomes a curse to the referee when these enthusiasts diagnose contrary to his interpretations. Indeed, the arbiter whose adjudications have been ill received, is frequently pursued from the ground with volleys of flaming superlatives, road metal and mullock. In a game that has not been interesting, this last act always recompenses the public, who like to get their moneys worth ; it bewilders, and at times, irritates the referees, but they are gradually accustoming themselves to the procedure, and, up to the present, none have been killed, although this is not entirely the fault of the spectators.

The remark made by the Ulysses, that Colonials absorbed stimulants always between meals, is not applicable to the disciples of Rugby, whose preparations for an interprovincial or intercolonial contest are worthy of a Spartan. The average Maorilander is strong, fast, and has more stamina than his Australian brother; his perception is first-class, and his love for the national game is only equalled by his

patriotism, and his belief in the dominant powers of the Anglo-Saxon.

In games that ai*e played between " crack " exponents, coramonsense, " slimness," and the physical powers co-operate. Amongst the backs, touch-line kicking is an art, and the " lengthening interval " is seldom seen after gaining ground, as invariably the ball falls with mathematical precision just outside the " touch." As in England, drop-kicking is conspicuous by its absence, unless when resorting to a " pot." A favourite mode of attack in New Zealand is

the bump, i.e., the player with the leather crouches himself while going at full speed, and butts with all his force (using hip or shoulder) at the opponent who is essaying a tackle. The aboriginals are very proficont in this style of play ; sometimes a fourteen stone three-quarter coming down the field, gathering impetus at every stride, creates much devastation. It is only fair to remark that among the Maoris, New Zealand has found some of the most brilliant disciples of ■^ u £by- A Maori dearly loves to take his boots off during a game — usually in the second spell, when play is getting more exciting — the threatened loss of a few toe-

nails troubles him not ; his pachydermatous foundation seonis to revel in prodigious

punts

In collaring tho backs " go low," but voiy few tackle with the electrical energy of Jervis, Harper or Gago. Ouo of tho most brilliant threo-quarter backs of tho colony was G. Smith, who earned for himself in Australia the sobriquet of "Tho Now Zealand Greyhound." Ho has frequently raced against Stan. Rowley, the Australian sprinter, who has lately been appearing in England and Paris, and when tho latter

could only stand Smith up a yard in a hundred, it will be peon that the name is no misnomer. I may mention that in 1900, Smith was the Amateur Champion of the colony, over sticks arid spriut distances.

The Maorilander is especially brilliant in the forward play, handles the ball nearly as skilfully as the rearguard, while the following up of high kicks, charging and dribbling is characterised by the desperate tenseness of a man fighting for life. It will easily be understood that accidents are numerous.

The practice of playing winging- forwards is almost universal, and they are supposed

to have an all-round knowledge of the game. Their methods of nullifying a back attack are decidedly humourous ; instead of tackling in the orthodox style, each opponent is pushed as he becomes possessed of the leather.

This is done with the idea of rendering the pass inaccurate, sending each adversary to Mother Earth, while the Destroying Angels, as if cleared from all incubi, pursue their course.

In dribbling the forwards charge hard and fast in a solid phalanx ; this has been found

most successful in gradually wearing down the bravest and most resourceful of backs.

Seventy-five per cent, of the New Zealanders who proceeded to South Africa are ardent devotees of the pastime. One contingent had not been at East London a week before it picked a team which effectually demolished an Afrikander combination, while other teams wei'e equally successful in their efforts against fifteens of Buluwayo and Pretoria.

During the season, the Rugby player attends a gymnasium twice a week, besides playing every Saturday. Due consideration

is also given to massage treatment and diet. The same interest is shown as in prizefighting in the States, only, of course, on a smaller scale. Members of the House of Representatives are " commandeered," and exercise their influence in getting leave of absence for players, which, when a team visits Australia, occupies six weeks. On one occasion a Cabinet Minister, not agreeing to the release of one of his clerks, the Secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union formed himself into a deputation, and interviewed the Premier, the Right Hon R. J.

Seddon, who gave the required consent

During the occasions that a team has invaded the Australian football world, thousands of people have paraded the streets in front of the bulletin boards of the newspapers, waiting for the results which would be cabled through. Brilliant successes have attended the efforts of the teams. Out of twenty-eight matches played in Queensland and New South Wales, twenty-six have been won and two lost. Points scored : For, 559 ; against, 134. Of the defeats, one was sustained in 1893, and one in 1897. The people received the news of these

disasters with disbelief, then sorrow; the Press commented with a gravity that could not have been augumented if the Capital City had been the scene of a debacle. There are no half measures in the New Zealanders' love for Rugby. xlbsorbing interest is also manifested during the period of interprovincial coutests, viz., province against province. All over the colony the matches take place in the latter portion of winter, and the principal dailies devote fully three columns every Monday morning to the reports of games which have been played on the preceding Saturday. Indeed, in Auckland, where the apotheosis of Rugby is most noticeable, the incidents of one interprovincial contest will frequently extend over two columns of newspaper type.

A team would go to England this season (1900-l'J01) if the laws relating to professionalism could be modified. All colonials have to work for their living, and they cannot afford an eight months absence without pay. la fact, they are, monetarily, in the same position as the Northerners of the Home Country.

The New Zealand liug'by Union is the governing body, but play under the rales of the English Rugby Union ; all appeals not settled satisfactorily are submitted to the Mother Union, which is the "Areopagus;" aud the only way in which a team can visit England and comply with the rules, is for the Home Union to make a special proviso iv the Laws of Professionalism, allowing payment for lost time for the members of New Zealand teams while visiting the Old Country. The New Zealand Union would see that the abrogation was not abused.

Accompanying this article are photographs of many athletes whose names are prominent m the world of Rugby.

The Native Team boasted of not a few brilliant exponents, notably : — P. Keogh, the most resourceful attacking back ever seen ; D. Gage, the best all-round back who has played in New Zealand ; Madigan (like his contemporaries, Whtteside, Walker and McLean), the most destructive of attacking three-quarters ; Joe and Bill Warbrick,

paladins in attack and defence ; linally, T. 11. Ellison, the moat subtle and vigorous of forwards. It may bo interesting to ntulo that, when it departed from Now Zealand, the Native Team was nothing more than a disconnected coiu/uries; eight months' play in Great Britain welded the disconnections into a composite, inflexible combination, which, hard as nails, operated with machinelike precision and rapidity. Its illustrations of liugby were the acme of football science, delightfully thrilling, and gladdened the eyes and hearts of all who had tho pleasure of witnessing them.

The '93 team, albeit it contained a large number of " cracks," also had a numbor who were only good for guarding " tlio linen of communication." Jcrvis was tlio bust buck, Jiutland and "Tab" Wynyarcl, of that division, the most brilliant. Lambio was the best forward, but Hiroa, Frod Murray, Watson, liab. McKenzie and 01 i pliant wore very little inferior to the Taranaki representative. The most successful match played by tlio '93 team was the final against Queensland, where the latter was defeated by 35 points to nil. Spectators averred that the exhibition was equal to that given by the Native Team in '89. The worth of the encomium may be gauged by the fact that the Native Team played one of its best games in Queensland.

The 181)7 New Zealand Team was superior to its! predecessors. It travelled longer distances, averaged more poiutu iv scoring, and played with fewer days for resting than any Rugby team fchafc has visited Australia. The '97 team went to Australia with the laudable intention of making every effort to win all the contests, Football fields which were as of concrete, barred the success of the project — at the conclusion of one game there were six doctors attending the Maorilanders. However, in the tiual match against New South Wales — played in the presence of 25,000 people — tho Marsupials received an awful beating. So destitute of locomotion wore they that towards the completion of tho contest tho New Zealanders were racing over their

opponents' goal-line like hounds after a hare. The itinerant, who visits Sydney, and incidentally mentions he is a New Zealand footballer, is received with the deference which a microscopic state extends to a great power.

In addition to Gr. Smith, in the back division, Armit and Roberts proved they were pastmasters. I shall never forget the astonished expression upon a Newcastle player's face after he had attempted to prevent " Barney " Armit scoring a try. "Barney" put his shoulder into the unfortunate's abdomen, and the Newcastle man disappeared over a three-foot fence. "Barney's" bump -was very depressing to the recipient. " Barney " Armit — peace to your ashes! You met death with the composure of a Leonidas !

Amongst the '97 forwards Tom Pauling was the "Eclipse," and he deserved the eulogies which wei'e showered upon him for his play. Pauling was in the Permanent

Militia when the New Zealand Team was picked. He could not get leave, so resigned the army. He was a man of perfect physique, weighed over fourteen stone, measured six feet one inch, strong and remarkably active. In the final match against New South Wales, his efforts were simply superhuman. On one occasion lie seized the ball on the line-out, a shrug of his shoulders shook off four opposing forwards, he headed his way through the Marsupial rear-guard— a distance of twenty-five yards — to the goal-line, and touched down. The Sydneyites applauded this splendid piece of play to the utmost.

In conclusion, when anyone avers that the interest of New Zealanders in Rugby is abnormal, let the pessimist remember the words of the Rev. Dr. Francis L. Patton, President of Princeton University : " The most important business here is to make men — not to develop scholars, philosophers."

Back row (reading from left to right)— A. Warbrick, A. Webster, Wi Karauria, D. Stewart,' G. Williams, Nehua, W. Warbrick, Te Rene, J, Warbrick, — . Scott "(Manager). Middle Row— lhhnana (Smiler), Maynard, W. Wynyard, D. Gage, J. Warbrick (Captain), T. Ellison, C. Goldsmith, G. Wynyard, W. Anderson. Front Bow— P. Keogh, R. Tiaroa, W. Elliott, H. Lawlor (coach), McCausland, Madigan,* F. Warbrick, H. Lee.