1905 AND 1924.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1924, Page 1

1905 AND 1924.

A COMPARISON. LONDON, October If,. For the tenth or twentieth time in London journals a comparison of tho present All Blacks team with the 1903 team is made on this occasion by "Y.8..M.” ill tile “Daily Mail.” It is very ilillieulf to form a true estimate of their relative values, says this writer, as our game lias changed so considerably, and the present opposition provided by the specially selected county fifteens is much stronger than the did, sides which were so easily overcome by Gallalu-r’s men, as witness the splendid lights made by Devon. Somerset. Gloucestershire, and Cheshire. The first All Dhn-h.s revolutionised the game and. thanks to the lesson learnt from tlu-ir visit, we are in a far better position to anticipate and coinhat the attack of a combination of star players who engage in a more open and faster game in New Zealand than we do in this country. Those of us who followed closely the fortunes of the first touring team think they were tin- finest body of Rugby players that ever took Hie field. Onr present visitors, however, are unquestionably a magnificent team. possessing pare, weight and cleverness, hut in my opinion they are not unite so good as their predecessors. The pack is powerful and i L-Vi-r in the loose, but do not excel in s-riimmage work*. Neither have they a Hunter, the finest liveeighths of ail time, (bough A. E. ( mike is supposed lo be bis la-plica. Tin- present back division do not appear to run a ;t l a iaid as did. I* . Re|,"i ( . C \Y. Smith, and Stead, l>n( in G. ,\cpia, they possess a lull-bail, who "ill eoinpaie with the best yet capped by any country, but it will take a powerful team to lower their colours.

WELSH PitEPAI!ATHINS. At tlie last meeting of Hie Welsh Rugby Ctiiiiii (says the “Athletic News”) teams Were selected for a Dial malih to lie played at Aleravon e.n Thursday, and the tteneral COlll--it le.' (not the “Rig T'ive”) chose (wo sides, in ene!i ul which there will appear seven forwards anil eight hacks. It may lie taken as a In t that the general opinimi in Welsh Rugby circles is that tin' seven hack game is host suited to the genius of Ilritish I'eothall not merely Welsh, hut English, Scottish ami Irish. The action ol the Welsh ITiioii Committee lo come enthusiasts seel ns like disloyalty to the ancient ilaitli. The argument is (and it is .supported by Dr. Morgan. who played io the l!)lto international game) that Wales should play eight I'oiwiihl.s sri nmmnge resolutely, heel quickly ami attack per.sit"litly. Those who oppose die eipht-haek panic say that Welsh teams will he hampered hv attempting 1.1 improvise at .short notice a system of attack foreign to their experience. They say that inevitably the New Zc:i|.„„iers will have an advantage if they U ,H an equal share of Hie hall, since they are experienced in exploitiug Hie extra mini. Di answer to that it may he said that Wales did improvise a system of atlaeh in IWS which fairly oulniaiioeuvred the All ldaiks. lit „„e try scored was a. perfect triumph ~f tactics, and in addition \\ . Uvellyn just, failed io score again been use lie not hold the ball with the dele me I,eaten. In 100-A Wales used ha; ks. The only mistake was that instead of attacking persilently as they should have done, they atle.nldo. I" sit upon a tun precarious lead. _ lhe.se changes have been made in view nl the fact that tlie International will he plave,l against New Zealand at Swansea' .... November 20th.. two months earlier than the international campaign usually opens.