THE all-absorbing topic of conversation in football circles during the early part of the week was the team selected to represent New Zealand in the forthcoming tour of New South Wales and Queensland. On every hand you heard the query "What do you think of the selections"' And many and diverse were the answers given, albeit the opinion was pretty general that the twenty-two players who carried' the selectors confidence were an able phalanx of players well fitted to uphold the traditions of New Zealand football on the playing fields of Australia,. I agree in the* main with this conclusion, but, to my idea, there seemed something lacking. What that something was I found it- hard to define till I got my thoughts to settle themselves. Some of the conclusions I have arrived at will not, of course, please everybody, but still faun would I print them. • • • The first things that struck me in looking through the team were the number of wing-forwards, in the two and a score, and the correspondingly large number of five-eighths. At first sight this, appeared to be & sign of weakness on the part of the selectors they would not declare for either tliei wing-forward giame, or the two fiveeiehths one. Thinking the matter over quietly since. I see no reason to change my first opinion. It may be said—and with a certain amount of reason—that the method of selection will allow the management of the team on tour to change its style of game if the manner of their play in the opening matches is not successful. But, it is on the vanguard that the team will have to rely for the successes it meets with on the other side. Therefore, the idea of playing the two five-eighth' or the four three-quarter game is out of the question and disaster will be courted if the New Zealand team attempt to play either of them in the intercolonial engagements. However, it would be a dire misfortune if wre all thought the same way— it's the differences of opinion that make life worth the living. The Committee have selected what, in their opinion, are the twenty-two players that will most faithful!-" represent New Zealand If I differ from them, it is only the nature of things. That Idoso is evident from the foregoing, and from what follows. • * The most vital part of the team, to my thinking, is where I growl the hardest—the lock of the scrummage It is on this player that the heaviest work of the tour will depend, and I cannot bring myself to believe that Cunningham is less expert than Fanning. It is true that Fanning engineered the successful South Island pack last seiason, with Cunningham in charge of the opposition, but it must not be forgotten that in the Auckland-Canterbury match of a few weeks previous the positions were reversed—Ounningham had the better of the deal Aejaon, the Canterbury writers all coincide in the statement that in his present form Fanning should not have been nominated for the team. What will they say now he has secured the pivot position m the representative team? On the other hand, all the papersi that have reached me from the Upper Thames district state that Cunningham is in food form. All said and done then, it is my conviction that m passing the burly, good-natured Aucklander by in favour of Fanning the committed an error. • • • Another man I don't like in the team is Given. Fred has been a brilliant forward in his day, but of late years he has developed into more or less of a piano player, preferring the wing of the scrum to the hard work. He is now selected to push in the pack, but I am afra.id his present inclinations are not that way. Davy Gallaher, who has been put in the front of the scrummage with Tyler, has always been ticketed in mv mind as a wine-forward—and a good one- at that. He has been playing front rank for the Ponsonby Club team in Auck-Rugby Football. By Touchline. Spencer, on his day out, is one< of the finest forwards in New Zealand. He takes the ball in great style* on the lme-out, and mi heading a rush in the open he has few compeers. Now amd again, though, he is not always out'— hence there are many who consader he should not have been rnven a place in the team. Spemcer. I believe, is Farming's understudy for the> lock position. The two selected wing-forwards— Armstrong and Porteous—are well worthy their places. • • ♦ It will be seen,, then, that I have not many complaints to make, and if my suggestions were all embodied m the team I have no hesitation in believing that there would be many who would not agree with them. As I said at the beginning of this article, it is in the nature of things that differences should exist, and in stating my objections to the team it certainly is not in any carping spirit. The team is a good one, and well able to represent New Zealand. It behoves every man of the selection now to get in as fine condition a® possible betweieni now and the departure of the team. From, what I can gather the New Zealand team on this occasion will have a steep contract on hand to uphold the reputation. New Zealand football has1 earned in the past, and every man at all times will have to do his level best. Here I will leave the matter with thisi word of advice, and at the same time offer a meed of congratulaland this .season, though, and that is the reason why he has been mated with the football-swimmer athlete. Touching these two players, did^you notice that comment in, the "Times" on Monday morning? It was veiy funny to those who know the facts, and my readers will laugh too when they read a later not© on the subject. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise is still true. * • • The preponderance of Auoklanders in the team I do not look upon with favour. There is no question whatever but that the Auckland representative tMm has been the champion one of the colony for some years now. Still, although that, entitles them to full representation in the team, I would have thought, all other things being equal, the team when selected would nave embraced as many of the unions affiliated to the New Zealand Union as possibles The names I am dealing with now are Lon,°- and Nicholson principally, with Asher as a side-light. The two former are fine players, I will admit, but it they were put side by side with Mc-Anally and Carlson I think they would suffer by comparison. It is said that the latter was not considered at all. as he was not personally known to the selectors. If that was really a batr to his selection,, why did the New Zealand Union ask the various unions to submit nominations for the team? I feel sorry for Carlson, as I am convinced he would have done credit to the team if confidence were reposed in him. I was fully convinced that Asher would find a place in the team, but all the same, I don't like him. He is1 a good1 player, but he has his off-days, and is inclined to play to the galler-. That style of play I never would have on my side—hence mv objection to Asher. * * * A player whom I am fain to confe&s I had forgotten was "Ru" Cooke. In making a, selection, of a probable team a couple of weeks ago I put down in front of me the names of Cross Drake, Cooke Fanning, and Brunsden—Canterbury's representatives in the South Island forward division last year. Cross was disabled through a dislocated collar-bone, Drake has joined the Benedicts since last season, and has only taken part in a few matches. Fanning was stated to be a long way from form, amd Brunsden was "vamping' according to my exchange®. I could not find much about Cooke, and passed him over accordingly. A private letter I have received since making my "tip tells me that "Ru" is playing in srreat form and, that being so, he is fully entitled to his representative cap on tins occasion. Why Stead has been given a place in the team puzzles me. Look at the five-eighths available in front of him— Wood, Duncan,v and Wallace—and you will agree with me that his chances- of a game in the forthcoming tour aic very remote. In this connection the selectors would have done better if they had put a,n extra forward in the team, and dropped Stead altogether He is a solid player, but m his efforts to play a defensive game he neglects the attacking "art of a five-eighth's play. Duncan—good old "Jimmy"—was a certainty for the team directly he nut the jersey on at the beginning of the present season but in a straight-out selection I would put "Morrv" Wood m front of him as five-eigrhth. However, he is in the team, and the benefit of his experience alone will he of advantage to the tourists-. He is full of play, and a combination of Duncan, Wood, and Wallace should be effective R. McGregor, Wallace, D. McGregor, Wood, and Kiernan are all worth their places in the team, and Stalker will justify his inclusion. From his play in the Otago^Wellmgton match last year it appeared to me that if the play came his way he wTould be an exceedingly dangerous man, his dash for the line at the right time being excellent. Harvey is solid, and as plucky as they are made. He can be iehed upon to prove a good understudy for Kiernan, and a trip like this under review may bring out the attacking qualities that are in him. * * • Among the forwards, I like- Tyler, McMinn, Udy, and Spencer. The first-named is facile princeps as frontranker, McMir.n is dangerous both in the open and line-out, but a tendency to kick too hard when he breaks aw-ay should be curbed. This style of play on his nart is all right in the Wairarapa, where the backs are not too sure in taking the ball, but will not pay in big football. Udy is a long way from a back number vet, and will hold his own with the best of them. He breaks away finely from the line-out, and gets clown on to the opposing backs in good style tion to the selectors on the successful issue of their work. • • • Vide "New – Zealand Times" : —"Gallagher is spoken of by Auckland people as being one of the most promising young players seen in the North for several seasons past." There are many ex-Auckianders resident in Wellington who take ai great interest in football, and when they read that sentence they laughed "loud and long. As a matter of fact, Davy Gallaher represented Auckland in the years 1896, 1897, 1899, and 1900, and then accompanied one of the New Zealand Contingents to South Africa, and only returned from there last season. Tl c best game I have seen him play was against Wellington in 1900, on the wing-forward, and it was his fine play on that occasion that led up to the first try being scored against Wellington. Aucklanders, however, were not alone in having ai laugh on the review of the team in the"Times1." Otago people had a cackle when they read, that "Given is the Dunedin player who, three years ago, was a junior player, but who has had a highly successful representative career for the last two yeairs." The following is Given's record as a representative of Otago: — Auckland, three times; Canterbury, six Hawke's Bay, three; New South Wales, one*; Southlandj nine; Taranaki, one; Wellington, six—a total of twenty-nine occasions on wliich he has represented Otago. Given first represented Otago in 1895. jj»y* '

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 156, 27 June 1903, Page 18

THE all-absorbing topic of conversation in football circles during the early part of the week was the team selected to represent New Zealand in the forthcoming tour of New South Wales and Queensland. On every hand you heard the query "What do you think of the selection s "' And many and diverse were the answers given, albeit the opinion was pretty general that the twenty-two players who carried' the selectors confidence were an able phalanx of players well fitted to uphold the traditions of New Zealand football on the playing fields of Australia,. I agree in the* main with this conclusion, but, to my idea, there seemed something lacking. What that something was I found it- hard to define till I got my thoughts to settle themselves. Some of the conclusions I have arrived at will not, of course, please everybody, but still faun would I print them. • • • The first things that struck me in looking through the team were the number of wing-forwards, in the two and a score, and the correspondingly large number of five-eighths. At first sight this, appeared to be & sign of w eakness on the part of the selectors they would not declare for either tliei wing-forward giame, or the two fiveeiehths one. Thinking the matter over quietly since. I see no reason to change my first opinion. It may be said — and with a certain amount of reason — that the method of selection will allow the management of the team on tour to change its style of game if the manner of their play in the opening matches is not successful. But, it is on the vanguard that the team will have to rely for the successes it meets with on the other side. Therefore, the idea of playing the two five-eighth' or the four three-quarter game is out of the question and disaster will be courted if the New Zealand team attempt to play either of them in the intercolonial engagements. However, it would be a dire misfortune if w r e all thought the same way — it's the differences of opinion that make life worth the living. The Committee have selected what, in their opinion, are the twenty-two players that will most faithful!-" represent New Zealand If I differ from them, it is only the nature of things. That Idoso is evident from the foregoing, and from what follows. • * The most vital part of the team, to my thinking, is where I growl the hardest — the lock of the scrummage It is on this player that the heaviest work of the tour will depend, and I cannot bring myself to believe that Cunningham is less expert than Fanning. It is true that Fanning engineered the successful South Island pack last seiason, with Cunningham in charge of the opposition, but it must not be forgotten that in the AucklandCanterbury match of a few weeks previous the positions were reversed — Ounningham had the better of the deal Aejaon, the Canterbury writers all coincide in the statement that in his present form Fanning should not have been nominated for the team. What will they say now he has secured the pivot position m the representative team? On the other hand, all the papersi that have reached me from the Upper Thames district state that Cunningham is in food form. All said and done then, it is my conviction that m passing the burly, good-natured Aucklander by in favour of Fanning the committed an error. • • • Another man I don't like in the team is Given. Fred has been a brilliant forward in his day, but of late years he has developed into more or less of a piano player, preferring the wing of the scrum to the hard work. He is now selected to push in the pack, but I am afra.id his present inclinations are not that way. Davy Gallaher, who has been put in the front of the scrummage with Tyler, has always been ticketed in mv mind as a wine-forward — and a good one- at that. He has been playing front rank for the Ponsonby Club team in AuckRugby Football. By Touchline. Spencer, on his day out, is one< of the finest forwards in New Zealand. He takes the ball in great style* on the lme-out, and mi heading a rush in the open he has few compeers. Now amd again, though, he is not always out' — hence there are many who consader he should not have been rnven a place in the team. Spemcer. I believe, is Farming's understudy for the> lock position. The two selected wing-forwards— Armstrong and Porteous — are well worthy their places. • • ♦ It will be seen,, then, that I have not many complaints to make, and if my suggestions were all embodied m the team I have no hesitation in believing that there would be many who would not agree with them. As I said at the beginning of this article, it is in the nature of things that differences should exist, and in stating my objections to the team it certainly is not in any carping spirit. The team is a good one, and well able to represent New Zealand. It behoves every man of the selection now to get in as fine condition a® possible betweieni now and the departure of the team. From, what I can gather the New Zealand team on this occasion will have a steep contract on hand to uphold the reputation. New Zealand football has 1 earned in the past, and every man at all times will have to do his level best. Here I will leave the matter with thisi word of advice, and at the same time offer a meed of congratulaland this .season, though, and that is the reason why he has been mated w ith the football-swimmer athlete. Touching these two players, did^you notice that comment in, the "Times" on Monday morning? It was veiy funny to those who know the facts, and my readers will laugh too when they read a later not© on the subject. " Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise is still true. * • • The preponderance of Auoklanders in the team I do not look upon with favour. There is no question whatever but that the Auckland representative t M m has been the champion one of the colony for some years now. Still, although that, entitles them to full representation in the team, I would have thought, all other things being equal, the team when selected would nave embraced as many of the unions affiliated to the New Zealand Union as possibles The names I am dealing w ith now are Lon,°- and Nicholson principally, with Asher as a side-light. The two former are fine players, I will admit, but it they were put side by side with McAnally and Carlson I think they w ould suffer by comparison. It is said that the latter was not considered at all. as he was not personally known to the selectors. If that was really a batr to his selection,, why did the New Zealand Union ask the various unions to submit nominations for the team? I feel sorry for Carlson, as I am convinced he would have done credit to the team if confidence were reposed in him. I was fully convinced that Asher would find a place in the team, but all the same, I don't like him. He is 1 a good 1 player, but he has his off-days, and is inclined to play to the galler-. That style of play I never would have on my side — hence mv objection to Asher. * * * A player whom I am fain to confe&s I had forgotten was "Ru" Cooke. In making a, selection, of a probable team a couple of weeks ago I put down in front of me the names of Cross Drake, Cooke Fanning, and Brunsden — Canterbury's representatives in the South Island forward division last year. Cross was disabled through a dislocated col-lar-bone, Drake has joined the Benedicts since last season, and has only taken part in a few matches. Fanning was stated to be a long way from form, amd Brunsden was "vamping' according to my exchange®. I could not find much about Cooke, and passed him over accordingly. A private letter I have received since making my "tip tells me that "Ru" is playing in srreat form and, that being so, he is fully entitled to his representative cap on tins occasion. Why Stead has been given a place in the team puzzles me. Look at the five-eighths available in front of him — Wood, Duncan, v and Wallace — and you will agree with me that his chances- of a game in the forthcoming tour aic very remote. In this connection the selectors would have done better if they had put a,n extra forward in the team, and dropped Stead altogether He is a solid player, but m his efforts to play a defensive game he neglects the attacking "art of a five-eighth's play. Duncan — good old "Jimmy" — was a certainty for the team directly he nut the jersey on at the beginning of the present season but in a straight-out selection I would put "Morrv" Wood m front of him as five-eigrhth. However, he is in the team, and the benefit of his experience alone will he of advantage to the tourists-. He is full of play, and a combination of Duncan, Wood, and Wallace should be effective R. McGregor, Wallace, D. McGregor, Wood, and Kiernan are all worth their places in the team, and Stalker will justify his inclusion. From his play in the Otago^Wellmgton match last year it appeared to me that if the play came his way he w T ould be an exceedingly dangerous man, his dash for the line at the right time being excellent. Harvey is solid, and as plucky as they are made. He can be iehed upon to prove a good understudy for Kiernan, and a trip like this under review may bring out the attacking qualities that are in him. * * • Among the forwards, I like- Tyler, McMinn, Udy, and Spencer. The first-named is facile princeps as frontranker, McMir.n is dangerous both in the open and line-out, but a tendency to kick too hard when he breaks aw - ay should be curbed. This style of play on his nart is all right in the Wairarapa, where the backs are not too sure in taking the ball, but will not pay in big football. Udy is a long way from a back number vet, and will hold his own with the best of them. He breaks away finely from the line-out, and gets clown on to the opposing backs in good style tion to the selectors on the successful issue of their work. • • • Vide "New - Zealand Times" : — "Gallagher is spoken of by Auckland people as being one of the most promising young players seen in the North for several seasons past." There are many ex-Auckianders resident in Wellington who take ai great interest in football, and when they read that sentence they laughed "loud and long. As a matter of fact, Davy Gallaher represented Auckland in the years 1896, 1897, 1899, and 1900, and then accompanied one of the New Zealand Contingents to South Africa, and only returned from there last season. Tl c best game I have seen him play was against Wellington in 1900, on the wing-forward, and it was his fine play on that occasion that led up to the first try being scored against Wellington. Aucklanders, however, were not alone in having ai laugh on the review of the team in the "Times 1 ." Otago people had a cackle when they read, that "Given is the Dunedin player who, three years ago, was a junior player, but who has had a highly successful representative career for the last two yeairs." The following is Given's record as a representative of Otago: — Auckland, three times; Canterbury, six Hawke's Bay, three; New South Wales, one* ; Southlandj nine ; Taranaki, one; Wellington, six — a total of twenty-nine occasions on wliich he has represented Otago. Given first represented Otago in 1895. jj»y* '