New Zealand.. Rugby Football Team.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1904, Page 16

New Zealand . . Rugby Football Team.

By Touchline.

THE matoh between the Bi ltish team of footballeib aaid the select of New Zealand, on the 13th of August — a fortnight hence— ib the most absoibmg topic of oonveisation in tins, colony. The Japanese-Russian wai is but a seoondary consideration, and, <is for the legislation that is being put through the mill by our law-makeis in Pai h.unent assembled, if it wasn t tor the space-room given to the debates in the daily papeis, it would haidly be known that Parliament was now m session The no-license, prohibition, or wh.itevei other signification the leaders of the agitation against hotel-keeping and the sale of liquors give it, is a dead letter in comparison. As a matter of fact, football is in the air, and everything else is dwarfed in consequence. ♦ * Therefore, the selection of the New Zealand team deserves more than a passing word. That the Selection Committee (Messis. Murray. Fache, Gnirard and Harris) have done good work I am prepared to admit, and that they have placed on paper a team fully lepresentative of New Zealand football, is an unanswerable statement. Tlieie may be places where critics can point to what they consider defects in the selection • but, even admitting their contentions, the representative charncten of the team would not be decreased thereby. J * * * The selection of one wing-foiward and two five-eighths is not to my fancy at all. but, as it is pace that is wanted almoner the back division to cope_ with the flvins Britishers the inclusion of Harper, Wallace, and McGregor in the three-quarter line, and Stead and Wood at five-eighth, should fill trie bill * ♦ The forwairds are strong, heavy, and bustlers. Cross, Fanning, Cook, Porteous — no beg pardons about either one of this quartette— Gallaher, Tyler, Glenn, Seeling — fine forwardsi every one of them. A few notes about the individual members of the team may prove interesting. * * » Peter Geriard is a versatile back. He ha® played half, five-eighth, ajid centre three-quarter for the Auckland representative team, and re one of the sohdest backs playing in New Zealaind at the paesent time. I would have preferred him centre three-quafrter, but am satisfied he will justify the confidence placed in him. * ♦ » Eric Harper is a fine centre threequarter. Sure with his< kicks, a good tackier, plenty of pace, a "potter" of goals, and a plaoe-kick. Personally, though, I would have preferred to see Gerrard and he change places, as I fancy the latter is more aggressive. * * * Every enthusiast in Wellington is pleased that William J. Wallace is being played on the right wing thiee^quarter Many of us think he is absolutely the finest back New Zealand has pi oduced in recent years, therefore has qualifications need not be enlarged upon. * • • Duncan McGregor is temporarily under a cloud at present, but the name he made on the New South Wales and Queensland tour last season as a scoring three-quarter must not be foirgotten. McGregor has played some brilliant games in Wellington club football this reason and lam prepared to see him give his adverse' criticisers a bump in the big match. He has the ability to do so anyhow. * * * Morris E. Wood — I call him the New Zealand representative player advisedly — who is he, do you ask? Let him. take the field fit and well on Saturday foitnight, and the Britishers will join with the followers of the game in this country in agreeing that Wood is a topnotoher at this national game of ours. * * * William Stead, from the far South, is a pretty player. As No. 1 five-eighth in, last year's New Zealand team he was voted "good goods." He is quick off the mark, passes clean, and uses his head to advantage. What more do you want in a five-eighth ? * * * Peter Harvey was selected as understudy for the half-back position to Kiernan last season but there are many of us who think the order should have been reversed. However, Harvey has got his place, and he has little to learn as a half-back. He may get a few lessons in the big match, but I doubt it. * • • Among the forwards, veteran Fanning strikes my eye first. Good-tempered,

buih strong — «i "village blacksmith," in fact — said to be playing with all his old dash. That being so, the cavilleis at his selection have not much giound for their giow lings Tyler and Gallaher are the fiontrankers. These two bore the bi iint of last season's tour together, and, with Fanning in. the lock, form the basis of the scrummage. A stiong trio Peisonally, I would have preferred Gallaher on the wing-foi wa.id, in Poitoous's place, with ''Paddy" McMinn in the front iow T . t- * * Poiteous is ,\n out-and-out dasher but theie is lust that little bit of daugei in his play that may bung him unfavourably under the notice of the iefe,iee He i 1i 1 - worth his place m the team, a>nd I trust his play will be such as to satisfy the most carping 01 ltio — fan, and without venom * * * Cross and Cooke go hand-in-hand. Fine sciummers both of them and hard woikers. I have only to call to mind the North v South Island match in 1902 when this pair and Di ake assisted so manfully to reduce and overtake the lead gained by the North, Island team m the fir-t spell to satisfy anyone as to their abilities * * * Seeling is a player not too well-known. He is a real clinker according to new s_ papei reports At one time he played under the Waneanui Union, being a member of the Pirat<?si Club the fiist fifteen of which was disqualified on one occasion many years ago. As Seeling is the only scrum forward outside of the f i ont rank selected from Auckland, Mi . Murray's opinion of him must be excellent. * * * Glenn is from the Taranaki district the sole representative of a Union which in times pa=t made its mark n-n New Zealand football. In the' Taranaki match m Wellmsrton. he was voted 1 the be=t forward on the side of the visitors a"d, as he still retains his. form, the place in the team should not be 1 begrudged him

The soul-stirring ' Hands Aci oss the Sea," with which the- Woods-Wilhamsoon Company open their Wellington season to-moirow (Saturday) night, at the Opeia House, will probably dii aw many lovers of di am a. The present company, which has done excellent business for the past three weeks at Auckland, is an excellent owe, and 1 , as always, the Woods-Williamson people intend mounting their pieces on a lavish scale. * * " * Messrs. Jamie<son Bros., the wellknown finance and estate agents, aie removing from then 1 old offices, adjacent to the Opeia House, aoiofes the road. The new office* are on the first floor of the recently-erected Mercantile Exchange Buildings. Mr. F. Cohen, the well-known Willisstreet clothier, who has been a lesidemt of Wellington foi about forty years, and who is also captain of the Fire Police, is a candidate for a seat on the City Council, vacant by the resignation of Mr. D. Nathan. His knowledge of the needs of the' city should win him. heaitj support.