General Gossip.

NZ Truth, Issue 143, 14 March 1908, Page 3

General Gossip.

"Eb." McKenzie, the burly Wairarapa full-back who went into retirement last season, has a notfon of again tackling the game. His friends think that the big fellow stands a big chance of getting a game against the English team -t Masterton m May. Another prominent footballer who viewed the game from the bank last season is donning thf jersey once more. "Mona" Thomson, the player referred to, says he never felt fitter m his Rugby life,, and for the past month he has been- getting into trim for the coming season's happenings. "I am as sound as a bell," was "Fiona's" assertion to the writer when discussing coming events early m the week, "and there is nothing to

fear, ' he added, "physically or muscularly vf rom the strain." The "AU Black three-quarter isn't going to play for Old Boys, that's a cert.," but his mind > is not yet made up as to whether Oriental or Poneke will have his services. If he is m anything like his form of a few seasons ago, Wellington football will be all the richer for his presence m the field. Arrangements have been made for Ppneke and Adbdon to meet at Christchurch at Easter. The red and blacks anticipate getting away a good team to try conclusions with the champions of the Cathedral City r An old football wound is chiefly responsible for Davy Gage resting, m the local hospital for treatment at the present .time. The many friends of this once-famous little back will be glad to see him about again. ', F. Ivemy, formerly pf this city, and one of. the best forwards of last year's Otago rep. team, is with the Permanent Artillery at Tairoa Heads and may find it difficult to get to town to play m club -matches this season, Carisbrook Ground, for the improvement of which the Otago Rugby Union has borrowed £500 from the.Do--ininion's big rugby money-lending establishment, is undergoing great alterations and improvements m anticipation of the English team's* visit. The much vexed question at the present time is the grandstand accommodation, little provision having been made for these patrons. The authorities have reckoned to place 20,--000 on the ground and ensure everyono seeing the matob. On the occasion of the visit of Bidell Sievwright's team m 1901 there was a general complaint by the public that one-half could not see tbe game. The Rugby Union trusts the charge will hpt be laid at its door during the visit of the 1908 English team. ■' R. A. Gibbs is described by an English .writer as the "hottest member of the Welsh fifteen, for no ! other player puts such vim into his work or seeks it with such earnestness. He is coming out as a member of the English team. In glancing over tbe itinerary of the Foglah'rters' tour, a Dunedin writer notes that little consideration has been shown thc visitors for their match against New Zealand. '"' According to the present arrangement," he goes on to say, "they play the test match immediately after a tour of the West Coast. Granted that these matches will probably be the least arduous of '£he tour, there is the travelling and unusual experience associated with the West Coast tour to be considered, anti tbe fact that only two days are allowed to intervene between the last- match on the West Coast and the match against combined New Zealand at Welline;ton. Why not give the visiting footballers a chance, and allow them a week's rest before the most important engagement of the tour ?" Strikes me very forcibly the Dunedin scribe will find himself a long way out m his calculations regarding the strength of teams m. Coalopoiis., He would be wise to obtain the opinion of the Canterbury men who were over that way last season before venturing on such a rash statement. I agree with him that thc spell of the visitors m Wellington might well have been of longer duration before they tackled all New Zealand, but has not, the .Galbraithian oracle hurled it forth m one huge chunk of wisdom, "That New Zealand must uphold her reputation by playing only one test match," and datm me what does it matter if the Foglanders are treated scantily m the way of spell-oh before the big tussle so long as the Dominionist i force is supplied with the needful and I plenty of it ? New -Zealand's Rugby j luminary hath spoken, and down, all dogs who dare to deny his wisdom. ! But what if the "All Blacks''•'reputation be trampled upon as was the | case m Sydney last tear ? Will the advocates of New Zealand's honor [come forth and howl m true "dingoistic" chorus for a second match? j That New South Wales kink has still left its mark on many of our Rugby [ administrators.