ODIOUS COMPARISONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 269, 3 February 1928, Page 10

ODIOUS COMPARISONS

THAT extremely Conservative English journal, the ing Post,” has just published an interesting appreciation of the New South Wales Rugby team, which has shattered all records as a money-making proposition for the English Rugby clubs. The total gate receipts for the tour were E 61,000 and the British clubs will share £38,000 clear profits. New South Wales—well, it gets the honour and glory! That exceedingly rugged and forceful personality, Jack Kord, who was ordered off in the Cardiff match, is ranked by the “Morning Post” as the equal of Maurice Brownlie, the New Zealander. It will be time enough to wait the verdict of better known English critics before accepting this highly flattering estimate of the Sydney man’s prowess, but it seems evident that Ford has improved out of all knowledge on the English tour. Ross is rated in the same category as Nepia, and knowing what we do of this brilliant player, this is in keeping with his great reputation. The Waratalis are said to have “played the game for its own sake with a cheery zest which was somehow lacking in the austere and implacable New Zealand teams.” That may be as it may, but it suggests the retort that those same “implacable New Zealanders” had a rude and brutal habit of winning all their matches, which was by no means pleasing to a section of the English critics. Even such a well-known journal as “London Sporting Life” added its v oice to the lamentations which rent the air in 1924 when the All Blacks defeated England on the famous Twickenham ground, its contention being that “England should never have lost the match,” whatever that might mean. Seeing that New Zealand won 16-11, after playing through most of the game with 14 men, its victory was surely convincing enough. The two instances given here are samples of the sort of criticism which will always leave a feeling of irritation. It is probubly true that they do not represent the consensus of expert opinion in England, but even in 1905, the original All Blacks experienced the same sort of thing, and it has not helped to establish a friendly feeling between England and New Zealand in sport. It is a pity that these odious comparisons are still being made. As far as the Waratahs are concerned, they have always been popular in Maoriland, and no one will join more heartily in congratulating them on the success of their tour than their old foes—and comrades in arms—the New Zealand All Blacks. —J. M. McK.