THE "ALL BLACKS" WATERLOO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8006, 18 December 1905, Page 2

THE "ALL BLACKS" WATERLOO.

NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN. THE MAORILANDERS' FIRST CHECK. WALES, 3; NEW ZEALAND, 0. WALES WITH AN ALL-POWERFUL VANGUARD. "NEW ZEALAND'S ILL LUCK*" WALLACE NARROWLY MISSED A SCORELLEWELLYN AND MORGAN IN THE FRAY. TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.

Received 17, 4.15 p.m. 1 LONDON, Dscembtr 16. After a, long victorious tour, in which they successively proved themselves superior to tho Scottish, Irish, and English international teams, besides defeating every county and club team against which they had been pitted, the New Zealand football team to-day received their first check, sustaining defeat 1 by Wales by three points to nil. For weoks past it has been recognised that the real test of tho Now Zealanders' comibnation would bo tho match against Wales and the British public has been signiflcantly nodding, "Wait till they meet Wales." Since the first big victory against Devon their methods havo been closely watched, and the Press has fully described their manner of attack defence, and general formation, with the result that in some of tho later fixtures they havo had many of their own tricks and tactics turned against them. It remained for Wales to score the first victory against the "All Black's," who havo been having a somewhat rough time of late, several of them being temporarily incapacitated by. illness or accident. It was owing to this, probably, that Smith was not found in his usual place today, and his absenco must have been a factor in allowing the Welshmen to escape with their line uncrossed. Tho Now Zealand team, was the same as that which played against England at Crystal Palace, except that Stead was replaced by Mynott. They were

WALLACE'S EFFORT, however, was unavailing, and he was bumped into touch when but another yard would have enabled him to register three,points for his side. Threatened thus, the Welshna*- in. augurated a serios of lino rushes* their weight gradually wearing the New Zealanders back to centre. From there the visitors three-quarters' inaugurated ono of their characteristics and

BRILLIANT PASSING RUSHES, until they had tho ball fairly under the Wolsh goal. A score seemed certain, Straining overy nerve, the New Zealanders thought to press home their advantage, but the ball was grounded, and Bush, by a long kiok into touch, staved off the attack. THE CONCLUDING STAGES of tho gamo produced oxciting play' both sides striving their utmost to gain an advantage Bush almost succeeded in dropping a goal from the field, but • the ball missed its mark. Tho

ILL LUCK OF THP, NEW 4 ZEALANDERi fl pursued thorn to the end, )eans spoilJj ing a fine chanoe to score by passing M forward when a try seome.'.. inevitable; The whistle sounded " no-i do " amid a scoue of, tromondous exeit ment, with the score still standing Wales l^^^tt^ New Zealand i —o-Mr ' NOTES^^ E. T. Morgan and W. M. Llewellyn, the famous Welsh three-quarters "definitely retired" last season, but were tempted out again for Saturday's match At the Daily Nisws board on Sunday morning: "Three to nuthink, Bill; Noo Zealand' beat after all. Better gi' me that new hat to-morrow first thing." "By jove! Tough luck, after all their hard work, too. I'd like to know who scored. ' Simon 5 ' must ha' been hurt, eh ?" "No wonder they beat us. All f our crack runners are laid up, Befc I Smith would have scored. What about I " Bunny," too ? That's the worst of it, 1 They had their best team; we had to'/ take from all that weren't hurt or on the sick list." " The New Zealand chaps was pretfy tired, I tell yer, before they started. Why they galloped all over Yorkshire on Wednesday. Too inany bloomin* games, that's what did it." "Those bloomin' Welshmen's been trainiu' all along., Thoy been getting holidays, I bet, every day for practice." "Just as wall we let one of the poor beggars win a gamo, or else we'd nevergot the Britishers out hero again." " Bet you the Welshmen cojuldnt gt> playing all oyer the country like our ehops did, and thon beat us: soe P It wasn't a straight dinkum go." And a chorus of " No fear; "hard luck," arid " beat 'em next time" was heard as tha boys moved off.

Full-Back, ■ Gillett (Canterbury). Three-quartors. Wallace (Wellington), Deans (Canter bury), McGregor (Wellington). Five-eighths. Hunter (Taranaki), Mynott (Taranaki] Half. \ ■ Roberts (Wellington), Forwards.

Tyler (Auckland), Casey (Otago), o'Sullivan (Taranaki), Newton (Canterbury), Glasgow (Taranaki), McDonald (Otago), Seeling (Auckland), and Gallaher (Auckland). WALES PLAYED A STRONG SIDE, Including such well-known players as Nicholls, Gabe, Llewellyn, Hodges, and Harding. Their forward division consisted of seven men, evidently a copy of the New Zealand formation or rather a reversion to the former system of packing the scrum. The vanguard was composed of weighty and fast men. Pritchard played as " rover " throe-quarter. The game was finely contested from start to finish. The result was groctcd with tremendous enthusiasm by 40,000 spectators of the match, which was played on a lino ground in good condition. '

At the commencement Wales made I a vigorous attack, and tie forwards' [ astonishing play in the first quarter of an hour took the game into the New Zealanders' twenty-five, It was a somewhat new experience for the Maorilnuders to find their opponents so strongly aggressive, and the team hud to play its best defensive game. Soon the powerful forwards CROSSED THE BLACKS' L/NE,

hut a score was averted hy 4'iie latter kicking into dead territory. This gave (he visitors a hrief breaftmg space. When the ball went into play again, the game became more open, the backs having more to do. The Welsh outsiders (wing three-quarters) made a ,strong attack, and by a magnificent effort Morgan secured the first—and as it afterwards proved—the only score of the match. This achievement was greeted with the wildest enthusiasm. Play had been m progress 27 minutes. The kick at goal was entrusted to Wintield, but his shot at goal failed to increase the score. Wales 3 New Zealand 0 The Colonials then made desperate attempts to equalise matters, but though they charged and charged again during the whole of (he remainder of tho first spell the Welshmen interpreted and checked every move, and ii was found impossible to break through their defence. The spell ended without further score. It now became evident that to win the Mnorilnnd combination must play the game of their lives. The opening of the second spell brought with it a very close encounter, play being confined to midficld, in which the visitors did not show to advantage. The backs' wonderful passing rushes were conspicuous by their absence, because IiOBEKTS' PASSES WEItE BADLY MISSED by the threcquarters. In previous matches the passing has of len boon classed as " wild," but it was on this occasion only that the scoring men failed to take the ball on tho wing. Excitement ran high when Wales nearly scored a further try by Morgan kicking into the dead area. This was a " let-off" for the colonials. On the ball being set in motion again, the Welshmen had their turn at defence. lioberts, who had been playing a sound game behind the pack, seized an opportunity, and, quick as a flash, broke away. A good run terminated in kis.passing out to Wallacoj who made algrand spurt for the liuej I

BEFORE THE GAME. (From English Files.) THE OXFQBJJ MAT£H. ' iO , onn Cr ? Wd ' I Wch number <>d about 10.000, was pot particularly enthusiastic Some of tho New Zealanders'. met .brUHanfl work passeTaC^ Ud undergraduates, ,vhd know a, good thing..when thoy «ce it, whikt any h,ng ra the nature \t an attack by the a luc e eucd edited shout* or Varsity, "Varsity." ;i In . 8 ?i lt! ,cI lhe wlol 'mous superior. U.y of the: visitors *t all points o£ the game, Oxford ought to- havw scored wice, once in the first half irom a kick.across, which resulted™ (.Molt touching; ,i o w,y, and once in he second when Mi« New. Zealand full-back faii«i to field an awkward screw kick from Monro. Otlvr fog. obvious chances were missed through, urn apparent, reluctance of the Oxoninn back division to try the passing frame When they did get the ball' it, ! hardly ever I went fhrough mora than two pairs of bauds before an attempt to kick liato touch ns made. Seldom, except i„ jLho. case of Mimro, did these kicks gain much ground, and whoever' they failed «o find touch! Hunter i o r Glltott wm reTuL T ,w l th ' "»'S° and acowata returns transferred operations to, Bark Bluo territory during the early 'stages of thy, B'amo i.h» Now ZcalanddrV play **» marred by a yood ttrni of wWpasl ug, (knocking on, and 1 forward passes, hut later theynraVe tho spectators of their best concerted work awl fairly ••mazed" the' Oxonians by the swiftness of their passing. The men tackled with plenty of "vini" throughout, but it was an exception for them to (Iml tho man they had stopped-still in possession of the ball. The man,of the day on the New Zealgml side was umloubt-, edly Hunter at five-eighths, w'v* .scored live tries. Booth, -on the iSj wing, also played « vory fine ~r~ as also, did /Wallace jaw! 2l» ol„Z?l und'M.vnoU, (iillett had rj*"** to do, but, he'did what w J°L2££ him in a sure nonch ft C ■£**. that marked Mm a* in th« right place. th * " sßt « nw The score mad* V K^jttfli landers (17 to 0) w M t^i^H ever register^. &st fifteen. I^B^^^^H 'HIP. CAMrajDCffIJ^HHH Th« "Timos" , b " d §* ganw frung tfl^^^H^H

goal and three tries (14 points) to nothing, the side played very fine football, and 'werd decidedly unlucky to lose by a margin which in no tense reflects 'thtj run of> the game-' During the first fifteen minute* th« University held their own,, the game fluctuating between theii 25 and the centre. The New Zealand forwards invariably got the ball .in the scrummage!) during this time, with the result that Roberts Was able to keep his backs almost constantly on the attack. The Xew Zealanders' movements were met. however, fcy a more resolute defence, aggressive and passive. L. M. Jlacleod and K. G. Macleod Idid some splendid 'spoiling,' and time alter time Smith was (tackled before he could make an Ripening for his wings. One moment, however, seemed likely to Ho Icrowned with success, but Hurt-Marshall, who throughout displayed great pace and much resource, brought McGregor down with a 'groat tackle.f The I'niversity forwards, although beaten for the ball, j broke up so quickly and followed up eo fast that they were of great as- j Biatanea to their backs. After twenty minutes of this kind of plar, a fins kick by K. O. Macleod enabled the University to take up an attacking position, and from a forward rush Monteith nearly scored. Just •iter this the New , Zealanflers were penalised for off-side,) and ; Hearsan nearly kicked a gt»\. The University maintained their advantage, and a very elever piece of work by K. G. McLeod, who drew the defence, and passed to his 'brother, appeared .to leave the line at the letter's mercy. He elected to drop at goal, however, instead of running in, but just missed, the ball passing outside the left pesf. This period oi pressure was ended by Wallace kicking finely to the centre. From the next scrummage Roterts passed out. and Wallace, after tome passing, punted high across. Burt-Marshall Hailed to gather the ball, Which rebounded rather luckily for Beans, and a try-at the comer was scored. The Xcwl Zealanders maintained their attack, mid, from a pass by Roberts! McGregor scored a try far out on the right. As both place kicks failed, the Xew Zealanders led by six points at half time. In the second half the University played even finer 'football than before the interval, and tor thirty mi nut 19 the Xew Zealanders were thoroughly held and kept mainly on the defensive. Fortune went against the hon.« side, 'however, an inlringnnent on two occasions putting an end to jnovonicnts which promised a try, while .on another occasion Burt-Marshall went into touch after he and K. G. Macleod, by a series of beautiful passes, had gone half the length of the field along the touchItne. This was perhaps the best piece of play in the match. A iittle later Hearson failed to kick a penalty goal tfrom a very favourable position, and, as it happened, this was the last opportunity that fell to the University,; for the Xew Zealandcrs, by seme fine kicking en the part of Booth and Wallace, got to the other end. Here in quick succession McGregor and Deans scored tries after excellent passing. As the second cf these tries was converted. the New Zealanders won a very fine game by 14 points to nothing." XEWSY NOTES. FROM THE HOME PAI'ERS. II Is expected that a great gathering In London of all the Xew Zealand residents there, and of the football team, will probably take place in .January, prior to the departure Icr the colony of the players.

"Rugby footballers who do not know {What n scrum is will ,(likl son ▼ataaMe.Mnts in a recent issue of a Radica'. -paper." remarks, 'fThc GWbfi," JnVttf' noted "By the Way" column. " 'nnt is a scrummage ?' •ays th* inspired gentleman behind lbs pea. 1% -,1» a living rat-trap, writhing round a dead rat. Now it is ft heehive, now a.battered bowler, BOW a. brand-new -bustle, now a squashed Gibus. It is a giant crab trying to walk 40,000 ways at the nine t!m». It is a mariner's compaai wHlradl it* points fighting *oi the needle. It is |a wheel whose gpokes are wrestling for the bub. It 18 a human whale eternally spewin a out a dirty little egg-shaped leather Jonah.' So now they know. This genius cannot be accused of not giv. ]»g his readers good value for their money," continues "The Globe." '*H« compares the !Xcw Zealanders to acven different things in six lines. They butt like goats and charge liko tails. Thev leap at the i hall like trout.at a fly. They fling themselves down on it like a cat on a mouse. Thev swerva like swallows and zigcag'llk* snipe. A zebta is running like a Devon stag before the hound*.* *

"Many of the 'AH Blacks.' " aaya *T/he ¥ail," "are capable of playing in lour r <Hfferenll. positions in th« field. Thia means a thorough knowledge ot methods, of attack and defence.*

lieutenant Basil Maclear. wh« played so finely tor Blaettreath ajrainut the "An> Blacks," s*tys itbat the Xew Zaalanders arc the finest team he ever «a w - H « attributes their successes to splendid organisation, perfect .training, and attention to tactics. I*ey allseem, he gdded, component parts of a smoothly! working machine/ Tiers .was no such V,Ning as forward work in the Irish ZJ 'cptanes ol tfte term, no Vsoli<l *Zi. -lug, no fiertp open dribbling JXv Itelfawglanders, had the „E~L m over Wale* in thut the SSf",, WW a l«C .... their forwards.

Interest il « the XeW Z, ' al '"" l f°riThasbemlett^^ 1 ' 3 " 81 ;" ''T; nal to discover' r ,'", w burning question', • ™ f £ *£ eat freshlv-killed mu.^on .as do the people ofl France. J* "• « devour the same sheep" alter he has teen preserved frozen lor six months. Boon which a 'k™»™ paper comments : "Fancy not sct.ng; the force <«f the argument- » «> lu credible !"'

Punch contains- a clever skit on the craze for, interna -.Moral football, m which it is state*.' that in the >rar 1912. playing i*«ssia at Hlackhcath. before a cr.wd estimated at 250.000 spectators, ''«reat """>'"; with a. side composed cf 14 New /.e.-i----landcrs and one WolslWn, had t»''"' strongest possible combination in tne field!

English Rug*iy players- have suffer ed an "Aiwni»ck"eclipsc' (*>>* 'wmish Stuart in the "Athletic *'" s ' If we accept what some tfritics*"-• Rugby men in England » ro llk " " l race "of pigmies lost in a 10'est 01 giant ferns, seeking a way out m vain, ami praying (or their " <1 pmie or staturo. A few, happily a few. nie so carried away hy their pro-/';a-landism that they damn with Hi'nt praise sides that inadr the colonial!. "go all the, wnv." and use the same four-lettered worcl "without circumstance" when a referee dares to disallow a New Tralrml try. stups a New /.-aland niov.-ment. or, greatly daring, penalises one of the revivalists for som« infringement of the rules. One of the Welsh papers describes Oallahor an "a speedy man." hind as one who "would make a line threeuiarter back." "It 'is somewhat against him," it is added, "thai he is rather slow in •tn%niinmtr to '"" Once he is going, however, he is an exceedingly -difficult man '<■ and one cannot wonder lhal tn-fiuis saries of the Northern I t io:i. ,vho were at Gloucester and ether prices where the parly matches ni'tne ,m,r j were placed, acre an<"».s to '"''"_' the services of the fly in;.- lorwar.l. C. A. W. l.amon-1, a -'' ■■ ,: -~' '■• ti-rnntiomilA writes :—"lt .•■iM'i I; sn-ins annoying, to say t !'■•■ le;.>-t "> it. to see most of our count;, a on club teams having to 'tap t.i. Door.' as it were, regularly (wire a week. There has 1..-n » 1"' "' "-■'; »fc.les» ilrivel 'written at.iut fee o.e.H,,r the Knglish pliiV'*. '■<>'■ '•'" drivellers w inlanders are carefully international side, and, beit is net at all likely that wKh' defeat the county or club side. nv ertrwM .Measure to

ing a caumy Scot, I loathe jumping hurriedly at conclusions, but when I saw them with ;their •go-as-you-please air* I very rapidly jun'qjed at the conclusion that the I~> colonials engaged that day (granted all remain lit) could easily lovercomu any Combination (bar one, perhaps-) tnat might be selected in this country."

"•ludcx" (the Hon. Captain Southwell KitzGeruld), admittedly cue of the highest authorities on the lluglij-, game, writes :—"At the present moment we have, now among us a team from one of our colonies ]who are showing us Vat Home'—as colonials always talk of England in their own -olony—not only a reformation, hut a revelation in our Uugby football The Ncwi/Zealandcrs commenced their

piesent tour on September Kith last, and since then they have beaten u s Britishers—horse, foot, and dragoons. In Kugby football we arc very conservative ; we hate reforms, and-we detest nothing more than the nnovation of being soundly beaten, oy a team which up to Soptcmber had never set foot in England, and was unknown to the general Kugby public. I havo written—and 1 still hold the came view—that the -Vew Zealanders are the finest team who have ever played Rugby football. , . . Holding, as I do this view of the excellence of the New Ztealanders' progress, I should have thought that when we Britishers had been beaten, as jwe have been up to now, we should have consoled ourselves with the .thought that /we had been defeated by the finest Hugby combination we have as yet soon. 1 know it,is very hard on us, to this little island of ours, to be beaten by, metaphorically, our, Rugby football children. We naturally do not like being beaten'at essentially ono of our most British games, but this is nq reason why wo should endeavour to, bolster up our defeats by excuses,"

The Xew Sjealandcrs (says one writer) are the substance at whoso shadow .the .English teams vainly grasp. The Englishmen labour at the emulation of what these colonials accomplish with natural facility." It cannot be altogether the difference of physique. The difference between the men is great, but the difference between the methods :is greater. The English game is padlocked, and the »cy is 'thick with rust. We shall have tc begin not where we left off, hut where the New pfcalandcrs stand now. It. is a game which offers scope for intelligent originality. The difference between English Rugby air* the game as developed in New A-aland is the difference between a team which apparently has nothing more to learn and a U"am which by slavish adherence te ct>bwetfU"d tradition has much to unlearn. | People say "Wait till they meet a nation !■" forgetting that all Xew Zealand is not much more than a county. The success of the xiivw '/. -alanders is Ihe best thing for |English Uugby lootball, since it wilj compel divorce from tradition, and encourage tho iree indulgence of intelligent thought,

"What we are accustomed to" will give place to "what we think is the best thing to do."

Speaking of the prospects of the Welshmen against the all-conquering Macks, on December l(i, Hamisk Stuart says :—ln the case of Wales there is some reason for feßrtTViy the team will not fie up to the average Welsh standard, and may even [afl far. short of it. II the New. Z*aiun:h'rs had been here in a season in which Llewellyn. (Jane. Xicholla. and Morgan were the Welsh threes,

and Owen ami Jones were the Welsh halves, then, presuming! all s_ix tv' !be at their best, the Kew Zcalanders would assuredly be beaten. Bat tin* happily Wares is in a state of international transition, and the visit of the New Zealanders could hardly have been more happily timed from the colonial point of view,, or been less opportune, from the. Welsh standpoint. At the same tima I feel as-

sured that the colonials would rather have met Wales at her best, even if the mieiing meant their defeat, than Wales at her worst. Wales is to have the advantage of a trial ind events may show that the rather pessimistic, view 'of the prospects of the" principality which one has Ik'civ forced to take has ln-cn. wholly wrong. In !spito of retirements and so forth, a really representative Welsh side may be as good ! as the teams of recent years

Commenting on Hunter's (Taranaki) play after the match against Oxford, "Astral," in "The Morning Leader," says :—"Hunter was the most destructive medium of attack, and his modest personal scere was five tries. One-half of this little wonder's tricks have not teen told yet. The Oxford men "were simply paralysed by, his audacity. iTo the onlooker he seemed to prefer the most difficult path of progress, but he made light of wriggling- his way through tt crowd of 'opponents. He is a human #eJ, and would have model,.a wonderful contortionist, I should think. Two of his tries were. gamed in combination with iHoberts, the able, half-back, but the others were srfrer individual efforts of almost miraculous skill. Once he got the ball just as the scrum had broken up near |the Oxford: goal-posts, and he literally crashed"" his way through the crowd, finally bouncing head • : r heels .over a defending ' ack to register ai try. His final effort was thrt culminating point oi individual J skill, a: run I almost straight from the middle of the field to between the posts, a feat that was greeted with resounding cheers from a crowd 'chiefly composed of undergraduates, who for the most part sat dumbfounded, .and. if the truth be told, in a rather' resentful mood.

A ganv against the black magicians is a splendid cornrtive for th* 'disease rf swelled head, and when .hey leave these blessiil shores ot our« small hats ought to lie in the fashion. The. /New Zealanders have now scored 5-10 points to I.">. ut> average of Hli poin* s for every one we have registered. How 'they must love us whom they chasten !—"Astral," in.. "Tn. Morning Lender."

More perfit-t. r.e.d>inatian has rarely, if ever. Invn 5,..... and I doubt it it ever will Ik l . -.'.less by a firstclass touring feanii 'says Ihe "f)lrl Atjjletc." in thi> '• Uhletic News" after the Hlackheath match). The three<|iiarter line, which was left to do the scoring whenever possible, were, simply brilliant, and though Smith did not score once. 1 doubt if he did not <lo more than either of his colleagues, though this is a verj tall order. Above all their good points ns fuotlmll players the Xew /.ealanders possess the inestimable ipiality. of great pan-. It is their spied Unit enables them to press home an attack successfully, and it is also their sp.fd which enables them to retrieve a blunder that with ordinary sides would be fatal.—"Daily Telegraph." Till-; 11KALTI1 OF TIIK TKA.M. Writ ins on Xovemlier 2nd, the Wellington "I'ost" represents ivc with the ' X,.w Zealand learn said : "The teat]* are all in good i hen I 111 and spirits, but have been troubled a go'xl deal with "l|iiils." Glasgow had a bad hand, and Wallace got his leg intc poultices lor a few days. Tyler and Onllahcr had each n, 'sprained leg. but are now well. Abbott had his leg poisoned, but is about right. Casey and MTlonald l,iith sustained sore shoulders. Mcriregor. who has bevn very unfortunate since arriving in Rngland. first with a lone lingering, attack of in.Wnza. and then spraining his ankle thii.uirh! falling 'on i the hotel steps, is in "excellent trim ami improving ever., match. Maekrell will play this week, l.e r.Kf, having a rare crpc : -iJlr P'Min. the innnager, interviewe:l ..n '!•• '■'■••! ulti said the team -hower] re It ■<: .... ordi .1 that the numbers of the r>..-.oiiport-All>ic,n 'earn had a u.-.k's full holiday to ' prepare for tin! match ngainst Xew Zealand. Mr A. W. Uutlgu remarked to a "Siratfi.nl Post" lvp.-rter": "J'.very man i.f the t.'iai is behaving in a most exemplary manner, and they are 'irdced o credit to our colony. Thi it successes are 'proving about ihe biggest advertisement Xew /enland nw got) Letters about them appears in ejery Home' paper one ; picks up. ./#* t« tho '!?•<* Wlth

if they,are not stale. Fit and well, they could beat any team the. United Kingdom could put into a football field, in my opinion.'!

The sort of thing, that English footballers are inspired , with :—" In their record this season j there is nothing to suggest taa likelihood of lllackhcath holding their own with their opponents." This is from the London "Daily Telegraph" on the morning of the Rlnckhcuth match. The following is from the same

paper's accJoMint iof the , <ga>nu : "Realising that a sharp task was before them, the colonials put their host side into the field, i and it was quite obvious the men were tremendously keen fm\ doing thent'Jdves full justice. It may, there/ore, bo assumed What, the New Zealawlers were seen quite at their In'st, giving a display of skilful football that could hardly bo surpassed. In the matter of hard scrummaging and footwork tho lilackheath forwards compared favourably, but their heeling out was painfully slow, and 'bohind the scrummage the disparity between th» sides was most pronounced. With their froift rank heeling out smartly, the New Zealand bucks had many chances, and they mad* remarkable | use lof them. It may, indeed, be doubted whether any d.v fencc could have prevailed against such an exceptionally Ifinc attack. Welsh teams are justly held in high reputo on the Bcoro oi their skill in passing and general combination in attack, but at their best they have never exceeded the exhibition given by the New Zealanders. our visitors did not, however, content themselves with tho orthodox mothods of passing as" laid| down in tho Welsh gome ; they varied their plan of campaign by reverting to the stylo of back play in vogue in the eighties,; when more scope for individual abil-

ity was permitted than is ybhe case nowadays. Tho backs, or more particularly the five-eighths, often ran with a directness our players, who have a strangq tendency to airak'e for. touch instead of the goal line, might well take to heart ; and when tho moment came for a concerted movement the men raced awray at a great pace, passing with ajprecision that was paralysing. It has long been clear that club and county sides have no chance against the |New Zealanders, and on the form shown in last season's international encounters it may be doubted whether the representative fifteens will be able to hold their own.