FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 July 1907, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

I THE "ALL BLACK'S" VICTORY, I'RESS OPINIONS. Sydney, July 22. jUo Herald says: "The conclusion l's forced upon us that, although Wednesday s victory stands as a monument, yet ui every department of the game the Blacks are superior to our men. Their kicking is better; tlieir passing is bettheir tactics are better. On Saturday's form it is practically certain that we cannot bring a team in'to beat tlioni. Iho combination among the backs was possibly the finest ever shown by a New Zealand team. So good were all'of them that none can be picked for special mention."

The Telegraph slates: ''The All Blaek backs were a wonderful piece of machinery, of which apparently Mitchinson held the key." (iillett will not be able to play again during the tour. Nicholson has joined the team. PROPOSED CHANGE OF PROgrammtl Received 23rd, 1.3 a.m. Sydney, July 22. The Council of the Kngby l'nioo tonight agreed, in the event of Australia losing the second test match against the New Ze-i.lariders, that the third teit be abandoned, anil a match against New Smith Wales substituted. THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM. NEW ZEAtiXD UNION'S ATTITUDE.

HONOII OF PLAYERS TRUSTED. Per Press Assotiation. Wellington, July 22. Olliciuls ol' the New demand Rugby Union, questioned as to the list of members of the professional team published on Saturday, said a different list was also in circulation containing twenty-live names, and having three additional Auckland men. and one Taranaki player, these, ill' A. 11. Baskvillc, secretary to tlie team, denied to be going with the team.

The Uniuu considers that Mr E. Wylie would not have stated ill Sydney tliai the nii'ii had not joined the professionals tut.ess they hud given him their word. The Union declines to believe that eight or nine would have signed the declaration with the intention of breaking it. It is not intended to take any action at present, the Union preferring to trust in the honor of the players.

'•.Sphere" writes:—Your explanation —or whatever you like to call it—of the '•reversal of form" in the two last football matches in Australia is amusing to those who understand the gante in the slightest. In my opinion the imuter is easy of explanation, in the fi rs t. place, the "All Blacks," Hushed with the easy victory of the previous Saturday, put a muoh inferior team in the field on Wednesday, and paid the penalty—an overwhelming defeat. On Saturday lust the "All Blacks' reverted practically to the team of the previous Saturday, wnile the Australian team was actually weakened by the inclusion of several "Queensland melt, which necessitated the breaking iijt of the wonderful combination of the New South Wale's team, for the sole purpose of calling a team "Australia." I am of an entirely diil'crent opinion to those who, when they lose half-a----croM-n on a football mateli'.begin to howl and make excuses for the beaten team. I also regret to say that, from experience, colonials are not the best losers in the areua of sport, to wit, when Wales defeated the ''All Blacks" fairly and squarely how ungraciously it was taken by all but the players themselves, who surely must be in a better position to know than either Auckland or Taranaki "sports." : •

(It is hardly correct l'ut* our correspondent to say that the team was Hushed with the easy victory of the pre vious Saturday, as from the accounts of the match our boys had to stretch themselves to win and had much the better of the luck. On paper, there was little to choose between the merits of the teams of Saturday and Wednesday. Colonials can take a beating just as well as anyone else, the Old Country person included, and as for tiie Wales match, the critics who were present almost unanimously held that New Zealand scored and that the match shoulu have been a draw.)