FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

INFLUENCE OF THE "ALL BLACKS.'! WAR TONES OT ADMIRATION Off THEIR DEEDS. (Fram Sydney Referee). In the following article by "W.L.5.," the noted scribe of Rugby on the ''Athletic News," recognition is given to the magnificent influence on the world's Rugby exerted by the great "All Blacks," the finest football team ever seen in the Old Country. As a we Australians are not New Zealanders, and are able to take an independent view, without being open to a charge of partiality—l have always regretted that the great majority of English, Welsh and Scottish writers, whose articles I had the pleasure of reading in 1905, magnified pin-pricks in the play of the New Zealanders, and minimised the magnificent qualities, individual and collective, the team reyealed from start to finish of their celebrated campaign, the fruits of which became such a rich grancry for the English Rugby Union. English Rugby, so many years at a standstill in'its developement, began to blossom into brilliance after the lessons from the "All Blacks" had sunk home, and when the war came as a pestilence over Europe, the .International team had regained the glories which had. been England's in the days when Lockwood, Stoddart, Wade and others of their standing in the game carried the colors of the Rose to victory. It would have been grand to have seen England more freely recognising the wonders of New Zealand Rugby, and leaving time and the New Zealand Union to eradicate any weeds which had been seen among the flowers of play a# expounded by that history-making combination. That the English Union, after a few years, had come round somewhat towards this view was apparent from the fact that a tardy invitation had been extended to New Zealand to organise another team to make the grand tour, and which would have been carried out by this time but for the war.

BEST TEAM EVER SEEN IN RUGBY. Talking of great Rugby teams, it is customary to give the palm to the "All Blacks," but on the form shown in Australia, there cannot be the least doubt that the most brilliant all-round team which ever worked off football pyrotechnics on a bewitched crowd was that which New Zealand sent to Australia in 1903. In the first-class matches of the tour they did not have their goalline crossed. They scored tries by combination moves which left the local players—and good men they were —hopelessly beaten in tactics, and delighted the crowds with successive meteoric flashes with every man as happy in the movement as though lie were a mere link in a living chain. However, here is what "W.L.S.' has to say, and that is what I set out to set before you, when I drifted off the track:— KINSMEN ACROSS THE SEA.

"I must confess to a very warm admiration for our sporting kinsmen of New Zealand. It may be it had been generated by family ties which forced me in a sense to take an interest in the Dominiqn; but, whatever the reason, personal regard iias long existed, and I do not suppose anyone, had a deeper appreciation of the greatest of all Rugby football combinations—that sent here in 1905 and commanded by D. Gallagher. "Never mind what 'may be argued to the contrary, that organisation, one member of which, George Smith, is still scoring tries for Oldham in Northern Union football —despite his two score years i?nd three —had everything to do with the successful development of our great amateur game. The men showed us the real possibilities of the sport, and though this, that, and the next fault may have been urged against them the 'concrete fact remained that they were glorious exponents of football. With their coming synchronised an advance in the standard and the popularity of the British game. George Smith's try at Edinburgh; the point obtained against the 'All Blacks' by Dr. Morgan at Cardiff—are these scores likely to be forgotten so long as they live by the people who beheld them both? I think not.

LIKE A BRITON IN GREATER FRAY. But in the Greater Fray the New Zealand athlete has borne himself like a Briton. The other day I had the necessity to proceed to Birmingham for the purpose of greeting a near relative who, after hard fighting in the Dardanelles from the first landing of the expedition oil the Peninsula, had been sent Home. There had been a doubt as to Ms destination, but liis glee was great, and helped to reduce the effects of physical suffering, when he knew he was to behold for the first time the Land of his Fathers. The young trooper from Otago had earned the privilege, as I suppose some will regard it, though, bearing in mind what these gallant New Zealanders and Australians have gone through, the 'privilege* is surely a right. They have done well, and such of them as are left of the original Expedition—alas! they are all too few—should be honored, as must the memory of their dead, by'every Englishman. "1 could repeat the stories I heard at Highbury' of many a brave deed; but there is not the necessity. These NewZealand lads who are regaining strength 1 and fresh vitality there would probably not thank nio for my pains. They merely reckon they have done their bit. They may not have proved the well-drilled battalions such as were sent from this country; their discipline may not have been as it is understood in our Home Forces, but their bravery has been tremendous. The old fighting blood of the Celtic races demonstrated itself in many a valiant charge, and the men are proud of the fact.

"'Let us at them!'—that was the slogan of every Great-Heart among them.

"One thing struck me at historic Highbury. Can my readers imagine the afternoon's occupation of these convalescents? Such of them as were able to do so were busy with sports of different descriptions, and the day was to finish with a football match. I wish I bad had time to witness it. "That was the Briton to the core. He will have his sport, and no sooner is lie able, after having been rendered hors de combat—in the sense of the words —than he must needs hasten to kickabout. Heaven forbid that the plucky follows should tint have their hearts' desire!

"Among the hundred were men from many parts of the Umpire; yet so far as I could make out, they were ail keen on sport, and it was a pleasure to talk again of the Rugby football of New Zealand. It was flourishing gloriously when the war broljc out, and there had been keenness either to send Home a team or to welcome a British side. 'But, for goodness sake, not a team like the last one. They did not give proof of the developement of the game among you,' quoth mv youmr relative"