ENGLISH PRESS OPINIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12641, 31 October 1905, Page 2

ENGLISH PRESS OPINIONS.

HIGH PRAISE FOR THE VICTORS. " Devon Snowed Under."—" Devon Exprces." The visitors played as a perfeot -piece of machinery.—" Exeter Express." From stanb to finish the Englishmen were outclassed at every point, and so unequal were the sides that no ecwe •would proportionately set out the overwhelming superiority possessed by tlhe New Ze'ajLanders in pace and skill. A high reputation 'had preceded tihem, but no one expected them literally to overrun Devon, wircee players hold a strong position amiong the English counties. — "London Times."

The New Zealand ibacks are so fast, clever, and resolute in their running that every man must be regarded as a dangerous scorer —with Wallace as the •most )fco be watched —is indisputable. The forwards packed like Welshmen, and in the loose and the " line-out" were quite up to tho Irish standard. —"Daily Mail."

Apart from the "winger" system, we have only praise to sing of the New Zeal'andera outside the scrummage. Their legitimate half-backs did superb ■work in fielding <the hall, in passing, and ■running. There was no finality to the resource of the three-quarters, either in ■attack or defence. Stead and Hunter were very great, but the 'ouifcside right wing was a revelation in the matter of passing and pace. We .refer to G. Wallace, who, besides his wealth in all these laooomplishmente, is a great plaoe-kick. Now and again the men were a little nervous in their movements, but the general impression was that they possess ■all the elements that spell greatness, and their pace and their splendid quickness on the 'ball and in knowing the right thing to do, and in doing it quickly, will, we fear, be the undoing of the bulk of the olu'bs which they meet. — " London Sportsman."' Everyone was impressed by their fine physique. They are heavy, powerful men, and their back division is the fastest I have ever seen. From the beginning they were iresistible. Their dash and fire reminded one*of the best Irish teams, while their in-and-out passing and backing up of one another was in the best Welsh style. Take them all round, they are a very fine teani.— Leonard Tosswill, in the "Daily Mail."

The colonials were great experts in the art of feinting, and constantly baffled the Devonians, who hesitated to go for their men. At the lines-out when tackled tha visitors immediately dropped the ball and started a rush. Nothing stopped the progress of these wonderful players, and never before in Devon has such a remarkable all-round exhibition of Rugby football been witnessed. Without possessing all the beautiful features of the best Welsh football, in every phase of the game they showed great skill, and when the ball got loose they comfortably outmanoeuvred and out-paced the Dumplings.—"Western Morning News." There can be no doubt that the best of the Welsh sides will have to go all the way if they are to cope successfully with the New Zealanders.—"Western Morning News."