NEW ZEALAND'S WING FORWARD.

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

NEW ZEALAND'S WING FORWARD.

A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL

The most talked-of- man on the New Zealand side after the match was D. Gallagher, the wing forward. The EngI lish experts are practically unanimous in condemning the wing forward system introduced with such effect by the visitors It is claimed that he is offside most of the time, and that his methods of obstructing the opposing half, are therefore unfair and illegal. The following comments from various sources will give a good idea of the English view of the winger. Says the "Sportsman'5 : —"As a matter of fact, he is not a forward, and is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He makes no pretence to do scrummage work, but claims tha privilege of a forward; Apparently his position has been invented to obstruct the opposing half, and the only thing that English clubs will hav-3 to do over here is to play 'diamond cut diamond,' and throw out from the scrummage a player to fulfil the same duties. But is this 'winging' football? We think not. And referees have tha rules to support .them in a constant application of the offside penalty. We can see trouble ahead when this 'winger' finds himself opposed to certain 'class' halves that we can call to mind. From Saturday we can only echo tha general comment on the stand—'Poor little Jago.' The plucky little Devon h&ljf was overawed by the strange tactics, and was practically non e&t as an attacking half for Devon." The "Times'" :—His position imperils his team under the off-side rule, and much trouble may be expected in future matches if his work is conducted on tho same lines as observed on Saturday." The "Daily Telegraph" :--"The most interesting and most watched person on the field naturally was Gallagher, tho 'wing' forward, and there can be no question that he had much to do with putting tho Devon team off their proper game . . . The extent to which a player may passively obstruct or prevent an opponent from getting at another player who is in the act of passing, withoit rendering himself liable to penalty must, of course, be a mattei for the referee's judgment, but it is a point that must come up for consideration. It occurred to us on Saturday that Gallagher sailed very near the wind on several occasions in that respect, and also in his observance of the on-sido rule."

"Daily Express" : "Enough was seen of his methods to convince the most latitudiaarian that the 'winger' is not a parson to be encouraged, but to be vigorously penalised, for he was offsido most of the game, and is almost amusing, so frank is his disregard for the rules as to passivo and active obstruction. Apart from the winger, there was little or nothing in the play of the Ne t v Zealanders to which the purist could take exception." Quaint comment by the "DaiJy Ex-

press: "He wears shin guards, and wari generally offside." Leonard Tosswill in the "Daily Mail" :—He never goes in tho scrum, though he sometimes puts the ball in, and as the 'winger' is the New Zealand captain, and the tallest man in the team, a small half has no chance of doing anything. Tho diminutive Jago was bowled over long before he could

get the ball away. . . . The re~ feroo was decidly lenient to Gallagher." Mr. Rowland Hill, in responding to tho toast of "The English Rugby Union," after the Devon match, said he was especially delighted to see the New Zealanders playing in England. He had been told by good judges that when they did play in England they would teach people here a good healthy lesson. Ho did not say that he was delighted "that the New Zealanders had swept the decks, but he was pleased that they hi&d won, because it would do English football a power of good. The Britisher was becoming a bit lazy in his games, and football was a thing that could not be properly plaj-ed by merely practising on a Saturday afternoon, without any attention to training and condition.