New-York tribune., 1905-12-18
ENGLISH RUGBY.
The Nesc-ZedJanders' 4mazing Sue
cess-FootbaU tn Famous Schools.
London. December 6.

London, December %.
The New-zealanders have witnessed the deca-
dence ypf Rugby football in England This has
been aresult almost as astonishing as the imag-
mary survey Of the ruins of London from the
piers OF Westminster Bridge. The .AlI Blacks"
having won three International contests and all
the games arranged for them in the United
Kingdom. have come TO be regarded as invinci-
BILE; and. while they have a hard fight before
them with the Welsh team and few additional
engagements with provincial fifteens it is now
generally expected that they will return to New
Zealand without having single defeat charged
against them Astonishment over their contin-
Uous record of successes was followed by sus-
picion that there something irregular or
unfair in their formation and method of play
otherwise, how could they have beaten Britons
and Celts at the ancient sport? The Romans
brought the Greek Harpastum to ancient Brit
ain, and ii was game more closely resembling
Rugby than association football since tbe hall
could be seized with the hands and carried by
the runner across the field: and with alternate
decline and revival of public interest it has been
played since the Shrove Tuesday festivities of
the Middle Ages. English sportsmen were as
reluctant TO believe that New-Zealanders could
teach them how TO play Rugby football as they
had been TO admit that Australians could beat
Them at cricket Naturally the colonial players
were closely watched; but when Englishmen
were convinced that their own teams were out
cIassed and fairly beaten they acted like true
sportsmen. They raised an outcry against an
umpire who Disseminated sharply against the
visitors and constantly interrupted the game
They insisted upon having fair play for the
New-Zealanders and ended with a touch of i'm
perial feeling by taking pride in their supremacy
the football field.
There are many explanations of the marked
success Of the New-Zealand players; but sys-
tematic training is not of them. They eat
drink and smoke as they please; no regimen is
prescribed for them respecting food bathing
exercise or sleeping; the only practice which
they have is in matches; and. as they are not
called upon to play more than twice week. they
are always rested and fresh when a contest
comes on. The men not overtrained; they
are merely expected to keep themselves in per-
feet health; and they not harassed by
dietary restrictions. When they are in the field
they receive few orders from the captain and
are left TO take the initiative themselves and to
support one another at every turn. The Ger
man regiments are sometimes described as
drilled so mechanically that 1t is impossible for
any soldier to think for himself or to do any
thing until he receives the word of command.
The New-Zealand players are like the Boer war
Tiors Ii their ability TO fight in their own way
and to follow up one another in twos and threes.
Every man thinks quickly and acts incisively
on the impulse Of the moment; and so intelligent
Is the anticipation OF what is likely to happen
that two three of the forwards are always
where they wanted. vigorous as may be the
punting Of the ball rapid the flight of the
runners. When the two packs are showing and
drfbbling together there may not be choice
between them, and when st to honest foot
work the best English Rugby teams hold their
ground we'll enough; but in the quickness with
which advantage is taken of every chance and in
the readiness with which forwards and backs
adapt themselves TO every situation and CO.
operate IN supporting one another in passing
bouts, forcing the pace and combining in contin-
uous attack the New-Zealanders are unrivalled
in the kingdom They never seem to play two
games in the same way, but are constantly vary
ing their tactics and displaying fresh resources.
It is the perfection of individual fitness and
combination work; and, while each man makes
full use of every opportunity, he is always ready
to sacrifice a chance for brilliant play if sup
porting movement offers surer promise of sue
cess
What the colonial players have succeeded in
demonstrating during their tour in the United
Kingdom is the fact that Rugby is not neces-
sarily a rough, scrimmaging game, with no
chance for clever maneuvres. individual
source, brilliant open work and concerted field
operations They have shown how much can
he made OF II. even on a wet day. at the Crystal
Palace grounds. when the greasy ball was
difficult 10 handle and the conditions were un-
favorable for quick pace and brilliant fielding.
There was nothing demoralizing about this
test with q representative English team,
II It opened with q New-Zealand war song
rounded out by a shril Shrek from Captain
Gsllaher's men. II was a one-sided struggle be-
tween two packs. one of which offered stubborn
resistance without planning single effective
counter assault while the other acted on the
principle that persistent. powerful attack is
the strongest possible defence and inevitably
wears out the most resourceful and gallant ad-
versaries. The New-ZeaIanders controlled the
bali in the densest press, set the English team
in motion by clever feinting in direction,
and left the backs free to find an opening in
the other quarter. Three tries were scored in
this way by the simplest strategy, and as many
more followed with fine bouts of passing and
some irresistible rushes. once only during the
ppotracted struggle was there elusive chance
OF a dangerous counter attack. and with the
exception of few short intervals the ball was
constantly in the English half OF the ground.
Ii the All Blacks did not sweep across the wet
feld with a terrific onrush. they bewildered
forwards and backs with unexpected ma
nxuvres and showed complete mastery of every
detail of the game After wonderful an ex-
hibition of dexterity and scientific work no
Spectator could affect surprise over their record
Of twenty-four consecutive victories. with 'o9
points against a beggarly D.
The colonial players without doubt have re-
yiyed public interest in the Rugby game when
it has peen abandoned at many of the pubic
schools as violent horseplay, unworthy of the
energies of well trained athletes At Winches-
Ter. the Oldest school, there is a form Of foot
ball which is played on a long, narrow strip OF
ground. bordered by netting at the sides There