The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

WALLABY PLAYERS
SIZED UP BY
EXPERTS
British Critics Discuss Ability
of Team Soon to Visit
San Francisco
By William UHmack

With the visit of the Australian Wal
labies' Rugby team less than two
weeks off interest in the games is as
Stunning large proportions Outside of
the few persons here who have closely
followed the doings of the WalIabies
IN England the local public knows little
or the men outside of the fact that
they are one Of the finest sets of play
ers VINO have ever demonstrated the
Rugby code.
Many British authorities are OF the
opinion that the team is not quite the
equal OF the famous All Blacks or the
South African team that last year VS.
tied England. Again other critics are
or the opinion that the Wallabies do
not seem to exert themselves in the
same degree to make record scores as
ala the All Blacks, and with this excep-
ton the team is the equal of the ia
nous New Zealanders.
One point the English critics make
on the team is that they do not play
a regular wing forward. They pack
tine serum 3-2-3-1. the last man doing
duty as a wfnger, but he is in no sense
q wing forward as Gallagher of the,
All Blacks was.
There are two halfbacks. the outside
one being called the five eighth. and one
OF the four three quarters, occasion
ally plays close up to this five eighth.
All three quarters are said to be ex-
tremely fast men. Mandible the mar
yelous center three quarter, and Bede-
Smith are described as being power
full runners, keen opportunists and
swift and sure tacklers." As com
bined forward team they have received
unstinted praise for their capital fol-
lowing up and superb pace"
A few remarks on the ability of the
different players taken from British
authorities will at this time prove of
intense interest to local followers of
the game.
P. CARMICHAEL,
Tho first fullhock NJ tho faann 10 copoaiad NV
every authority in England to be the finest
player III this position that has ever been seen
goal kicking and has kicked T5 per cent of the
goals essayed.
The reserve fullback also plays a fine game at
tackler.
C. RUSSELL,
Wing three quarter, is, with Carroll the fastest
pair of wings the team. He is. a hard man
TO top and sure scorer.
E. PARKINSON
Is reserve wing three-quarter OF exceptional
ability. but not quite as speedy as Russell.
H. DAILY
Is good all around three-q quarter.
BEDE-sMITH AND E. MANDIBLE
Are the two mainstays at center three-quarter.
J. HICKEY
Is well thought of as three-quarter and has
had big share in the victories of his team.
A. ]. McCABE
Is splendid attacking player, fast and a par
ticulariy clever runner.
D. B. CARROLL,
The finest wing three-quarter on the team. is
possessed of an unusual burst Of speed and is
dangerous at all times.
C. H. McKIvAT,
Originally in the first games Of the tour. played
the inside half fiye-eighths position. but dur
ing the latter games played serum half. He is
very quick snappy player behind the pack and
has done more than any of the other halves to
open up the game for his scoring line
WARD PRENTICE,
Reserve inside fiye-efghths plays a good game
and is very quick getting away.
F. WOOD,
Vice captain and serum half, is small man. but
marvellous halfback and one equal 10 every &C.
casion.
J. STEVENSON
Reserve halfback, wroks the serum well and is a
DR.. MORAN
Captain, is the most brilliant forward on the
team. BE is man Of strong personality, an
able leader and marvellous player under all con-
ditions.
The London Daily Mail man refers to the
Queensland player, T. Richards, as follows On
oil sides r. Richards of the Wallaby pack Is
them. Bar perhaps Captain Moran, he is the
most brilliant forward in all the team. He
shows up more than his skipper. but the latter
equalizes that by doing tremendous lot Of
taekling and rush stopping, which frequently
passes unnoticed. Richards is tremendously fast
and the pace ut which he follows up Is phe
nomenal. / do not remember forward who has
ever got there so quickly Richards. He
handles beautifully, too and. thanks to his pace
is often fifth three-quarter in attack"
S. A. MIDDLETON.
A hard working forward is good on the defense
and a sure and hard tackler.
T. GRIFFIN
or GIebe fine all around forward, is good In
serum and follows up quickly.
E. MCINTYRE
Is a good dribbler aud particularly effective
worker on the line out.
C. A. HAMMOND
Is one of the fastest forwards in the pack and
a good dribbler.
NJ. MACARTHUR,
A hard working forward, does not exactly show
PACIFIC OCEAN TRAVEL