Boots was seen as a consistent player with a superb positional sense who would tackle hard and smother the loose ball; his passing skill was strong as was his catching and dribbling.

[2] Boots was not a flair player but was a good 'spoiler' and could turn defence into attack, giving backs, such as Nicholls and Lloyd, a platform to run in tries.

Boots had an exceptionally long rugby career, in spite of being on his death bed in 1908 with acute pleurisy.

Boots had one of the longest careers in top-flight Welsh rugby, he joined Newport in 1895 and he played his last match for them in 1922.

Through pain Boots continued tackling during the first half but retired in the interval, but by then the damage was done and Wales dominated Ireland to win 18–0.