THE RUGBY CODE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 185, 19 May 1938, Page 2

THE RUGBY CODE

THE GAME IN AUSTRALIA.

SCRUMMAGE FORMATION.

(By “Onlooker.”)

Prejudice and custom die hard. On the last practice day of the Rugby Union teams two packs of forwards mot on neutral ground. One used the 3-4-1 formation and the other the 8-2-3. A first grade player waiting to take his place in a team in the second half had his attention directed to the two formations. “Yes,” he said, “the 3-2-3 is the only correct game.”

Such a bald .statement serves to illustrate the unyielding prejudice of the present-day footballer, who is satisfied with things as they are, writes ‘Dunedin” in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” When A. C. (Johnny) Wallace took over the coaching of the New Sold j, Wales team last year, before Hie Springbok matches, he had fifteen players who for seasons had played under the amended rules'. Yet so well did he mould his team that New South Wales beat the South Africans. In the following games, the Springnoks replied m kind, but it was apparent that the New South Wales and Australian teams were playing a. better type of football hitherto unknown and unseen on Australian grounds.

From those experiences valuable lessons can he learned, and, while it would bo. unwise to copy either Ibe New Zealand or the South African style of football, the outstanding features of their games can he moulded to Australian requirements. 3-4-1 Scrum. The 3-4-1 scrum has proved to be the finest formation introduced into Rugby, and though it has intricacies not yet mastered by Australian players, practice and perseverence would bring confidence and ability. This can be attained by instructing club coaches to adopt the formation, the coaches to study the style if it is unknown to them.

In Australian Rugby, the back line stands in a sloping formation, each player being behind the man closer to the scrum. New Zealand has always played' with a straight line of hacks, and, in spite of other countries using the sloping line, has seen no reason to change the traditional All Black method. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that the New Zealand line is effective, and, if so, why should it not be tried in Australian football? There are players capable of beating New Zealand at its own game, especially with backs of the speed and calibre of Richards, Rankin, Kelaher, O’Brien, Collins and others.

England, South Africa, and New Zealand believe in straight running. Australians still adhere to the crosscountry method and there is the spectacle of backs careering diagonally across the field, sometimes to such an extent that the winger is forced to within a few.feet of the touchline before be receives the ball. Prejudice should not prevent Australian players from discarding this cumbersome movement. Three-quarters should speedily learn that straight running is the quickest way to the goal-line and that by straight running the forwards will be saved a. vast amount of useless trading after a distant ball.

Loose Forward Problem. The problem of the loose forward requires immediate attention. He is a spoiler; he does not give his whole weight to the scrum or the ruck; he is frequently in the road of his backs; lie is losing his ability as a hard-working forward and throwing too much weight on the shoulders of his true forward team-mates.

If the international rules are adopted for the All Black games the loose fo • ward will be a hindrance rather than a help. New Zealand will send a team which will include eight forwards or the old All Black standard. Every man will give his whole attention to scientific forward play, where every ounce counts and there are no beg pardons In scrums, line-outs and rucks the All Blacks will pack a hefty, forward formation, so that it will be necessary for every Australian or New South Wales forward to give his whole attention to the pack. There will be no room for the rover or the scampering halfforward half-back, and the sooner this is realised the better it will be for Australian football.

Lastly, is the reversion to international rules so drastic? Australia is the only country still playing under the amended rules. It is strange to reflect that South Africa, the youngest Rugbv-playing country, lias never departed from the orthodox and was yet able to defeat the finest teams, in the world in England, Australia and New Zealand. Football on Sunday. If a majority of players are in favour, Australian rules competition football will be played on Sundays this season in Sydney. The Australian National Football League last week discussed the motion by Mr J. McKeown (Sydney Club) that two competition matches be played on Saturday and one on Sunday. It was decided to ask the clubs to ascertain the views of players and to report back to the League by April 4. Last week’s meeting was practically unanimously in favour of the scheme. “The trend to-day is toward Sunday sport,” said Mr .McKeown. “Rugby League matches and cycling meetings held oil Sunday attract large attendances.” “Kensington Oval which did not pay last year, could ho used for the junior competition, and our finances would be bettered fcv two games on the more popular ground on Saturday, plus a Sunday match on one of them.” t