THE RUGBY GAME.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11954, 5 August 1904, Page 5

THE RUGBY GAME.

BRITISH CAPTAIN INTERVIEWED. (SPECIiL TO "TiTB TRESS.") WELLINGTON, August 4. The captain of the British team ivas interviewed to-day by a "Pirst"' repraentatiyo. -.After a little while, it v.n.s Mr Sivwright who way interviewing (!k* "Post" i\pnrKr. He suid he had heard that the New Zealand pack would averageabout 14>t. How -many men did New Zealand.play in the scrum? he asked. The reporter pointed out that there were seven scrummexs against Britain's eight, and the one winger, and two five-eighths "style, was adopted. "Does the wing play half?" was the English captain's next question. The reporter explained that wing and half were not one and the same, and asked Mr BedellSiv wright's opinion of tho system of allotting forwards fixed positions in the scrum. The answer was that, .in Australia, the method had proved slow, but he understood they played it better in New Zealand, and he could not yet express an opinion. He was quite satisfied with the way his men had shaped against Australian scrummers in tlio matter of securing the ball. "Was there any difficulty over there in getting the ball into the scrum?" "No" special difficulty." "Do you believe in strictly penalising for the raising of the foot before the ball is in the scrum?" "Yes," he thought, "this was absolutely necessary." Tlie question of what sort of form the New Zealand team would be in having cropped up, Mr Bedell-Sivwright was asked if ho considered it was an advantage to gather a team together some time in advance of a match for combined practice. "Yes, if it is possible," he answered, "that is the theory and the practice." Asked if he thought three or more test matches would be better than one, the English captain -said he did not mind how many tests were played. He had not had the arranging and had nothing to do with it. The proposed match in Sydney, the British team v. Australasia, would, he thought, be a very good thing. Sivwright is not quite -sure if ho will bo able to play in sthe Christohurch match, but ho will be oil right for the big game on tho 13th. All the members of the team bub one were sea-sick on "Hie voyage from Sydney, whioh was a very stormy one. Sivwright stated that his men would not l>e fully recovered for the Cbristchurch match, and as ho had heard their opponents were very good, they might lose the match. " But. y*ou do not anticipate a reverse?" he was asked. "No. ■he did not anticipate, but it might be so." Questioned as to differences of interpretation of rules, Mr Bedell-Sivwrinht said the main difference was as to a player taking a forward pass (a thrown-on) from one of his own side. Australian referees ruled it off-side (penalty, free kick). At Home tlie penalty imposed was for forward pas**! (scrum before off-side). The team had **onic practice in one of tho local gymnasiums this morning. When told that the ground at Christchurch would probably b-r- covered with 'now. Bush expressed satisfaction. The Britisliers appear to regard t-his as an ideal football climate. Tliere is one member of the team, Swannell, who wain Australia with Molyneeux's team. He considers the Australian Rugby was better than it is now. Tlie New Zealand team will train at Day's Bay. Good lodging* has boen secured there, and a gymmsium will prolwbly be fitted up. There we good out-door facilities. Duncan, the coach, will arrive on Sunday, after sceine Britain play at Christchurch. and will proceed to the Bay. Mr Fache has also no information a« to whether Porteous's injury will ho serious. If Wood i<*. not rio:ht before the end of the week he will bo replaced.