ENGLISH RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 11

ENGLISH RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SOME STANDARDS OF COMPARISON. ALL BLACKS' PROSPECTS. (SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR "THE PRESS. ') By A. J. Hakrop, M.A. Cambridge University, December 12. Xext season's visit of the All Blacks to England is already the subject of considerable conjecture in this country, ana I have endeavoured by watching closely the form of the best teams to estimate the possibility of the All Blacks achieving- a record worthy of their illustrious predecessors. By wav of introduction, however, it may be as well to explain a. few of the usages of English Rugby which are' different from those in vogue in New Zealand. To begin with, there is the obvious difference 'in the formation of the scrum. The great majority of English teams play the 3-2-3 formation, which excited so much interest in New Zealand during recent visits of the South African and New South Wales teams. One or two sides, Leicester, for example, play the 2-3-2 formation, and five three-quarters. The wing-forward, as an acknowledged member of the team, is not known here, but his activities are carried out by one or two forwards who place a tentative arm around their comrade's, but whose real function is to harass the iuside backs of their opponents. There will probably be the same old controversy about the wing-forward as there was in 1905, but I have seen no English. team yet which has not contained at least two real wing-forwards, whose chief mission is to smother back movements in their infancy. It ■is a fallacy'to believe that a 3-2-3 formation involves comparative freedom for the scrumhalf. Whether this formation is bettor than our own can scarcely be determined finally, for the obvious reason that each formation demands special training, and can only be tested by experiments with the same set of forwards under identical conditions. I am inclined to think, however, that, the present ISfew Zealand formation would prove more effective against English sides than the 3-2-3 formation, for the reason that the New' Zealand hooking will probably be, better, while a fast wing-forward will be of great assistance in helping the backs to cope with their clever opponents. The next point of difference to notice is a corollary to the first. There being no confessed wing-forward, the English scrum-half puts tho ball in the scrum, and then hops back to the base of the scrum in order to secure it if it is hooked. Fortunately for him, the ball is scarcely ever hooked absolutely cleanly, and ho generally arrives in time to get it. Occasionally, however, I have seen the half a second or two late for tho ball. Another noticeable point is that, when a half has put the ball in the scrum, he often remains at the side ready to pounce upon the opposing half when the ball comes out to him. Naturally this occurs when his side is being consistently beaten for the ball, and on such occasions the scrum-half corresponds exactly to our wing-forward. • The noticeable feature of English scrumming is the difficulty ■of getting the ball into tho scrum. Often the opposing halves have three or four turns each before the ball is put in. This must.be due to-the three men in each front rank, as I have' never ■observed any corresponding difficulty in New Zealand. Behind the scrum there is also a difference between the formations, although it is not nearly so vital as in the forwards. The English formation consists of scrum-half, stand-off half, four three-quarters, and full-back. This involves a. partnership between the left centre and his wing, and the right centre with his,' which is possibly an advantage in combination, but I do not think that there is much to choose between the formations.

One or two minor points of usage may now be considered. Tlie New Zealand rule that the ball must be thrown out five yards in the lineout is" not in force here, and the more one sees of the working of the English rule the more one appreciates the change made in New Zealand. The All Blacks will, of course,- have to adapt themselves to the old conditions. The old, old device of a man suddenly running in to receive the ball is frequently used here and there is no five-yards line to worry about. Penalty kicks are less common than in New Zealand, and it seems to be the practice to award a scrum for a pass forward to a player waiting offside. The advantage rule is not very consistently applied, but it is, of course, never safe to wait for the whistle even for the most obvious knock-on. The standard of refereeing is certainly no higher than in New Zealand, if indeed, it is as high. The practice of taking marks is much less freely indulged in than in New Zealand, and very often a player, even wheu in an awkward position, does not claim a mark from a fair catch. English players exploit the possibilities of the goal from the field more, I think, than is the case in New Zealand. The standard of place- j kicking is high. The New Zealand innovation penalising a side for kicking out on the full from outside its own twenty-five is not in force here, and the All Black forwards will probably appreciate the return to the old rule. I must say that the English game is quite as open as that in New Zealand in spite of the lack of the rule mentioned, although I do not venture to say that if could -not-be more so if the rule were in . force. One interesting point about English football is thnt the sides do not leave the field at half-time. In ordinary games there is an extraordinary amount of talk among the plnyers on each side, but this is apparently done away with in big matches. In order to estimate the prospects of the All Blacks, I propose to take the fixture between Oxford and Cambridge played at Twickenham yesterday (December 11th), as.a standard of comparison. This wonderful contest was witnessed by the King and a huge concourse of over 30,000 people. The large attendance is particularly significant in view of the fact that the match was played on a Tuesday and that Twickenham is half an hour's railway journey from London. As a matter of fact Rugby is experiencing a boom in England at present, and this is especially gratifying in view of the All Blacks' visit next year. The composition of the Oxford and Cambridge teams is of particular interest. Seven Rhodes scholars were selected in the Oxford team—two Australians, four four South Africans, and one American. One of the South Africans was unable to play. T. Lawton, the Australian, will be well remembered in New Zealand for his great football. The great strength or Oxford's backs is .shown by the fact that neither R. L. Raymond nor G. G. Aitken. was included in the side Raymond, whosa play for. Sydney, TJni-

versity and New South Wales entitled him to be regarded as one of the best centres seen in New Zealand,- apparently did not strike form. ■ He was given a trial on the wing and in the forwards, but not as centre. The only player from outside Britain in the Cambridge team was R. H. Lowry (New Zealand). As several members of each team are picked for the English International trial,' and some are almost sure to represent England, the form and tactics shown- give a fair idea of the strength of English Rugby. Oxford have not • been beaten in their thirteen engagements of the season, against some of the best sides in England, while Cambridge's fine display against them added to the reputation" of practically every member of the team. In broad outline the match was a struggle between one side with brilliant backs and ordinary forwards, and another with ordinary backs and brilliani; forwards. That the former (Oxford)" prevailed was due to the fact that for a short period in the second haif their ordinary' forwards managed to check their opponents'for sufficient time to give the genius of Lawton at standoff half opportunity to assert itself. Macpherson, the Oxford captain and Scottish International, who is sure to be opposed to the All Blacks next season, is a strong determined runner. He spoiled a good display by trying to cut in too much —a fairly common fault with English backs. H. P. Jacob, the Oxford cerftre, who is regarded as a certainty' for an English International I cap this season, did solid work, but was not brilliant. Lawton's play has alreadv been commented on, and it is improbable that he will be opposed to the All Blacks next year, as he has already completed three years at Oxford. None of the Oxford forwards need cause the All Black forwards much anxiety. Tn th-3 Cambridge team, the captain, R. H. Hamilton-Wickes, wing threequarter, added to the reputation he acquired last year, when he scored three tries. This year he scored one of the most marvellous tries in the history of the 'Varsity encounters, and one which makes his place in the English International side almost a certainty. At the end of a Cambridge passing rush Ham-ilton-Wickes found that he was certain to be brought down if he continued towards the corner. Accordingly he turned infield and commenced a run which soon had the vast crowd almost hvsterieal with excitement. He sidestepped man after man —nearly half the Oxford side—and eventually crossed the line not a great distance from the corner opposite to that which he had originally started for. The crowd applauded for fully a minute. This was no isolated sprint, for HamiltonWickes had been doing similar things throughout the season. He is (very fast, and the All Blacks will need to watch him closely. He is, in addition, a remarkablv clever exponent of the centring kick by which he initiated two Cambridge tries. This art was exploited bv the Springboks to a certain extent * but the Cambridge captain is th? best man I have seen in this department. ... , The only other Cambridge back like J j to figure in the Intel-nationals is A. T Young, the scrum-half, who is i think, superior to any of the New Zealand halves. He is exceedingly clevet in feeding his outsides, and makes occasional sorties of his own winch upset his opponents' calculations, llic Cambridge forwards are a fine set, and one or two of them will probably gain International honours. I do not thiiiK, however, that anv of them would be cood enough for the All Blacks, although W E. Tucker, the unofficial wing forward, might gain a place in that capacity. . Passing from the consideration or some of the men whose names will probably figure in the titles of the All Blacks' tour, to a discussion of the general prospects of the All Blacks, 1 may say that I think the New Zealand cha'nees are excellent. The English backs will be very fast and resourceful and they mav bo slightly superior to the All' Blacks. The balance will be more than redressed, in my opinion, in the forwards. Though the University match would tend to prove that the backs are the determining feature, I think that the New Zealand combination, improved by constant practice and matches together, will prove equal to the occasion. The English backs start passing anywhere—right on their own line frenuently, and they are adepts in turning defence into attack. Their passing is accurate and they exploit the blind side and the centre kick with great ability. The English forwards are especially good in dribi bling, and in this respect-aloael think

they are superior to the New Zealnndevs', although the latter will have to fight hard all the time, ospeeiauV in the loose. The All Blacks have a great tradition to maintain, and, especially in Wales, they will have strenuous contests against opponents of great ability, but the prospects, are good, although it is generally understood that English Rugby has improved generally since, and partly because of. the last visit of the. All Blacks. ' ■•