SOUTH AFRICA UNEASY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21865, 19 August 1936, Page 15

SOUTH AFRICA UNEASY

POTENTIALITIES OF N.Z. SCRUM EXPERIMENTS WITH EXTRA BACK URGED « . REMEDY IN “STEAM-ROLLER” FORWARDS Behind the writings of leading Rugby critics in South Africa can be seen a lurking fear that New Zealand may have something «P u ® sleeve” for the Springbok team wmcn will tour New Zealand next season. Although South Africans stoutly maintain that their 3-4-1 scrum formation Is unbeatable, they obviously ,have a great respect for New Zealand s traditional 2-3-2 line-up and are uneasy regarding the possible consequences ox the Dominion reverting to it lor next year’s matches. They admit that it is fjossible for seven men to hold eight n a scrum - and gain the advantage ox an extra man in the backs, and suggestions are finding favour that South Africa should experiment with a seven-man scrum "just in ease.” However, South Africans know that it will be very difficult for seven New Zealand forwards to hold eight such giants as South Africa is likely to field. That, no doubt, is the thought behind an article in the “Outspan, Johannesburg, by Geoff Gray, a famous Sprinabok three-quarters, which has tn. significant beading: “We Must Send Steam-Roller Forwards to New Zealand.” South Africa, he says, is fortunate in having so many players endowed with fine physique. Forward Play Improved Gray says it is generally held that South African forward play has improved since the Springboks’ tour of Great Britain in 1931-32, while the back play has not progressed. Actually, he thinks, back play deteriorated until last year, when some young players of great promise came to the fore. With the experience they are now gaining Gray thinks they will reStore South Africa’s reputation for three-quarters play to its former high position. “But the best backs >in the world can do little unless their forwards give them the ball, and more important still, give it to them quickly and at the right time," he continues. “The foundations of any victory must be laid at forward, where the ball must be secured m the tight scrums and got beck quickly in the loose. “I expect to see many giants in the 1937 pack, I have read that the day of the heavy forward Is Over and that wo must build up a pack of light, fast forwards of the ’terrier’ type- 1 cannot agree entirely with this and base my opinion on the success of the 1931 pack in Great Irttain, Weighty Packs "Fame Louw bad the misfortune to get cracked during the Leicestershire match and did not play again, so was not considered for the International games. In these games Phil Mostert, Bert Kipling, and Boy Louw comprised the front row, with Ferdie Bergh and Philip Net as - locks. Once these five forwards got down in the serum with adequate support from the flank forwards and from No. 8 nothing could move them and they could out-scrum all opposition in all sorts of weather, forwards were lively and at the back we had Andre McDonald, who revelled and excelled in that position.

-♦’Admittedly all the forwards. In spite of their size, were fast, but they were definitely a steam-roller pack, and I cannot sec any pack of terrier forwards holding their own and lasting a full game against them. For these reasons I strongly advocate a pack picKed on similar lines as far as possible, with the proviso that in the absence of another McDonald that the anchor forward, packing at the back of oie scrum, should also be a powerfully built player who will give hli full weight to the scrum and not be too much of the breakaway, tearaway type. “A pack on these lines—and the material definitely is available—should take a lot of beating. The only real disadvantage to a heavy pack is in wet weather when weight in the scrums is of no avail owing to the forwards not being able to obtain a foothold in the mud. On a tour, however, the pack will be picked according to conditions, and one of two fast and lighter forwards included if necessary.” Gray expresses surprise that England, New Zealand, and South Africa have not before now standardised the scrum formation. He says that every ether country has found it necessary to adopt the 3-4-1 scrum formation, and naturally the originators of the formation have the advantage of experience in using it. Problem foe the Invaders A problem, however, will be set the 1937 side it New Zealand plays seven rorwaras only, wiui the additionalrover forward acting as an extra back, if New Zealand is able to get possession of the bail, continues Gray. The extra man in the back line would give New Zealand an automatic overlap which in the course of a whole game might® prove disastrous for South Africa. New Zealanders still hanker after their seven-forward formation, lie says, and seven men have been known to hold eight. “If the seven forwards can last out the game and give their backs reasonable opportunities, the counter would geem to be ■to play them at their own game, with an extra back. This might have an upsetting effect without considerable practice, and it might be a good thing to adopt the suggestion recently made in the Cape, Town press that this form of play should be experimented With, “It is not likely to be done in club Rugby, as there is no necessity to experiment in this manner, but I am sure that the powers that be have given thought to these possibilities. One player may be included in the team who will be able to play a ‘roving-for-ward-cum-back’ game. The 1981 Springboks managed to combat these difficulties and in the same way I expect the 1937 team will find a counter move.”