CRITICISM OF TEAM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27208, 27 November 1953, Page 5

CRITICISM OF TEAM

NEW ZEALAND CASE STATED ‘MISUNDERSTANDING OVSR REFEREES’ DECISIONS’ (Special Corres indent N.Z.P.A./ LONDON, November 25. The New Zealanders* point of view in the current argument over criticisms of the All Blacks is presented in the “Manchester Guardian” this morning by Larry Montague. He writes: “Nowhere in the world has New Zealand Rugby Union football been respected and admired more than in the British Isles, and it is therefore particularly sad when there appears, as now, to be serious misunderstandings between an All Black touring party and British referees, and between the All Blacks’ supporters and British Rugby reporters. “ft became obvious to your Rugby reporters, in conversation with the New Zealand manager and players, that the All Blacks frequently do not agree with or understand the application of the laws in Britain regarding such offences as illegal hooking, obstruction in the .line-out, and off side, and feel, in particular, that the freedom given to wing-forwards is unreasonable and prevents the visiting side from playing the kind of open, attacking football it would like to play. “There has been no lapse from the high standard of courtesy towards referees on the field, but it does seem clear that the visitors feel they are playing under an unfair handicap. “Frank Discussions” Urged

“This is a deplorable situation, and can be remedied only by frank discussion between officials and senior players of the touring, team and representatives of the referees’ committees of the Home Unions. “Experience in Britain in recent years suggests that in many cases the All Blacks may be right in feeling certain laws are not being enforced properly. “Which of us has not seen English referees watching almost complacently while the scrum half has to make half a dozen attempts to put the ball into the set scrum; while the loose maul becomes hopelessly entangled because players enter from all sides, including their opponents; while line-out after line-out collapses into a pointless maul because the tackled fjlayer will not release the ball or has t stolen from him by an opponent who has also no intention of releasing it? “The feeling towards British reporters is illustrated vividly by a letter accusing your reporters of *virulent criticism,’ and by a message from Wellington stating that Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, has advised New Zealand Rugby followers to ignore British press cHtlcism republished in New Zealand papers, which pointed out ‘dull, unenterprising play in the opening matches in Britain? “Too Much Expected” “It may well be that your reporters and other British writers have expected too much of the New Zealand team, because they remember earlier All Black sides. “New Zealand, to us, is the Rugby country of the world; a higher percentage of citizens talk and play Rugby in New Zealand than in any country in the world, including even Wales.” Montague deprecates the tactics of holding tho bail in tho scrum adopted by the

All Blacks as a counter to the quick breaking of English and Welsh forwards. These tactics merely allowed the defenders to edge up the field, ready to pounce on the All Blacks’ backs as soon as they got the ball, he says.