CRITICISM OF LINE-OUT PLAY SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO SPRINGBOKS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 3

CRITICISM OF LINE-OUT PLAY SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO SPRINGBOKS

■Hf the early games of the Springboks’ 1 in the North Island, much criticism was levelled at their tactics in Une-outs. These consist mainly of obstructions to allow a leading linenut forward, J. A. J. Pickard, every latitude to make a clean take and to Poteet the half-backs from quickfreaking forwards. These criticisms may be well justified, but they are equally applicable to club, provincial and test Rugby in New Zealand. Any observant Rugby spectator can see for himseit that New Zealand has little to learn from the Springboks in these line-out tactics; it mav well be that only the rbysique and presence of a player nich as Pickard in a visiting team has provoked the present lively discussion. r Today two photographs of South African forwards in action are printed The top one was taken during the Waikato match, the lower one when (he Springboks played Auckland. The situation shown in the bottom photograph has prompted a corespondent “Senex Magister” to make jome rather forthright comments. “This photograph is proof positive of the all too common illegal line-out play seen today." he says “The player partly obscured by Pickard is offending by obstruction and, in addition, will be off-side as soon as Pickard touches the ball. This player may have been penalised on this occasion, but then Pickard makes a practice •of these forties. Presumably Dr. Craven and hi& beys condone them. The referee for this match apparently does too, since the Springboks were certainly not penalised every time thts situation occurred. And this is the form of Rugby that we, the coaches of schoolboy enthusiasts, are supposed to encourage our youngsters to witness and imitate” he says. What “Senex Magister” writes is quite correct. In the bottom photograph Pickard can be seen in typical fine-out pose, while the player partly obscured by him. restrains the Auckland forwards from bursting through by backing into them and spreading his arms wide. The Springbok in the front of the line-out is also obviously getting into position to prevent any approach by Auckland forwards. The ton photograph is an even more dear illustration of obstructionist play.' Here. Pickard can be seen tapping the ball back to T. A. Gentles while he and other Snringbok forwards are binding by holding jerseys to stop J. H. Mauger and other Waikato for-, wards from penetrating. The laws of Rugby specifically ban the tactics shown in each photogranh. In the top photograph Pickard and the other Springboks are offending under Law 20 (obstruction). In the bottom photograph the player partly obscured by Pickard is offending under Law 18 (off-side).

When Mr C. R. McCallum, instructor io the Canterbury Referees’ Association was asked to comment on the bottom photograph, he produced an amendment to Law 27 (touch) recently received from the International Rugby Board. It states: “When the ball has

been passed or knocked back from a line-out. the line-out is over. Players in front of a player of their own team who receive the ball from the lineout may be off-side, but they should not be penalised under Law 18 (1 c), but only if (a) or (b) of this law applies ” Law 18 (c) says that if a player moves in front of another player across a line at right angles to the touchline before the ball has touched a player or the ground, he is off-side This applies in the bottom photograph. Law 18 (b) says tha + a player is offside if “while the ball is in the scrum mage. he. not being in the scrummage, remain with either foot in front of the ball. This law also then applies under the new amendment and the player in front of Pickard should have been penalised for off-side and for obstruction. Another lively point of discussion

arising from Pickard’s jumping methods is the legality of the running leap into the line-out. The answer, according to Mr McCallum and another official of the referees’ association, is that provided several conditions are observed, the running jump is legal. The New Zealand Referees’ Association’s official handbook also upholds this. Under the “touch” law, as summarised with other laws and infringements, is the following: “A player must not stand back and charge into an opponent in the lineout when the ball is being thrown in. This does not debar a player from running up and taking the ball if there is a gap, but he must not run into an opponent in doing so.” Pickard, in jumping, complies with this ruling, but it is apparent that to allow him to comply, another forward is detailed to see that there is no opposing forward that he can run or barge into.