Sportsman's Bookshell

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 5

Sportsman's Bookshell

There has been no Rugby book quite like THE GREAT FIGHT OF THE FRENCH FiFTEEN <by Denis Laianne. translated from the French by E. J. Boyd-Wilson; A. H. and A. W. Reed; 174 pp.), nor one of more interest to New Zea- ' landers, with the test series

against South Africa beginning today. This account of the French tour in 1958, in which France drew the first test and won the other one, is quite unfettered by convention. It is written with a tremendous, patriotic it gives a startlingly vivid picture of what it is like to be playing test Rugby in South Africa, but it is clearly not the work of a man merely searching for the sensational.

[ This tour book seizes the [ attention from the first pages, i and holds it firmly to the end. ’ Patriotic Mr Lalanne may be, J but he is startlingly frank. In ; his biographical sketches of • the players, he refers to one r of the Frenchmen as having ! ”... a nasty temper, a dis- [ trust that is always on the ; alert, and the suspicious ! nature of the peasant. He ! works his own vineyard, but ; he would like to plant a vine ; or two on his neighbour’s ’ land, just to see how he would i take it. He is always making I a shindy; for any old reason [ he is always trying to start ; some little war—on principle. ; But he is a staunch friend and ■ devoted to the common cause;

an unbearable partner at bridge, but absolutely reliable on the Rugby field.” Although it lasted only six weeks, this was a rough tour, and a tough tour. But Mr Laianne pulls no more punches than the players. His assessment of South African

Rugby is critical, but it is an honest opinion, forcefully and effectively expressed. The games and the players come vividly to life It is an absorbing story, for the French, heavily stricken with injuries, and at that time without a great Rugby reputation, did

remarkably well. Professor Boyd - Wilson’s translation brings out everything the author has to offer; all the excitement and pathos and humour of an attack on a Rugby citadel.

The ninety-seventh edition of “Wisden” will appeal as strongly to cricketers as all those which have gone before it. There may be glossier productions, presented rather more attractively, but there is only one “Wisden.” In this issue special emphasis is placed on the problems of bowlers throwing and dragging, and there are five little essays by Neville Cardus on noted players who have just retired —T. G. Evans, C. Washbrook, D. Brookes, G. Tribe, and J. C. Laker.

"Wisden” is as thorough and complete as ever, and the overseas cricket section shows how widespread is cricket's appeal. There are recorded in this part of the almanac the following tours: M.C.C. in Australia and New Zealand, West Indies in India and Pakistan. M.C.C. in South America, M.C.C. in Canada, South Africans (non-white) in East Africa, Surrey in Rhodesia, the Commonwealth team in South Africa, a world tour, with games in 10 countries, played by Australian Old Collegians, and the Emu (New South Wales) club's Malayan tour. There are also notes on domestic cricket played in all the leading cricket countries, and in Ceylon, Canada, and Southern California.

Tommy Armour was one of golfs great players, certainly one of its most successful coaches. He will win many new friends with A ROUND OF GOLF WITH TOMMY ARMOUR (Hodder and Stoughton, 143 pp.). This really is what it claims to be, a golf book with a difference. It is a work of instruction, but it is pleasantly disguised as an account of a nine-hole foursomes match, with Armour himself coaching his partner in the technique of shot production, but more particularly in the science of thinking out what shot should be played.

Thia is an interesting departure from usual practice, and an effective one. The sugar coating does not diminish the properties of the pill. Armour tells his story clearly and simply, but the success the book will undoubtedly enjoy will also be to the credit of the artist, Merritt D. Cutler. The book is beautifully illustrated with two-colour drawings, some merely decorative or amusing. most of them an essential part of the round being played. Map-like diagrams show each hole before Armour's account of how it is played by his not-too-adept partner, and each one finishes with a diagram showing what took place. The artist also helps immensely with more formal action drawings.