RUGBY R. M. SMITH TO RETIRE AFTER LONG CAREER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 6

RUGBY R. M. SMITH TO RETIRE AFTER LONG CAREER

R. M. Smith, one of New Zealand's best wing threequarters in post-war years, has decided to retire from serious Rugby. Smith said yesterday that he might play a few club games next season, but that would be all. Smith will play for the Centurions club against Wellington. at Athletic Park, on Saturday and the game will be his 152nd appearance in a first-class match. Statistically, Smith has an impressive record. He has played 137 games for Canterbury since 1948 and his other 14 first-class games included one for New Zealand against Australia, in 1955. But his ability goes far beyond statistics. He was one of Canterbury's r >st successful attacking backs—his record of 94 tries for Canterbury and 102 in first-class games speaks for itself—and he never faltered in defence.

Only one other player in New Zealand has scored more than 100 tries in firstclass games, and that was the Wellington and New Zealand left wing. R. A. Jarden. In Smith's; tally of tries against other provinces, the West Coast, Buller, and South Canterbury suffered most at his hands. He scored 43 against these three unions. < boss To Club

j Smith will be missed from the Canterbury scene, but ; his club, Christchurch, will feel his loss even more. i Smith played for Christchurch 13 years, mainly as a three-quarters, but there 1 were times when he was called upon to play at fiveeighths. a position he filled with remarkable success. A few years ago the Christchurch club back-lines were built around Smith, and opposing teams invariably singled him out for special attention, often without much success.

Smith has thoroughly enjoyed his football days, and has definite views on this aspect of the game and also on the will to win, which, he says, is most important in a team.

“A team goes on to the field with two objects,” Smith said. ‘‘The first is to win, and the second is to enjoy the game. If a team doesn't play with the idea of winning, then the players don’t get much enjoyment out of the game. The whole thing becomes meaningless. There

is far too much talk of playing the game for the game's sake. “I have always enjoyed my football, otherwise I would have got out of the game a long time ago. If players get a kick out of playing tight football instead of open, then let them do it. Players should not be dictated to by the public or spectators as to how they should play football," he said.

Rough Rugby Smith believes that rough Rugby is overrated, “Much of it is sporadic,” he said. “It is rarely premeditated and always happens on the spur of the moment. In my case, if I have been on the receiving end of rough play I have never retaliated, because as soon as you do that you lose concentration and consequently cease to contribute to your team's effort. “The Canterbury teams have never been instigators of any rough play. The policy has always been to play the ball and not the man.” he said. Speaking on the Canterbury teams of the fifties. Smith said that they had been blessed with coaches of a particularly high standard. "You might call Jack Rankin the father of Canterbury's present day success.” Smith said. “The coaches were never dogmatic. They would invariably talk about some tactic and would often see and take the viewpoint of the players. They always advocated new movements and unorthodox techniques and ideas. This is one of the reasons for Canterbury’s success, especially in the early and middle fifties.” Smith feels that the Canterbury team of 1951 played an excellent type of running football. Many of the province’s outstanding players such as J. Hotop. T. W Lynch, and others were coming to the top and this was reflected in the team's play. “It was a very good side.” Smith said. “It only lost one game and as we weren’t defending the shield we played a freer type of Rugby.” Two Matches Recalled Two matches in Smith’s career stand out in his mind.

The first was when Canterbury beat Wellington. 24-3, for the Ranfurly Shield at Wellington in 1953, and the second was when Canterbury beat the 1957 All Blacks, who had just re-turned-from Australia Smith felt that the Canterbury side did particularly well in view of the fact that five regular members of the side were playing for the All Blacks. The Canterbury teams for years had been very fortunate in that they had no cliques or groups. Smith said. “They all played as a unit and first thoughts were for the team ” Canterbury was also fortunate in its captains, all of whom had been dominating personalities, such as R. H Duff, P. B. Vincent, and R. C. Stuart, who all led by example in addition to possessing sound tactical knowledge and ability. Smith considers that Duff came nearest to his idea of a complete footballer. He ktood out for his general playing excellence and his great sense and feeling for the game. Hotop was another who created a deep impression. “On his 1951 form he is the best first five-eighths I have ever seen. He was fantastic that year, and was like a will o’ the wisp,” Smith said.