SHIELD DEFEAT WAS NO DISGRACE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 14

SHIELD DEFEAT WAS NO DISGRACE

CANTERBURY’S defeat by ' Taranaki in the Ranfurly Shield challenge was no disgrace. The Canterbury forwards played magnificently and the backs tried as hard as they could. But on the day Canterbury missed two chances to score tries and that, coupled with the unyielding Taranaki defence, allowed Taranaki to retain a lead throughout the match. Perhaps Canterbury might have used its backs more in the first 10 minutes when the savage driving of the forwards had unsettled Taranaki. That might have been the crucial time to haxe struck, because Taranaki obviously was thinking in terms of a forward struggle and a sudden change to back play just might have caught it unprepared. But that did not happen and when Canterbury finally swung its backs into action , Taranaki had marshalled its defence to include a forward. Only fine play by the Canterbury backs brought them anywhere near to scoring.

It is difficult to beat a team that is organised mainly for defence. Because the ball never passes the Taranaki first five-eighths, there are no chances to seize on any mistakes and teams that are prepared to attack through the backs have to face an almost impenetrable wall of defenders. But irrespective of the result of the shield match, the tour must benefit Canterbury Rugby. The match against Auckland showed that the Canterbury forwards are capable of opening all but the most determined of forward packs, and

that the backs, given a fluid match, are a skilful and dangerous line. Then in the shield match the team showed that it can match a team that relies solely on tight forward play and rugged defence. Probably the most pleasing feature of the tour was the improvement of some of the younger players. A. J. Hopkinson, a magnificent prospect of a lock at the age of 23, impressed Auckland critics with his strength and determination. At present all Hopkinson needs to reach the top flight is more discipline in his aggression. Against Auckland he was prepared to annihilate all of the Auckland forwards; against Taranaki he had the same approach. But occasionally some of his energy is misplaced and it would be better if he concentrated more on Rugby rather than getting involved with opposing forwards.

A. Wyllie, another rugged country forward, has very much the same approach. He quelled L. W. Fell’s exuberance by some direct methods in the Auckland match. Wyllie has all the attributes for an All Black loose forward. He is 15st, fast, a good handler and is just as effective in the tight as in the loose. But discipline is needed.

M. J. Millar gave added strength to the team by his good jumping at No. 7 in the line-out and looks a very promising prospect. J. Baird, too, did quite well without quite seeming to be hard enough for the more serious provincial matches. The Suburbs pair, W. Cot- ( trell and L. J. Davis, continued to improve. With more confidence, Cottrell may become a very good attacking first five-eighths. Davis showed he could stand up to punishment and still give a satisfactory Service. His tenacity around the scrums troubled all of his opposing halfbacks. R. Morris, who had a good match against Auckland, seemed to slip back after

that game, but he has considerable potential. The experienced players in the touring party, C. R. Hockley, E. Veal, D. A. Arnold, W. F. McCormick, P. A. Hutchinson, W. M. Birtwistle and N. G. Cornelius, did everything that was expected of them. McCormick has probably never been more determined than he was against Taranaki. Hutchinson was a polished centre and Cornelius next to Hockley was the soundest of the for-

wards. Arnold had a poor game against Waikato, but in the Auckland and Taranaki matches he looked every bit an All Black. Hockley set a grand example for the team and it is certain that Canterbury lost nothing by having him as captain instead of D. J. Graham for the shield match. Indeed, one of the most impressive features of the tour was the stature that Hockley achieved as a captain and leader. His maturity, and quiet but firm leadership, made him not onljr. the most respected but the most popular member of the team.