Spectre Of Wing Forward Given Some Flesh

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 15

Spectre Of Wing Forward Given Some Flesh

TN 1930, Mr J. A. Baxter, the manager of the British Isles team touring New Zealand, deliberately and provocatively described the All Blacks’ wing forward as “a cheat.” That remark reverberated throughout the Rugby world and much to the discomfiture of New Zealand Rugby, which had been nurtured on the wing forward since the palmy days of Dave Gallaher, the wing forward was outlawed by the International Rugby Board and to all intend and purpose became extinct. Now 35 years later, the same august body—the International Board—has given the spectre of the wing forward some flesh and blood in its recent clarification of the new rules which were approved last season. And paradoxically these rules were aimed at negating the effect of loose forwards and increasing the chances for back play. •

Oddly enough this clarification concerns the position of half-back, the very position that Mr Baxter was so concerned about in 1930 because the wing forward was committing such an . onslaught on the half-back and inSide backs. The new ruling is that when a scrum is formed it is not necessary for the halfback not putting the ball in to be in attendance. His position may be taken by any other player in the team. ..All that happens is that the original half-back must retire behind the base of the scrum and then another player may take his place. The implication is obvious. Already in the last season spectators have seen half-backs worrying each other like terriers as they follow the ball round the scrum. For under the rules they are the only players allowed to follow the ball—all other players must remain behind the base of

the scrum until the ball has emerged. For a half-back, most of whom weigh around the list mark, it is not a great danger to be tackled by another half-back. But if teams—and teams will take advantage of this—decide to use a heavy and speedy loose forward to act as “half-back” when the other team is putting the ball in, then there may be chaos near the scrum. One can imagine a loose forward of the ruthlessness of W. J. Nathan or K. R. Tremain poised to smash into a half-back. The ball rarely is hooked cleanly and these loose forwards can inch round the scrum just waiting for the ball to dribble out and then demolish the half-back. And in Njew Zealand Rugby that probably would start a ruck. One can pity the poor half-back who has been involved in a few of those encounters. A