REFEREES MUST TAKE FIRM Games Becoming Battles Of Boots And Fists

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 11

REFEREES MUST TAKE FIRM Games Becoming Battles Of Boots And Fists

(From Our Rugby Reporter)

, T m^ nutes °f the Southland-British Lions game, the referee (Mr C. Robson) called the captains together and asked them to calm down their players.

After 27 minutes at Timaru a similar appeal for cessation of hostilities came from Mr K. Bush in the Combined v. Lions match.

If this pattern continues, by the time the Wellington match arrives the referee, at the start of the game, will merely look at the teams and say: “Come out fighting.” The two matches played so far have produced some unpleasant incidents and it has become obvious that referees will have to take a firm stand against some of the indiscriminate hacking which is going on under the guise of rucking. Churning Feet In the Southland game the first half had some unfortunate moments when the Southland forwards, feet churning, piled into the rucks wi'hout a great deal of thought about where the ball was. At Timaru, there were similar situations.

Rucking is an important and vital part of the play of most New Zealand teams. But it should also be remembered that basically it is a skill by which possession is gained; it is not a means of

scaring, or possibly hurting, an opponent. Indiscriminate kicking in rucks has produced the following injuries so far: — H. Norris, stitches in his head; A. J. Soper, gashed forehead; R. Young and D. Bebb, bruised backs. And there are probably many other minor injuries. Lions Attacked It is not leaning over backwards to the Lions to say that they have not started any of the unpleasantness. Legitimate rucking they do not mind; it is the stupid kicking in rucks which has roused their ire and they have retaliated quickly.

And if their method of Rugby aggression is to throw punches—unedifying though it looks—at least most miss and the odd one that connects does not seem to do much damage. But unless more control is exercised, both by referees and players, there could be a really serious injury, and Rugby prestige, either for a local or touring team, can never justify that.

Another feature of the matches so far, and one that is almost as appalling, is the reaction of spectators to the rough and unwholesome play. There has been no booing, no roaring at players; it is almost as if they had become conditioned to it. In the Southland game an incident happened in front of the stand which, one would have expected, to have aroused some comment. A Lions forward came into the back of a Southland ruck. Promptly the Southland half-back kicked him swiftly in the back-side. The Lions’ forward, obviously surprised at this rear attack, jumped out of the ruck and replied in kind. Justified Booing There was hardly a murmur from the crowd, just a tacit acceptance, as if to say that justice had been done. There had been an attack and retribution honour was satisfied. Although unjustified booing can be dreadful, one feels that it might just clear the air a bit if spectators joined in with referees and players by expressing strongly their disapproval of such unseemly play.