MANAGERS TO STUDY RULE INTERPRETATIONS All Blacks’ concern at number of penalties

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 20

MANAGERS TO STUDY RULE INTERPRETATIONS All Blacks’ concern at number of penalties

(From

J. K. BROOKS,

N.Z.P.A. special correspondent).

CARDIFF.

Penalties have been falling like hailstones on the heads of the All Blacks since the start of their Northern Hemisphere tour, and the awarding of 19 against the New Zealanders when playing Llanelli on Tuesday brought die total in four games to 67, of which 38 were incurred in the two British games.

The All Black managers, Messrs E. L. Todd and R. H. Duff, admitted that they were concerned about the number of penalties given against the team, but said they would not press for talks with referees unless they found interpretations at variance with New Zealand views.

“The four Home Unions tours committee offered us a meeting with referees at the outset, but we did not think it necessary,” Mr Todd said.

“We believe we have a pretty good understanding of the rules. If there is any variance of interpretations, we will have to clean it up smartly.”

Asked if the number of penalties incurred by the All Blacks against Llanelli had caused heartburning in the All Black camp, Mr Todd replied: “We will have to study the situation closely to make sure we are not giving valuable ground.”

The All Black captain, I. A. Kirkpatrick, said a lot of penalties awarded at Stradey Park against New Zealand were at line-outs.

He said mainly A. I. Scown and R. A. Ulrich were penalised. Scown, at No. 8 in the formation, at times was left in the open by his own side when Llanelli bunched, up at the throw-in, and Urlich at No. 1, was ruled off-side by crossing the centre-line too soon.

Mr Todd said players would be penalised for similar infringements in New Zealand, and yet Scown twice left the line-out after it formed to take up station behind the backs, and he was not penalised. In New Zealand, he would have been. “We are concerned at the

not straight, but also for the hooker lifting. Llanelli was also at fault in this regard, and the referee also came down heavily on its players. Mr M. H. Titcombe, of Bris-

tol, who controlled the match against Llanelli, gave a curious answer when asked in what aspects New Zealand was infringing at Stradey Park.

number of penalties we’ve conceded, but if we find interpretation at variance with our own, we will certainly seek talks with British referees,” Mr Duff said. In the scrums As well as being penalised often at line-outs, the All Blacks were also penalised in the scrums — mainly through the put-in being ruled

“How many penalties did you receive at Gloucester?” he said. “Five,” was the reply. “And how many today?”— “Sixteen.” “Well,” he said, “you have no grounds for complaint. I referee right down the middle and penalise whichever side is infringing.” Mr Titcombe awarded 35 penalties in the match and did not allow the rucks to continue for nearly the same length of time as did the Irish referee, Mr D. P. Darcy, at Gloucester. Rucks stopped “We couldn’t develop our rucks because the referee blew them up,” Kirkpatrick complained. But this is a fact of Rugby life with which the All Blacks will have to become accustomed in Britain.

Other sides that have gone before have encountered problems but have adjusted themselves to meet local requirements have gone on to reach heights. At this stage, Kirkpatrick’s men are still going through the mill.