And from the “other side”

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33858, 2 June 1975, Page 20

And from the “other side”

(By

JOHN DAWSON.

, a Rugby writer with the tourists.)

It is easy after a game to pui al* I lie iact> together, particularly after 50 replays of each score around the bar, listening to the comments of the learned men of Rpgby on what might have happened had the vita) pass been held.

Then we had all the variations of rucking, and the skill of the individual and combined play of the forwards and backs from both Canterbury and Scotland.

Naturally, the Canterbury supporters gave top marks) to their pack, but I am sure, that they would not disagree: that Alastair McHarg, George! Mackie, Alan Tomes, and Bill Watson set problems when it came to the lineouts, and Mike Biggar gave a performance that demanded respect m the loose. We also had a preview of Scotland’s front row for the test on June 14 and I cannot see Scotland change from lan McLauchlan, Dun-i

can Madsen, and Sandy CarI michael.

There was a phase in ihej game when the Scots had Canterbury on the defensive to the extent that a try to add to the penalty goals kicked by Andy Irvine might have settled the issue. But, alas, Scotland failed to drive home its dominant role. The wings, Billy Steele and Lewis Dick, were kept on a tight rein, and the centres, Jim Renwick and lan McGeechan, had their time taken up looking after Ricky I Allen and Bruce McPhail.

The crowd appreciated the dynamic approach by Irvine. It was a pity we did not have the opportunity to see more of his weaving, sidestepping, and down-the-middle attacking style of pMy However, Irvine leaves his mark at Lancaster Park as one of the few visiting players from overseas to kick a penalty from inside his own half and, for good measure, to put one over from the kick-off to show his first effort was no fluke. Before we move on to Napier, and sample the style

of Rugby in the North Island) with the first of four games,; against Hawke’s Bay, on Wednesday, I end on a note to the young boys who play Rugby in the Christchurch area. Before the big game I watched the Albion-New Brighton under 12 years match, walked across to sample the Rugby put on by older boys, all to add to my knowledge of rucking and feed-back from the maul. I

I Now I know what it is all about. Should any of the Scots want to increase their knowhow of rucking and how it works its waiy through Rugby in New Zealand, then watch the schoolboys. My memory will always hold a place for Hagley Park, and the enthusiasm of the parents, coaches, and organisers. I wonder, did I see mqre than one young All Black in I the making?