THE RUGBY GAME.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 18

THE RUGBY GAME.

MATCHES AND PLAYERS

NOTES AND NEWS FROM ALL SOURCES

(By

“Five-Eighths.”)

Crude football ruled in the Welling-fcoo-Taranaki match last Saturday, and •a an exhibition of interprovincial Rugby it was the worst seen on tho Park for years. Although tho display of the forwards was somewhat ragged, they stuck to it well, and saved the came from developing into a, farce. s?he. respective packs wero evenly matched, at tho outset, hut on tho day tho honours went to tho visitors. Malone (the wing . forward), West, Ha-mmersley. and Hunt, wore the outstanding umt's of a hard-working division,, while Wellington’s stalwjarts were Swain, who played probably the best game on the field. Thomas, and Gaiir. Both rearguards were lamentably weak as regarded combination, and as individualists there were two players only who, were brilliant. Ennis, the speedy Taranaki winger,' played, a fine solo game, and utilised to "advantage the few opportunities he received. His run down the line in the, first spell was good to watch. Malfory is the Wellington man whose play deserves mention. He, too, was obliged to be an opportunist.

After the Wellington-Taranaki match,, ■“Five-Eighths” had an interesting ehat with an “old timer,” an enthusiast, who has followed the game for the past twenty-five years; and the opinion he expressed on the standard of the play was one of condemnation. “To. start -with,” he said, "the combination one looks .lor in modern football ; was absoltuely lacking—it was more after the style of country club football twenty years ago. One looks to-day in. Rugby, for machine-like work among the backs, but this afternoon there was only one instance in which combination was shown, and that was when'Wilkinson and Malone engaged in..inter-passing down the line, a try rewarding their effort. I am satisfied that the standard was much higher, in , the old days. Another bad fault wjth. both sides was that when on the attack iiothing else mattered but the scoring of a try, with' the result that they failed to throw back their screen of defence. Consequently, when a defending player intercepted a pass he had a clear run in, because each and every man of the aggressors was so intent on driving home the attack. That the throwing back of a screen of defence is all the more necessary when a. high wind is ruling, was proved in to-day’s game. In every case the three three-quarters played far too close up,, and the kicks went well over , their heads, and they were obliged to rush back, with the opposition side in close pursuit. My disappointment reached its highest bounds when I noticed a failing that should not occur even in club football. Frequently in attempting to stop rushes the men hesitated—a fatal error- There is only one way to stem the tide, and that is to go into it: right into the forwards if necessary, and fall fearlessly on the ball. But when a player starts retreating—watching for a mark, I suppose. ... Well, it’s puerile football, and will never stop resolute foot rushes.”

Seven thousand people witnessed Hawke’s Bay’s Severe cieieat of Can-' ter bury at -Lancastei ParK last Saturday. “It was Hard,” says one critic, “to realise time Canter uury were a representative side. Hie forwards worked Hard, but the display or toe backs was, to put it mildly, laughable. In fact, the spectators, when they saw Jiow things were going, treated tht game as a comedy, rather than a football match. No -worse tackling lias lever been &et|.i on Lancaster Park than that of the Canterbury backs, while their ideas of passing were crude in. the extreme. Added to that, most of the bacas seemed to have not the faintest, idea of keeping in place, while their notions of how to make a scoring dash were wholly original. Stills, *t full-back, was sound all through, and Page was good in the first spell,, though he went badly to pieces alter-’ Wards. All the rest of the team were not even up to club standard. Ihe only one amongst them that showed any football principles was the emergency, Guiney, who came on in the second spell. Hawke’s Bay played a good, but not a brilliant game, and, it.anybody on the Canterbury side had- the most elementary knowledge of tackling, the greater number of their scores would not have come off. It is rather remarkable that Canterbury, though its club standard was higher than it had been since the war started, should have given such a lamentable display in representative fixtures as it lias done in every match jt has played this season.

When the list of Rugby unions affiliated with the parent body is sei. out it makes tm imposing array, and renders it more surprising that New Zealand has been unable so far this season to discover halves and inside hacks equal to the standard of the past. They are: North Auckland, Auckland, Poverty Bay, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Buy, Taranaki, Wan}|mui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, push Distrialis- -East CoastJ, King Country, Thames Valley, Wairaiapa, Wellington, Marlborough, "Nelson, Golden Bay, Buller, West Coast, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.

“New Zealand has an amazing record,?’: said Sir Henry Braddon, one of the' corner-stones of the amateur' game across the Tasman. “It has won 123 of its 134 internationals-” Right, through inis long series of games' played in every clime and against every national style, our grimmest opponents have been New South Wales, although the actual statistics Of wins and losses show a big balance to oiir credit. Over in Sydney, tne Rughjr writers are recalling many episodes, in the interchange between the two countries. Coming down to recent dates, for it is in the ante-bellum days that Rugby has had to wage a big fight to keep its head out of the breakers, biio writer reviews the stages of progress. ‘‘When the" All Blacks were over here in 1920, the New South Wales side, save for four or five of the famous A.I.F. team, was composed of young players, whom the war had deprived of rising to great heights as footballers, owing to the absence of representative games. Yet the margin of victory to New Zealand was as small as in any previous series of tests. Since then the Union game has been so rehabilitated that the present combination is as fine, and as determift'bd as any that ins ever worn the wtfrat-ah. Led hv Walker, whose heroism in *he match against the Maoris' will go down in history, the forward? are a. splendidly-selected pack, nnd tfo backs resourceful and brilliant/’”"'

“The uppermost question in provincial Rugby this season,” says a South African writer, “it; that of tours under taken by individual clubs,” referring to country visits by Stellenbosch, C'a-pe Town, University and Hamilton. “Getting the best to represent the province should be of paramount interest. This has had an evil effect this season, and calls for early and deep considerationNo one can reasonably expect employers to be constantly releasing their employees from duty. to take part in sport. It may be argued that, if obtain clubs are allowed to undertake such missionary work, ‘probables’ should not be included in their touring teams. This season also another factor has militated against the best possible players donning tho jersey in the away matches, and tnat is the recent tour of New Zealand. Whether student or employee, neither can be expected to make the sacrifice of time after such a short interval.”

After a spell, Gerhard Morkel, the South African full-back, has come back to the game. His absence from active participation in Rugby has shown plainly, says a local critic, how much the game depends on him, neVer reckoning on tho time when he must give it up. In the success of the moment, the future has been overlooked, and now perhaps some definite plan to provide for such contingencies will bo forthcoming.

G G. Aitken, who lias gone to Oxford, may pick up a few pointers on how to qualify for international honours from H. L. Price, the Oxford Blue who is a- member of the J-mglisn fifteen. To Price fell the honour of scoring the maiden century of the present English cricket season, getting 105 for Oxford Seniors.

Football, like cricket, is undergoing a change in the personnel of its leaders in the Home country. ’iscountChelmsford, who had a distinguished career at Oxford,, and was Governor of Queensland and New South Males,and Viceroy of India, has been elected president of the Marylebone Urick et Club. Now comes tho news that Air. Robert Henzell, of Northumberland, has succeeded Mr. A. E. Preston as president of the English Rugby Luicn. THEY SAY—

That the Wellington place-kicking against Taranaki was one of the sorriest exliibitions ever seen in interprovincial Rugby.

That is is not true that the M ellington selectors choose their team by pitting the name of 45 payers in a hat and drawing out fifteen.

That skipper Beiliss had a good response to practically every, call he has made on the All Blacks, but bis suggestion that 'l7 stone Referee Pfirata should be “chaired” off the field fell on deaf ears.

That the croakers who have been harping on the decadence of New Zealand Rugby were provided with plenty of ammunition for their campaign after witnessing the uninspiring displays of the All Blacks and of rhe Taranaki and Wellington representatives.

■ \ That when the true teadcs union spirit enters into Rugby one of the first rules to be adopted will be: Hiat ■no skipper shall ask his twn ■to “chair” off the ground any reiereo weighing more than 16 stone.

That it was only a coincidence that the Wellington referees were accommodated with school forms on the touchline, while Tame Paratawas delivering his lecture on how the Rugby code should be interpreted. '

That, if the outside haqd of the hooker is left dangling in mid-air it is an invitation to tho referee to watch for what it might do.

That, with five of their men absent, Hawke’s Bay showed by their crushing defeat of Canterbury that they are entitled to be regarded as worthy of a place in the Big Six ox Rugby.

That players, critics, and public are grateful to Selector Griffiths for his suggestion that the All Blacks mee the Maoris; and will be more grateful if he impresses on his colleagues the lessons he has learned from the match.

That no one has a-ppeared on whom the mantle of Kingston could fail. Rugbyites therefore hope that he may be able to return to the game.

That the remark of the president of Hie Wellington Rugby Union Management Committee, dubbing injured players “tourist passengers,” is not likely encourage the sacrifices needled to secure leave to tour with “rep teams.

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY Extraordinary development is revealed in the Rugby game in South Africa this season. A leading critic says, that the improvement is due to the Currie Cnp svstem of provincial matches. Under tile new system, which was put into practice for the first time this year, the “gates” have exceeded the highest anticipations. In Kimberley, to’quote an instance, the average of the provincial “gates” is equal to the highest amount realised last . year. Griqualand West province has in operation a scheme for the encouragement of football among schoolboys that is worthy of general adoption. I'or the modest sum of Is. 6d., a schoolboy can get a “season” ticket for the provincial matches. The profits on the boys entrance is’divided among.the schools competing under the Rugby Union pre rata to the number or tickets sold to each school. The junior Rugby oxgan'isation at Kimberley, for its size, is the most powerful m the country. The Transvaal captain, Duncan, who was injured recently, and who may not plav again, has resigned from the captaincy of his club. Pirates His place has been taken by De Villiers the Springbok full-back,, who has been giving brilliant exhibitions of full-back plav in recent games. The latest,mails from South Africa give the present position of provinces in the Currie Cup competition as follows:—Western Province, 11; J ransvaM. 9; Natal, 6; Griqualand Vest, 4: Western Transvaal, 3; Eastern I rovince, 3: Border State. 1. It will thus be seen that Western Province has displaced Transvaal in the lead, which it held for so long.

IN OTHER CENTRES Genuine surprise and regret were expressed in Hawke’s Bay when it became known that one of the officials travelling with the team had spoken disparagingly let Wellington’s past actions in connection with Hawke’s Bay Rugby. The remarks were dropped by the official referred to during the course of a speech at the dinner tendered by the Wellington Rugby Union subsequent to Hawke’s Ba-y defeating Wellington. The Press were not invited, and no report was taken of the speeches. It is stated, however, Chat a short passage-at-arms occurred between Mr. J - Prendeville, chai' man of the Management Committee of the W.R.F.U., and one of the managers of the visiting ..team owing to the statement of the latter that Hawke’s Bay owed nothing to Wellington in the last ten years, or words to chat effect. On hearing of the incident, the “Hawkefs Bay Herald condemned the remarks as ill-consider-ed,” and added: “He made. a tactless tilt at the Wellington Union in re-o-ard to some past matters between the parent body and the'Hawkes Bay Union. It is certain that the. un attack ndicatcd will be reviewed by the Hawke s Bay Union, Ind it may be taken for granted that the union will lose no time when the team returns, in adequately dealing with the matter, and assuring the ■Wellington Union that tho attack had. no official backing.

% ‘Diqaupointjnent the showing of th? backs is tho feature of of the Otago-Auckland match at Hun edin last Saturday, which was witnessed by 14,000 people. It was much below provincial form. In tneir match with Canterbury. Otago won, but their play lacked finish. Hawke’s Bay they were better, but; the inside backs wero not sound Against Auckland, Otago 1 played their third game, and played easily the worst came of the . series, says a Dunedin critic. Only eight of the thirty selected for Auckland came south. Weak passing and faulty handling of the Qtago backs were there for everyon to see. There were several causes to account for the display. They would not run up to their opponents be fore passing. Then the man to take the pass often over-ran the ball and knocked-on. The scrum half missed the ball on several occasions Ine five-eighths were inclined to take and give standing passes from the sc ™“fTwo of the most exasperating faults of Otago were their failure to run up to an opposing man, and the reckless manner in which they got nd of the ball when they had decided to pass. The style of lining up was noticeable. The backs stood very deep, but, o the other hand,- the weaker Auckland team had its three-quarters standin,, almost in line with the scrum rea(R, to come through with the attack, with out losing a second. The de °? B gJ® wa« also noticeable against Hawke Bay whose three-quarter lino adopted the shallow formation, like Auckland.

It is refreshing to learn, in these (lavs of decadent back play, that the North Otago backs .were a smart set ” to quote a Timalu critic, m their match against South* Canterbury last Saturday.. The game, he says,w a poor, exhibition of Rugby, ward play had a monopoly. Loose tushes and deadly tackling bythe SfijitlTUanterbury forwards unhinged their opponents’ attempts at comb tion.

For the first timu, Taranaki had a primarv schools’ /“rep.” team in the field last Saturday at Wanganui against the local schools nui piled up 11 points, and then laia naki with tho doggedness that is characteristic of football m; that province, sot themselves to wca dowi their opponents’ advantage, J™ ceoded in getting a victory with three points to spare. The Wanganui ex ecutive thoughtfully Provided the visiting Taranaki lads with plentiM t frU trai^and h 6 traditional hospitality by the presence on the platform, the visitors arrived there, host that had volunteered to billet one s’the Taranaki boy.. kicking was the means of laranaixi securing their fine win.

The handling of the Wellington backs drew approving Nelson critics last Saturday. Me Cleary, the half, is reported to have fine exhibition, opening up the game in any quarter of the neia, the ball out from. the. scrum, apparently regardless of d.rectron but nlwavs finding an acceptor. McCabe, the second five-eighths, was a heady made the pace warm from the start.

“We must pull off our coats next vear and get into real work toward, regaining our lost says a South African paper, commenting on the loss of prestige the prwmcia team suffered in the Currie Cup matches. “The main lesson to be learned is our lack of clever backs. It is of little use to . offer up lamentations if no attempt is made to fill the breach. A vigorous campaign amongst the youngsters—catch them young—with details carefully observed and taught, noints the way to a solution of the difficulty. There has been too much surface worje.and insufficient probing into tbh details. which after all matter, for they distinguish the mediocre player from the real artist.

The refereeing of Mr. Parata last Saturday is said to be reminiscent of the best dars of “Dutehy Evans. It recalls to the present writer a period in New South Wales Rugby, when the samO loose method of interpreting: the rules as is being experienced m Wellington was causing players in Sydney to descend to illegal tactics. For the first inter-Stata match of the season, the RiigbysTTnion persuaded the veteran .Um McManamey io leave his place in the grandstand and take up the whistle again. What an example he did make! Every plover who committed a breach was named bv the referee. Three were cautioned during the first half, but the experience they had to go through was sufficient to cure them of their evil ways for all time. The whistle blew, and McMannmey walked away several vards. calling the name of the offender. While the crowd cheered in approval, the player had to walk after him, like a schoolboy going out for the cane, and listen to a lecture op how r to play clean Rugby.

The system in vogue in Auckland of playing matches in four quarters, which is occasionally adopted in stormy weather in Wellington, was given a try-out in the Auckland v. South Canterbury fixture last week, which was won by the latter by 8 to 6.