rugby football

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 9

rugby football

By

“Five-Eighths"

LESSON FROM THE AFRICAN TOUR

CAN NEW ZEALAND BEAT NEW SOUTH WALES?

When arc we going to know whether New Zealand or South Africa is the champion Rugby nation of the world! We could not settle the argument in 1921 when the Springboks visited this country and finished all square with us in the Test matches: On that tour the South Africans proved what great players they were by only losing two games the first Test and the match against Canterury. , , , x, Many people contended that the Springboks in 1921 had struck New Zealand in a lean year and that our chances were further impaired by faulty selection. Experienced students of the gamehowever, realised that the South Africans had put up a great performance in finishing all square with us on our own grounds and under our own referees and fully realised that the All Blacks would have ttieir work cut out when theye challenged South Africa on their native heath. , When the All Blacks sailed away on the great crusade everyone knew that they had a man’s job on hand, but few of us were prepared for the undoubted superiority which the South Africans showed in the earlier games of the tour. / Two defeats were inflicted upon the New Zealanders in 1 the first fqur matches. Due allowance was made tor this on account of the -ong sea voyage and the great amount of railway travelling our players had to do. We were confident that our fellows would .soon settle down aud commence to reveal something like true New Zealand form. Then came the first lest match at Durban, and we were all dumbfounded when South Africa soundly thrashed the All Blacks by 17 points to nil. Our fellows in that memorable game were never allowed to get even a sight of the ball. The South African forwards dominated the scrums so thoroughly that they obtained a stranglehold on the All Blacks which they never relaxed for a moment. Back to Rugby.

This was the greatest service which has ever been rendered to New Zealand Rugby. It forcibly drove home the lesson that our methods of scrum formation were very faulty. I wrote at the time that there was only one thing tor the New Zealanders to do, and that was to plav the Springboks at their own game and place three men in the front row ° f To e the everlasting credit of M. Brownlie, the captain of the Nmv Zealand team, and his advisers—M. NieholU. I ■ Stewart, and N. McGregor the Blacks took this course, and from that, time onward they commenced to hold their ° W Bv a supreme effort they managed to win'the second Test by 7 points to 6. This was a great performance, as the New- Zealanders were unaccustomed to the old type of scrummaging, and their victory at Johannesburg must rank as one of the finest feats ever put up by an All Black side in an international match. True, the Springboks prevailed by 11 points to C> in the third Test match at Port Elizabeth, and when the famous Western Province fifteen soundly beat the All Blacks by 10 points to 3. New Zealand’s chances for the deciding lest did not appear at all rosy.

In Their Element. Luck, however, swung New Zealand s way at Gape Town on Saturday. Ihe match was played on a rain-drenched area, with heavy raiusqualls pelting down to cool the heated blood of the fiercely striving teams. The conditions must have reminded Mostert, the Springbok captain. and Nicholls, of the never-to-x be-forgotten third Test match at Wellington in 1921, when South Africa and New Zealand fought out the issue in blinding rain and sens of mud. • The New Zealanders on Saturday rose to the occasion in magnificent style. As I remarked before, I admire the men who can do things when tlihy have got to be ■done. New Zealand was in a desperate plight when they stepped on to the historic Newlands ground on Saturday. South Africa was one up in the Test matches, and only ; victory could save the day for New Zealand. I’layiiig like men inspired, the All Blacks dominated the game, from start to finish, and won a great victory by 13 points to 5. exactly the same score as New Zealand defeated the. Springboks by in the first Test match at Dunedin in 1921.

Murk Nicholls’s Part, , Mark Nicholls played in all three Test matches against South Africa in 1921, and he again played to some purpose for New Zealand at' Cape Town on Saturday. Making’bis first appearance in a Te-t match on the present tour, ■ Nicholls demonstrated what a great asset to a side a man who can kick .can be.

The I'etoiie man played a. great game throughout" and unquestionably won the game for the All Blacks by kicking two penalty goals , ami dropping a goal. It was a flash of genius wlifeh prompted Nicholls to change places, with Johnson towards the end of the game. He was clearly determined to have a pot. Dailey whipped the leather out from a scram, and like a flash. Nicholls sent it soaring from the quarter mark over the crossbar. Earlier in the game Nicholls went very close to scoring four more points for New Zealand, as' a pot shot of his hit an upright and rebounded into play. Mark Nicholls, by his sterling play in this crucial game, clearly proved that he is, as he was in 11124, one of the outstanding Rugby players of the day. Great Forwards.

I was taken to task before the New Zealand team left these shores for South Africa for venturing the opinion that the 11)28 New Zealand pack was the greatest which New Zealand had ever 'lelded. When the All Blacks commenced to lose-matches, and our forwards were being badly beaten in the serums, a terrible wail went up about '‘shiners” and "passengers.” Some people loudly declared that forwards should be draught horses, and that they had no right whatever to gallop about like backs. There was nothing wrong with tile New Zealand pack on Saturday. They proved from start to finish that they were the masters 'f even the great Springbok pack, and South Africa is considered to be the. home of forward play. Lt would be difficult for any nation to field a pack ■ ditch would prove superior in all phases of Rugby play to Stewart, Swain. Hadley. M. Brownlie. Harvey, Finlayson, Hazlett, and McWilliams. We must enshrine this gallant eight in the halls of tame, and must not forget those other tried and true warriors -.Tohnson. Lindsay. Hobflllard. Orenslde. Strang, Lilburne. Alley. Carleton. Lucas. Burrows, Ward, and Snow, who kept the Hag Hying against odds in the great campaign.

Lessons from the Tour. Tho New Zealanders, on their tours to Great Britain in 1905 and 1021 proved superhfr by virtue of physical force, and on those tours our. forwards were able to hold their own with seven men in the serum. The South Africans, on the present tour, have clearly proved to us that seven men cannot hope to match eight at sernmmag--IDThis is the finest lessou New Zealand llugby has ever been taught, and if it means abolishing the contentious wingforward it will be the best thing.that ever happened. The wing-forward is a loaler and a spoiler. His job is to prevent the ball getting out to the backs. Now, all the world likes to see open play, and therefore, it is not to be expected that the man who is deliberately out. to stop passing can be popular witii Rugby crowds in any country. Ho is neither fish, tlesli. nor good red herring, and by insisting upon plaving this spoiler New Zealand has made herself unpopular tn every country in the world. If New Zealand will take to heart the valuable lessons the South Africans have taught us on the present tour, and play the game which every other Rugby country In the world plays, it will be a grand thing for the game. Vvfiio Are TlioHe"

The youthful New South Wales team, who apologetically arrived on our shores n fortnight ago, have caused us all to sit up and take particular notice by scoring

three good wins in the opening matches of their New Zealand tour. Last Saturday week they caused something of a sensation by soundly outplaying the strong Auckland fifteen by 19 points to 8. The New South Wales team only includes three of the players who accompanied the Waratahs on the tour of Great Britain last year, and some of the players originally selected to make the trip to New Zealand were unable to obtain the necessary leave. After the win against Auckland every Waratah wore a beaming smile as the team packed themselves into the taxi-eabs after the match. The triumph scored at the opening of their tour had exceeded their wildest expectations. 8. J. Malcolm, the New South Wales skipper, said, "1 would like you to tell the crowd that they were tlp-toii and great sports. The refereeing was also fine." W. Batty, the Auckland skipper, remarked that the game was hard and clean throughout. The visitors well deserved their win, which was the result of the dashing way in which they threw the ball about, aud their excellent hand ling. By hoisting the Waratahs' skipper shoul-der-high at the conclusion of the match, Auckland football enthusiasts set an excellent example to sporting crowds in other parts of the Dominion. ,■ For a second fifteen of New South Wales to so soundly defeat a major province like Auckland causes one to wonder if all is well with Rugby in the Dominion. Flushed with their opening triumph, the New South Welshmen descended upon Wanganui on Wednesday last, aud routed the Big River represents lives in a fast and open game by 20 points to 16. Following their winning streak, the Australians crossed the island and tweaked Hawke’s Bay’s nose on Saturday at Napier' to the tune of 19 points to 6. . This might truthfully be described as a triumphal march. How comes it that an untried band of New South Wales lads can walk roughshod over our leading Rugby provinces in the manner they have done? The explanation probably lies in the fact that New South Wales plays legitimate Rugbv. with eight men in the puck and four th-ee-quarters. It is just as well for the honour of New Zealand Rugby that New South Wales did not send the Waratahs over.

These New South Wales youngsters play most attractive football. Their backs are very speedy, and they throw the ball about with rare abandon. Hawke’s Bay on Saturday were forced to endeavour to keep the game tight'to prevent the Australian greyhounds from getting the leather. In Hemingway they possess a Sydney University three-quarter who can run like a deer. He raced away for two tries at Napier on Saturday, and a young man named Smairl. who plays for Eastern Suburbs, also waltzed over the line a couple of times. The experienced Towers, of the Raaudwiek team, who visited Great Britain with the Waratahs last season, was also about with a neat try. This trio of three-quarters have great pace. S. J. Malcolm, the captain of the team, halls from Newcastle. He was also a member of the 1927 Waratahs and is a finished half-back. To-day’s Test.

The Wellington public will have the pleasure of seeing these speedy' New South Welshmen in action against the New Zealand team at Athletic Park this lat'ternbon, when the first of the three test matches will be played. Whoever wins, the publie should be assured of witnessing attractive Rugby./f The New South Wales lads believe in making the game fast and open. and. with backs such as -Minns, L. Hook, Snodgrass, Cooke. Bradanovitch. and Holden on the New Zealand side, this should also suit, the wearers of the silver fern.

New Zealand Team. • The New Zealand team for to-day’s ‘ game will be constituted as follows:— 1 Full-back: j Butler (Auckland). ( Three-quarters: (j Minns (Auckland), L. Hook (Auckland), < Snodgrass (Nelson). " Five-eighths: £ Cooke (Walrarapa), Bradanovitch (Otago). <: Half-back: J Holden (Otago). '| Wing-forward:,- 11 Porter .(Wellington). f Forwards: f Palmer (Auckland), Clark (Canterbury), Freitas (West Coast). Steere (Hawke’s ! Bay), Willoughby (Wairarapa), Knight 1 Auckland), and Batty (Auckland). ' Emergencies: 1 Backs: McClymont (Otago), Oliver (Can; terbury). ■ Forwards: Toby Robinson (Canterbury), and Howden (Southland). J New South Wales Team. J , The personnel of the New South Wales < team is as follows:—

Average age, 22 years. Average height, sft. Pin. Average weight, list. 71b. Forwards.

Average age, 22» years. Average height, lift. ‘Average weight, 13st. "lb. Team averages: Age, 22 years. Height, sft. Ifiliu. Weight, 12st. 411 b POSITIONS AND CLUBS. Full-backs. , It. Westfield Randwick B. H. D. Croft .... New England Three-quarters. W. n. Hemingway University M. Smairl Eastern Suburbs W. White Randwick C. 11. Towers Randwick B. C. Caldwell Kandwick D. Bull North-Western It. Burge University Five-eighths. W. G. George Y.M.C.A. H. Bartley Western Suburbs Half-backs. H. Snell Eastern Suburbs S. J. Malcolm Newcastle (Captain) Forwards. IL W. Langenburg. St. George W. 11. Cerutti Y.M.C.A. I. Comrie-Thomson. •Eastern Suburbs .1. O’Donnell Kandwick W. J. Pidpps University J. O'Connor Kandwick J. S. Lamb Eastern Suburbs G. Bland Manly It. B. Louden Manly (vice-cap-tain) M. Rosenblum University H. Abbott Manly E. Bardsiey Northern Suburbs A. Munsie North-Western. Iteumlning Fixtures. To-day—v. New Zealand (first Test), at Wellington. September- B—v.8 —v. Now Zealand (secoud Test), at Dunedin. September 12 —v. Southland, at invcrcarSeptember 15—v. New Zealand (third Test), at Christchurch. September 19—v. Marlborough, at Idenheim. . September 22 —v. Alaori h iftecn, at Wellington. September 20—v. Manawhcnua, at lalmerstou North. Wellington Improving. 'Chore was not a great deal to enthuse ove> in the game between Wellington and Taranaki at Athletic Park last Saturday. A great weakness in Now Zealand tootball to-day is the faulty scrummaging. It was pitiable to watch the serums tossing and swaying about. When a scrum goes down

it should be as solid as a rock. It is impossible for the best hookers in the’ worl<i to give their half-back the ball if the scrum is swaying about like a drunken man. , ~ Still, a great, forward tussle was witnessed on Saturday. The Taranaki forwards were always dangerous in the loose, and their hammering foot-rushes took a lot of stopping. Little Coman, the Wellington half-back, was frequently taken along with the ball. He is a bit light for rush-stopping, and it would JhJP™ 7 © t team to give Leys a trial behind the Wellington scrum. 'ln Walter (Stratford), Ike (Okiawa), Robinson (Hawera), and Murphy (I’atea), Taranaki have a quartet ot sterling forwards, while A. Guy (Kaponga) is a rattling good rover. The Wellington vanguard stuck to their work well, Coulston, Jessup, Blacker, and O’Regan being conspicuous for honest bat-

Mackenzie was the outstanding back on the side. The ’Varsity captain was at his best, showing much cleverness in making openings, and travelling fast to run his wingers into position. Chaney, on the same line, played with his usual consistCl Ramson, at centre, was inclined to drop his passes, but. his speed enabled him to (io valuable work in intercepting and dashing in to upset passing movements. This player would do better if he were to take a bit' more time to gather the ball securely before dashing off. . - Mackav showed brilliance at wing-three-quarter. running with great determination and centring cleverly. Peterson also rendered signal service on the opposite wing. This ex-Dunedin man, like Mackay, is fast, and has a puzzling swerve. Heazlewood did well at full-hack, getting full distance with his line-kicking and fielding and gathering surely. H. W. Brown was tlie most useful bach on the Taranaki side. The inside backs, however, were too slow in getting the ball nut to give him a chance. Crawford showed promise at wing-three-quarter, his try being a good piece of work. No Hurry.

"Country Cousin” writes: —"Mould you kindlv let me know through your notes at what time the result of the last Test was known in New Zealand, and approximately bow long after the game had finished." / Speed was not the essence of the contract in getting the results of the Test matches played In South Africa through to New Zealand, for the simple reason that 5.30 p.m. by South African time meant 3 a.in. in New Zealand. It m searielv likelv that even "Country Cousin’ would 'have been on hand to receive the results had they been posted at that hour. The Eastern Extension Cable Company, at tlie request of the Government, released tlie results nt 7 o'clock on Sunday mornings and this was tlie hour at which the result of the last Test was known in New Zealand “Tlie Dominion” promptly posted the results of each Test match on their notice board as they were received from tlie telegraph office at 7 a.m. Had it been necessary the Eastern Extension Calile Company could have received the results of tlie mutches played in South Africa within a few seconds’.' It will lie remembered that'the result of the last English Derby was received in New Zealand tliirtv seconds after the race had finished. With regard to the Rugby Tests in South Africa, however, it was not much use calile and postal officials waiting up ail night to announce results when nil good New Zealanders were sound asleep in their beds.

Backs. R. Westfield Age. 21 Height. Weight. Ft. In. 5 'J St. Lb. 10 7 B. H. D. Croft 21 0 12 10 W. fl. Hemingway.. .1!) 5 9 13 —■ A. M. Sniairl 21 G 2 13 8 W. J. White 20 5 11 11 H. T. Towers .... j j r> ioi 12 4 15. C. Caldwell 111 5 10 J 11 0 D. Bull 23 5 10* 11 II 11 Burge 5 0 11 24 5 (U 11 10 II. Bartley 5 7 11 23 5 3 10 — S. J. Malcolm 25 5 8. 10 9

Age. Height. Weight. Ft. In. St. Lb. W. 11. Langenburg. 24 hi 13 1 W. JI. Cerutti 111 >■ 10 13 — I. Coterie Thomsou. y in 11 12 J. B. O’Don n ell .... 24 y 10J 12 S W. J. Phipps 20 I) 11 7 ,T. A. O'Connor .... 21 6 —i 13 7 J. S. Lamb 21 6 —— 13 2 G. Bland 22 6 — 13 y K. B. London 26 6 1 14 M. Rosenblum 21 6 —J 12 10 II. JI. Abbott 25 6 13 8 E. ,1. Bardsley 24 ' 4 12 10 A. Munsie 21 6 3 13 7