Rugby Football

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 8

Rugby Football

By

“FIVE-EIGHTHS"

THE DEFEATS IN AUSTRALIA

SALUTARY LESSON FOR NEW ZEALAND

In three straight victories in succession in the tests against New Zealand, Australia has done what no other Rugby country in the world has been able to accomplish, and players and followers of the game throughout the Dominion will heartily congratulate those good sportsmen on the other side of the Tasman upon at last being able to wrest Rugby supremacy from us. NeW South Wales has for lons years •*’ played the part of bottom dog on the Rugby field, but signs have not been wanting that the standard of play in the Commonwealth has shown a marked im- ■ provement during the last few seasons. A distinct forward move was made when the amateur Rugby game was started in Victoria, and set going again in Queensland. Hence it was that New Zealand this season had to meet a reorganised Australia, and for the first time in the history of the game New Zealand has had to submit to defeats in each of the

“ ” test matches played. It is not much use our saying, “Oh, we .'3 did not have our best men in Australia.’ That was not Australia’s fault. In the wisdom of the selectors for the provinces „„ and of the New Zealand selectors, we sent the best men we could find, and they have proved not quite good enough. True, the 1929 All Blacks were dogged by the very worst of luck. It is difficult to recall a New Zealand side which has . .-'i been dogged with such persistent bad luck. The story of the tour of the 1929 All ~ Blacks Will go down in history as one of 1 the worst managed in the long record of : tours abroad. It did not appear to be a united family from the very outset. The first false move made was when the mana- - : ger sent out a call for another half-back when Dailey became injured. This was quite unnecessary, as the team had on hand in Tuck a half-back who had been chosen by the New,Zealand selectors. FrOm then on, the most extraordinary shuffling went on with the team. Centre- , • three-quarters were played as wing-for-wards; five-eighths were moved to fullbacks ; and to crown all Tuck, who was not considered good, enough to play as half-back, was included as full-back in : the final test on Saturday. Considering the manner in which the team was pulled about, and the fact that Nepia and Dailey were hors de combat, ■'the New Zealand team must be given ” every credit for the gallant effort they made to save the day on the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday; .The 29,000 spectators who witnessed the game must have been treated to a thrilling display. The New Zealanders, when the Australians assumed the lead i; towards the close of the contest, made superhuman efforts to regain supremacy, and hammered hard at the Australian line, put valiant defence held, and-for the ■ third test in succession New Zealand had to accept defeat. This is quite a new experience for the . All Blocks, and one which should cause th® authorities of the game in this coun- ’ try to do some hard thinking. Those who have followed the game closely in this country have been aware for the past two seasons that New South ' Wales had at last reached the New Zealand standard. The Waratahs last year in the Dominion played a superior brand of Rugby to that revealed by New Zealand. Tbeir backs were faster than ours, and' the forwards, too. were speedier than ! ’ our vanguards. Had it not been for the penalty goals scored by New Zealand , New South Wales would have won every ■ one of the test matches played in New Zealand last season. Everyone was aware that very, few of the Waratahs who recently toured Great Britain were included in the team which toured New Zealand last season. It was known, however, that the All Blacks would have to meet the full strength of that formidable side when they landed on Australian shores this season, and the result is now history. “Malcolm, at scrum half, played magnificently,’’ the cables told us concerning Saturday’s Test, “feeding his outside backs liberally.” This about explains the reason why the Australians triumphed. In order for a half-back to be able - to feed his backs liberally the forwards must give him plenty of ball. Apparently the Australian 3-2-3 scrum was working quite ismbothly on Saturday. “New Zealand lost the match for want of reliable place-kicking,” the cables further told us. This, could have been rectified had Cundy been played at fullback instead of Tuck. The Wairarapa man would have made a better fullback than Tuck, and he is one of the mo?t reliable place-kicks in the Dominion. But it is no use repining. Australia has wrested Rugby supremacy from us at last, and. all. that remains for us to do is to heartily congratulate those , , good sportsmen on at last realising tbeir j ambition. This Australian victory should cause a wave of enthusiasm for Rugby to sweep the Commonwealth., It will greatly sti- ’,, mulate interest in the game in Sydney, ~' where it is now on a crest of public ■■ popularity, and will spur on those in ' Brisbane and Melbourne who are battling to establish the amateur game on a sound footing. Australia’s success will greatly increase public support, as no country can . be expected to become enthusiastic over a pastime at which its representatives are being continually beaten. Australia up to the present has occupied on the Rugby field the position New Zealand holds on the cricket field. When New Zealand can succeed in defeating an Australian eleven in a cricket Test match, what great crowds we can expect at s cricket matches in this couptry. The same spirit of national pride will apply ; with regard to Rugby in Australia. Nothing succeeds like • success, and after these three straight-out wins over NewZealand in Test games we can expect a wave of enthusiasm to sweep the Commonwealth. The Australians thoroughly deserve their success, as they have served ' their long period of apprenticeship with find sportsmanship, and no one will grudge them their hour of victory. But New Zealand’s showing on the international Rugby field in 1929 is by no means reassuring in view of the stern task the Dominion has ou hand next year. And if our signal defeats at the hands of Australians result in New Zca,A . land at long last putting her Rugby house in order they will prove a blessing to the game" in this country. The delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union made a bad error of judgment when they did not at once agree to the proposal that all matches this season should be played under the rules as laid down by the International Board. The year 1930 is not so very far away, and our fellows will now get little opportunity to familiarise themselves with the laws under which they will be compelled to play while the British team is with us next year. "God Help Nsw Zealand!” “T.0.C.” writes; “A few local correspond dents have been endeavouring to bring about the abolition of the wing-forward in Rugby on the score of rough and unattrae-. tire play. They forget the grand game that men of the old school used to play, and tho good one that could still be played, it present-day exponents tried to acquire the same dash and skill, instead of devoting their energy to play the man so much and not the ball. Why do our forwards on numerous occasions allow big Jack Ford to break through the line-outs? Simply because our forwards are not UP to the standard of their opponents. This tour is a very important one, and we must admit that the present team on a Whole is a -very weak one. Certainly, weaker teams have gone to Australia from here, but haye they been picked after a trial match at which players from all over New Zealand took part? I notice that the Aus Italian break-sways are being penalised on numerous »ee»»lon» lor off-aide play—far

wore often than Porter used to be when he was playing rover, Now, one cau imagine what sort of a tiiue the New Zealand halt-back would have, if he did not have the wing-forward to shield him from these off-side players. This is the real duty of a wing-forward, and the reason why be was Invented. Consequently it Is not his fault if the other All Black forwards do not do tbeir bit in the scrum. The 2-3-2 formation has always beeu, and always will be the characteristic of New Zealand Rugby. Give me a team using the New Zealand formation in which the forwards are not afraid to use their weight, will push their hardest in the scrum, besides knowing how to properly wheel a scrum; and I guarantee to defeat any team playing eight men in the scrum and no wing forward.’ It has been lately reported in the papers that the Springboks are seriously thinking of reverting to our formation. Mark me, it would be a success with them, because their forwards are of the right stamp. I prophesy that if the Springboks are using our formation, 2-3-2, In 1932, and the standard of New Zealand Rugby is the same as to-day, then God help New Zealand.” Of two things, I can assure “T.0.C,’.: The first is that a wing-forward cannot protect his half-back. If he did so, he would be Immediately penalised for obatructlon under a referee who knew his job. The second fact I would impress upon my correspondent is that be need not have the slightest fear that the Springboks will be ever likely to adopt the New Zealand method of scrum formation. When the South Africans were tn New Zealand In 1021, many of the New Zealand Rugby officials admitted that , the Springbok scrum .method was superior to that of New Zealand. and the Springboks were under the impression that New Zealand was going to adopt the British method. They did not do so, but were compelled to play an eight-man serum In South Africa in 1928. Neither South Africa, England. Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, or Australia are ever likely to adopt a scrum formation which New Zealand alone of all the Rugby countries of tho world still fondly clings to.

Lending Flayers. “Old Timaruvian” writes: '‘Some weeks ago in your very excellent notes you said that Ron. Stewart had retired from the game owing to the unfair barracking of- a section of the crowd. Coming from Tlmaru this was a great surprise to me, as his clean tactics and his general good sportsmanship have made him a great favourite with the Rugby public. Your information re his retirement is quite inaccurate. Ron. has played throughout the season for Tlmarn High School Old Boys, and last Saturday he led the Town team against the Country. In this game Archie Strang plaved for the Country team, and was the outstanding back on the ground. Tour notes on leading players throughout New Zealand are much appreciated. You would do well to make these notes ft feature of your articles, as all Rugbyites are very Interested In our leaqihg players,' If “Old Timaruvian” will drop a line to one of his friends In his home town, he will find that Ron. Stewart was earlv in the season subjected to a ‘good deal of hostile barracking, and was so disgusted that he gave the game best for a time, The same thing has happened to more than one'Ali Black. Success appears to make, some people en: rious. Even Jgek when heavyweight boxing champion of the world, had numbers of detractors who would have been' overjoyed to have - seen, him hurled .from his exalted perch, rlt seems to be the penalty one has to pay for greatness. 1824 Ifalfbackl.

Mr. J. Morlatity writes from Featherston; "Will you kindly supply the answer to the following! Who was, during the 1924 All Blacks’ tour, considered to* be the best halfback. Mill nr Dailey?” The 1924 New Zealand team was well served behind the scrum, in J. Mill arid W. C. Dailey, they possessed two as clever halfback's as have ever borne the silver fern. Dailey played In the first international match on that tour, against Ireland, at Dublin, but Mill was preferred for his superior speed, and figured in the international games against Wales and England. It can. therefore, be taken that the selectors on that tour considered Mil] the better halfback of the pair. "VarlHy in Form.

What an elusive thing is that intangible quality known a?' form. Last Saturday week, in their game against Petone, the University fifteen shaped like a secondrate club team, , pt) Saturday last, they shaped like the champions they have provt ed themselves to be during'the past coupld of seasons. They were scarcely recognisable on Saturday us the same side who had cut such a sorry figure against Petone. On Saturday fire and devil marked the play of the forwards from kick-off to "no-side." The result was speedy 'Varsity rearguard got plenty of the ball, and what a dazzling display they gave the 5000 spectators who witnessed the game. Why Is it that we. cannot more often see exhibitions of Rugby such as 'Varsity gave us on Saturday- Throwing the leather about with rare abandon, the University rear--guard handled well, and frequently half-a-dozen, players would handle at top pace to lef th® wingers waltz over unopposed, Ramson was the outstanding player bn the field. He played a sterling game for 'Varsity at centre-three-quarter, his pace enabling him to travel fast enough to give his wingers room to move in. On one occasion he cut in to swerve clean through the Poneke defence to ground the ball close to the posts. Ramson is now putting that little spice of devil Into his play which he has lacked in the past, and his defensive work on Saturday was first-rate. If he keeps on as he is going, he may yet get his eap against the Britishers next year.

Mackay played a brilliant game at wiug-three-ffuarter for 'Varsity. ‘ This player has plenty of pluck, and always gives It ago when sent at the line. He has pace and weight, and takes a deal of stopping when In his He waltzed over the line twice on Saturday. Bastwood, on the other wing, is another greyhound whom it does pot pay to give a yard’s start. He whipped over the Poneke line very smartly on Saturday. F. Cormack played a sterling defensive game at full-back for the students. Time and again lie repelled determined attacks by the Poneke forwards, and his powerful kicking was of great service to his side. Of course the 'Varsity backs could not have sparkled in this fashion had. the forwards not done their part. Deiderich. H. Cormack, Edgar, and Blakeney kept going from Start to finish, and were splendidly supported by p pack tn which there was not a single Slacker. It la clear that Poneke will have to dig up a fresh set of backs. With the exception of Neal and Julian the old club does not possess a rearguard player up to senior club standard. They have been plqylng for some years now. and will never get any better. It would pay Poneke to boldly bring up a set of youngsters from the juniors next season. It must have been heart-breaking to the Poneke forwards at the start of the game on Saturday to send the leather out time and again to their backs, only to see them fall to do anything with It. Surprise for Athletie. ,

The surprise of the day at the week-end was the defeat of Athletic by Marist by 13 points to 8. With a set of backs including SvOnson. Pelham. Huxtable and Heazlewood. one would have thought that Athletic must easily triumph over Marist. Baeks, however, can do nothing if the forwards in front of them are beaten, and it was here that the green and whites carried the day Putting plenty of vim Into their play the Marist forwards dominated scrums and line-out and scarcely gave the Athletic team a look tn. Broderick was in his best form at wing-three quarter, aild scored two elever tries. . McDonald (centre) 1 and Eville (five-eighth) also played up with spirit. E, Barry. Cummings, Stiver. Ottaway. and Wynne played sterling games In the front line, Had Marist shaped as they did on Saturday they would have ■ occupied a position much higher on the championship ladder than they do to-day. Athletic gave a most disappointing showing, and In dropping this inateii lost any hope they had of annexing the championship. Petone Move Up. Petone are steadily elimbing the ladder, and are now in second place, three rungs bebltfd University. Though the Oriental forwards made things interesting in tfie first spell on Saturday, Petone's superior combination told its tale In the second session. and the villagers ran out winners by 14 points to 5. • It was a great run Elvy made when he raced 1 away from halfway tp go clean t’BrcugH the Oriental defence. Cowan played a bright game behind the

Petone scrum, and the veteran Byrne did quite well on the five-eighths line, Potts has developed into quite a Sensational long-distance place-kicker. He put a beauty over from the side-line on Saturday when Elvy scored In the corner. Old Boys Go Well. ..... Old Boys continue to do well, but It was only the superior weight of their forwards which enabled them to defeat Eastbourne bv 9 points ori Saturday. Grenfell was in fine form at centre for Old Boys, and was responsible for both tries scored in the first spell: scoring the first one himself and Bending Hugh Hand over for the other. Hand is a dangerous scoring man. and he helped himself to a second try in this ganie. . , , It never does to take things for granted. Old Boys thought the leather was going Into touch on one occasion, and did not bother about it, Dlrtness came up at great pace, snapped up the ball, and raced away to place it between the posts. . Eastbourne will never become champions until they learn to tackle. At present they are far too much inclined to snatch at thin air in going for their man. There is only one way to bring n man down, and that is to take him low. Eastbourne has a gooil little team, but they are too light, and will have to dig up more brawn from somewhere beyond the hills. Senior B Competition.

Hutt, who are leading fpr th® Senior B competition, made no race of it in their game With Training College on Saturday, winning convincingly by 20 points to nil. Tho position of the teams now stands as follows :■—

Uptt again fared well lit tuelr match against Training College on Saturday. The ground was very heavy, and the ball at times very slippery; consequently handling was very difficult. Particularly noticeable were the many neat exhibitions of footwork by each side, which compensated, in a measure, for the lack of combination by either the forwards or the rearguard. If Hutt continue to play up to their present form, iney should experience little difficulty S w inning the championship. Particular .merest will centre on next Saturday's watch at Petone, when Hutt will meet Oriental, the only team at whose hands they suffered defeat In the first round this season. Oriental, by all accounts, seem to be shaping well, and a game well up to senior A standard should be witnessed.

Jarman, tho Hutt full-back, is conspicuous each Saturday by his consistently steady play. A feature of his play is his coolness, and he is always sure of peeurzing either man or bill. His dodging tactics and llne-klcklng are particularly commendable.

Peck continues to play up to form, and is a lower of strength to his side, always making brllllipt "breakaways.” Feeney mafic a good showing on Saturday, but in many eases his good play was spoiled by his tendency to do too much by himself, and the same fault might apply to McKay, although this man played a particularly line game ou .Saturday, scoring two tries in the second half.

Before the Final Battle. “Just what is In the mindb of New Zealrind officials in withholding tbeir team until the last moment is unknown, but It Is known that if ever a team was out to win it is this one," remarked Sydney “Sun” the day before the third Test. "Defeated in both Tests, the players feel that the Dominion's Rugby prestige Is slipping, and that the only way to call a halt Is for Australia to be defeated to-morrow. “A prominent member of the New Zealand tgam said to an Australian player at Brisbane on Saturday night: ‘We’re mad to win in Sydney next Saturday,' while Porter, the captain, said good-humoredly: ‘We’ve got to win the third Test. You'll have to climb over our dead bodies to beat u9l* “However, the winning of the rubber baa not caused Australian players to let up to the slightest degree. ’We are after tn#hat-trick,’ said Finley, the vice-captain. “A. C. Wallace, captain of the Wiratahri and Australian and N-S.W. selector, remarked at the Sydney Cricket Ground; that the second Test at Brisbane was a wonderful game. ‘The exhibition of the Australian team,’ he a?id, ‘was a vast improvement on that given in the first Test; in fact, it was superior fo those of the Waratahs abroad. If our team reproduces such a display In the third Test, the public is in for a treat.’"

Short Passes. B. D. Kilby, the 1924 AU Black halfback, transferred back to Wanganui from Taranaki. He played for the Star Club in Tdranaki, and when lie was tarewelled a token of esteem from the club was banded to him by A. L. Humphries,’ who in his day was one of New best bull'-backs. '

In & recent Huifby match In Uuceuslauu, MeGhle, who scored a great try for Australia In the second Test agalust the. All Blacks, put up a wonderful petformance lu contributing 32 points to the total of 44 scored by hla side. McGble scored seven tries, converted four, and kicked a penalty goal. W. E. Henley, who leaves shortly to lake up his Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University, played for Hawke's Bay in the Ranfurly Shield match. He is a Napier boy—his father was a doctor there— and he went to Napier Boys’ High School before going ou to Wangauui Collegiate School. The referee in Hie All Hlaekp’ Test at Brisbane was Mr. Ray Cooney, a wellknown New South Wales enthusiast. First playing football at Sydney High School, which can boast of being the alma mater of Gordon Shaw (manager), Sfd King and Ken Tarleton, of the'-W»ratalis. Mr, Cooney was a playing member of the North Sydney Club for eight years, during which he played for New South Wales against the Maoris, as well as several New South Wales fifteens and metropolitan teams against New Zealand. He lias played first-grade cricket for North Sydney, and was lust season a member of the Gordon seconfi eleven. This is only his third year as » referee.

Otago will field a strong team agilnst Southland to-day. For the full-back position the selectors have chosen Stevenson, of University A, whose rush-stopping and tackling throughout the season have been particularly fine. No doubt many expected to find Lindsay, of the South African All Black team, in the full-back position. His injury on the Springbok tour did not allow him to play till about four weeks ago. and Since then he has played some brilliant games. Stevenson has been consistently good right through the season, and that, combined with the fact that Lindsay has played for only a few weeks, is probably the reason why the selectors have cjioscn Stevenson. Lindfefiy, however, will probably tie found to be the full-back of the Otago touring team to go north this year. W. E Hazlett, the 1028 All Black, who did so well on the South African tour, lias definitely decided to come north witli the Southland team thia season. This young giant scales 14st.' injb. in weight, and stands Oft. in his socks. He l<wrnt his Rugby at Waltakl High School anil gained a place In the Southland representative team nt 19 years of age'. He if a landed proprietor to-day. owning one of (he largest sheen-runs In Otago, which stretches from Lumsden nearly nn tn Lake Wakatipu. The next match for the Ranfurly Shield will be between Auckland nnd Wairnrapn. at Carterton an August ip A CERTAIN FRIEND. ELLIMAN'S EMBROCATION is tile athlete’s .surest friend. Aches and pa ins disappear.—Advt.

Hutt P. 13 W. L. D. 0 1'or. Ag. Pte, 12, 1 243 40 24 Johnsonville 13 10 i 100 52 21 Oriental .... 12 0 1 151 84 20 Training Col. 12 7 5 0 119 122 14 Selwyn 13 5 6 2 72 09 12 Wellington . 12 4 5 3 107 11 University .. 12 4 6 S3 n Melrose 13 8 8 2 77 218 8 Upper Hutt . 13 3 8 2 132 8 Porlrua ..... 13 10 1 165 5 Old Boys ... 12 2 a 1 63 17T