FALLING OFF IN STANDARD

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 22

FALLING OFF IN STANDARD

There is a good deal in what a New Zealand-born resident of Yorkshire, now on a visit to the Dominion, had to say' this week in his observations on present-day Rugby in New Zealand. A drift set in very definitely when tHe traditional formation was thrown overboard for the adoption of one which had caused no little concern in the Home countries. That drift nas not been checked. The eight-man scrummage in New Zealand has1 done a tremendous amount of harm to the game, far more than in the marked deterioration of play in so far as the scrummage itself is concerned. From time to time it has been pointed by the writer that New Zealand made a big sacrifice in jettisoning a formation which made for far greater efficiency all round than any other, and one which, built on specialisation with each man fitting into the , general scheme of things, made the standard of Rugby high and the style of play attractive. Much has been lost, by the changes which have been made, and, though under ,the existing order it is possible for teams at times to turn on good displays, the general standard of play is at a fairly low level. To bring it back to its previous high mark a return to the traditional New Zealand game seems to be the best course.

Under the handicap of a drop in standard, New Zealand is sending- a team on a tour of the Home countries. It wil be found there that the type

of game is not unlike that into which I New Zealand has drifted, and that the ' opposition generally is not so strong as might be expected. On a tour such as that'-shortly to be undertaken, a New Zealand selection of players must develop into a strong combination. For that reason the effects of the changed order in New Zealand may,not be felt very strongly. There .is, as the New Zealander from Yorkshire noted, much flat-footedness among -the backs. -.But is not this the case : with backs in the Home countries? A picture in "The Post. recently showed a line of English backs against Scotland almost motionless though the ball,.having been heeled by the forwards, was on its way from the half to the stand-off half. Reports indicate that'this flat-footedness of backs is common in football in the Home countries. ; . j, The pity is that New Zealand should have fallen for 3 change, which deprived the game-here of clean, fast hooking and quick heeling, which made all ,the difference to the backs; Each man in the line of backs was then to be seen on the move, taking his pass in full stride. Incisivehess by the inside backs was a feature, and spectacular dashes by the wing-three-quarters were the rule rather than the exception. Nowadays the wings, more often than not, find themselves bottled up by the time the ball reaches them; in fact, it is common to see the rearguard of the team losing possession in a scrummage moving up on the backs in possession. All this and more can be put down to the adoption of a scrummage which had little, to recommend it and which has proved to be an utter failure.

HARM DONE BY SCRUMMAGE CHANGE