SCRUMMAGE FIGURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 15

SCRUMMAGE FIGURES

South Africa, more efficient, in general scrummaging work and applying weight, to advantage, had an almost tw.o-to-one success in hooking in the second Test. From set scrums the ball was won twenty-nine times by the Springboks, and; sixteen times by New Zealand, with several of the scrummages ending indecisively. In some cases whcii the ball was actually hooked by New Zealand it was ' lost to the opposition through the . strength of the Springbok push. be watched, but he was smart enough to beat his man frequently, though an inclination to go a shade too far caused him to be held up on numerous occasions. At dtfaer times Harris played to the usual plan, being just a connecting Jink in getting the ball through to the wings with all possible haste; and then again he varied his play by using the stab kick. He, White, and others employed that means of bustling the opposing backs with good judgment. I Harris was one of the successes of the Test, and it. was made more clear than ever that he should have been in the Wellington Test ■■..- ■. — . ,

Among others who contributed prominently to the brighter features of the game was McKenzie, a New Zealand forward who went hard and fast all the way. He threw no end of energy into the tight, and was dashing in his breaking-away and in his following-up. He was one who repeated the magnificent form, displayed by the New Zealand forwards in the first Test, but the trouble was that they were not all able to do it. palton was a real live-wire, though .his forceful play lost its edge towards the finish. His virility was most marked when New Zealand was striving hard to hold its one-point lead in the second spell. Dick, on New Zealand's right wing, was not overfavoured with attacking opportunities, but now and again m the first spell he made dashes of some account.| His defensive play, however, was not quite so good as previously. Even so, he was one of New Zealand's best on the day. Phillips, playing in his first Test for New Zealand, had the task of keeping Williams in check, and he faced it with determination. It speaks well for his performance, on defence at any rate, that Williams was not seen to the same advantage as in other matches.

Where New Zealand called the tune in the first Test, the Springboks saw to it at Christchurch on Saturday that they would dictate the policy this time. Heavier weight in the pack and more solid scrummaging did not mean that the Springboks were forced to revert to the traditional type of South African game. Their aim was to gain as much of the ball as possible, and at the same time to cause thteir weight to tell against that of New Zealand. The ball was let out to the backs, who made play freely. It was much the same procedure as has been adopted regularly on the tour, With the nlan varied somewhat by giving rather more attention to inside penetration. It worked well.