BUILDING UP NEW ZEALAND'S GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 23

BUILDING UP NEW ZEALAND'S GAME

SUGGESTIONS AS TO WAYS AND MEANS

(By "Drop-Kick.")

New Zealand's Rugby structure, so sound in other days, has been made to appear insecure by the recent South African invasion. From all that one hears, reconstruction work is urgently . needed; and advice is offering in plenty as to how this should be ; carried out.- , si Results of the Springboks' tour certainly give cause for thought drid reflection,:and they bring to a greater'sense of realisation a "position which has been developing over a period of years. There A is an awakening now to the fact that New Zealand "'Rugby has been on the down grade. Let this, then, be the time for New Zealand Rugby's house to have a ways and means committee, giving full consideration to all suggestions which might be put forward for the good of the Dominion's national game, ■ ■ i--' ■ "■■■■

Already some matters for reference, ave been put forward. There was, for istance, the effect of the change from re traditional New Zealand scrtimiage formation. And it has also been eld by' many that the adoption of the mended kick-into-touch rule affected le standard of-Rugby in this country. GENERAL REORGANISATION. Writing "from Auckland a correpondent (R. M. Thomson) takes up nother line* "It has now become peractly evident," he writes, "that the Tew Zealand Rugby Union as at pre-

out that wonderful player, who not only showed the crowd his ability to 'play the game but was a genius," the correspondent/writes: "New Zealanders pride themselves as great sports, and I can assure you they are looked upon as such in other countries, .but the real fact is that they cannot stand a beating." The writer goes On to refer to the , comment made by the South African team's vice-captain 'about there being too'much "booing" [by a section of the crowd at matches, J particularly noticeable when Brand

ent constituted must either entirely eorganise our .national game, or step .own for those who will do so. For his reason I put forward, the followag suggestions for serious consideraLon.

"With regard to general organisation, peciflc interpretations should be given s to constitution of unions which have ow become purely metropolitan. in rganisation (as distinct from proviniai unions), the provincial unions to .e representative of the entire proince. In New Zealand the opposite rend has taken place to that in other ountries. In South Africa-: and the Jome countries, for instance, players aay be nominated from other unions a order to make up representative trength. to this county, during the >ast twenty years- our union reprecntation has shrunk and shrunk until ow our 'major 1 unions are, in reality nly metropolitan unions. "To .overcome this anomaly, the letropolitan clubs should be grouped i their own unions under their city itle, while 'major* unions should cover be entire province. The most appropriate example of my argument is Cansrbury. ' In that province there ar.e tiree unions, all at loggerheads with ne another in management. It is all ery well for those three to stage their wn encounters, - but .such matches hould be for the purpose of prOvidag trials for the selection of 'All Canerbury' sides, and not, as at present, nth no particular aim in view. "The same "scheme could be exended to the other provinces. This /ould then largely dispose of our arcical system of cramming trials into few days upon limited areas. "The Ranfurly Shield should be ailed in, and awarded upon a chalenge basis to all-provincial sides only. Ml challenges should be sei* 'direct o the New Zealand Rugby Union for' evlew. '■■■ COMMISSION SUGGESTED, "There should be appointed a comoission selected from All Blacks who re most in; touch with. developments f modern Rugby in other countries. ?he matter of availability is the difflulty, but purely as a Suggestion I ould nominate the following:—Messrs. lurrows, Manchester, Cottrell, Dalley, nd' Oliver, of Canterbury; Messrs. lush, Hadley (2), Corner, and Caughey, ■f : Auckland; Messrs. Grifßths, Jicholls, Kilby, and Sadler, of Welington; Messrs. Hore, of Otago; and litchell, of Southland, ; "This commission should have power o investigate all styles of scrum and •f -back play; and make a comprehenive report to the New Zealand Union iy the end of next February at the atest. The commission,co&ld also investigate each report upon " controversial rulings—in particular, that old iugbear the 'knock on.' "I should like to point one thing 'Ut in conclusion. A wing-three-luarter should be made to play as uch, whether ne be left, or right, acording to the turn of play. He should iot be expected to spend nine-tenths •1 the game flirting around among the onvards. until one does not know if ie is a loose forward, a quarter-back, three-eighths, or a full-back in disresa. He should be put right back ato his own line of action."