RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 17766, 14 September 1921, Page 6

RUGBY

KEFLEC TIONS ON MAORI RACE. [Per United Press Association.] ROTORUA, September 14. Consequent upon the statement that the Springboks expressed a dislike to playing the Maori team on account of color prejudice, Kiwi Ainohau and Tai Mitchell, representing the Arawas, telegraphed 'the manager of the team regretting that the .Maoris who line! extended courtesy and hospitality to the Springboks in Rotorua did not know their feeling in the matter,, adding; “With that in your mind, to accept a welcome, break bread with onr people, and then later insult them as yo i have done is not, according to Maoris, the code honorably adopted by gentlemen.” SUPPORT OE RUGBY CODE. WANGANUI, September 14. Mr W. T. Parata, manager and organiser of the Maori team which recently played the Springboks at Napier, expresses regret that tho conduct of a certain section of the mixed crowd should have loft room for complaint. Mr Parata and tho members of his team desire to stale that they feel very grateful for tho privilege and honor extended to the Maoris by Mr Bennett, manager of tho Springboks, in agreeing to play this game. They also wish to say the Maoris believe in playing a keen, hard game, but are just as interested in maintaining the best traditions of tho Rugby code, and anxious not to depart from tho niceties and beauties of the game. NOTES BY “ONLOOKER.” Tho suggestion made in this column on Monday that tho new holders of tho Ranfnrly Shield might bo sounded as to their agreobleuess to allow tho Otago-Wcllington game to count as a shield contest has been acted on. It is pleasing to note that tho Wellington Rugby Union in a sporting spirit consents, with tho approval of tho governing body, to treat both tho Auck'and (21st iust.) and Otago (24th hist.) matches as shield contests, waiving the fact that no challenge was lodged. Thus the ‘ Napier Telegraph: Tho Hawko’s_ Bay-Poverty Bay game was the one in which the Springbok tactics could be studied. Their long suit was the “hold-up” scrum—a scrum which, if adopted in New Zealand, would kill tho game in a few years. There is no method so opposed to bright, open play as this scrum. The ball, when it comes out, is kicked back again. If it reaches tho half-backs one of them knocks it on, and there is another scrum. Of course tho purpose of these tactics is not hard to see. Tho Springboks can outweighs any pack in New Zealand, and any pack, no matter how well trained, must tire sooner or later after pushing its hardest in these scrums. Then when their opponents are tired tho Springboks open up. The International Rugby Conference will bo held at Wellington on Friday next.

The following team has been selected to represent _ Hawke’s Bay against Southland this afternoon: —Full-back, Dine; three-quarters—Kelly, Barclay and Grensile; five-eighths, J. Blake and Kivell; half-back, Brunsoll; wingforward, Batchelor; forwards—Kirkpatrick, Bunker, L. Brownlie, B, Gemmell, M'Nab, M. Brownlie, S. Gemmell. It ivould seem that Fea’s inclusion in the All Blacks as five-eighth is assured, and that tho selectors prefer lo continue Roberts as half-back.

Tho Maori team, after touring Australia next season, propose visiting England; hut they aro not likely to go to South Africa, since at tho last mooting of tho Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union Mr J. M. Brown stated that Mr Parata while in Napier asked Mr Bennett if thero was now possibility of a Maori team visiting. South Africa. Mr Bennett had told him plainly that neither Mr Parata nor any member of his race would over get accommodation in South Africa. Mr Bennott was also going to insist that no Maori should bo included in any New Zealand team visiting Africa. As Siddells (Wellington) was added to the trainees after Saturday’s cur-tain-raiser it is quite conceivable that ho may find a place as wing threequarter in the deciding test. A correspondent writes pointing out that “Onlooker” has not given any indication as to the result of tho fight for tho Rugby “ Ashes ” on Saturday, and invites my views thereon. The All Blacks lost the Auckland game because they lacked condition, failing to follow up consistently. With both forward and backward division “ cherry ripe,” as the result of ten days’ hard training, such a condition will bo wanting on Saturday next. Viewing tho outlook dispassionately I expect New Zealand to be still tho holders of the Rugby supremacy on Saturday, and I look forward to an announcement in the ‘ Sports Special ’ that they have got home by a decent winning margin. Will this satisfy niy inquisitive correspondent ?