RUGBY IN ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 18714, 16 August 1924, Page 10

RUGBY IN ENGLAND

METHODS LITTLE CHANGED. “ Taking the game in Great Britain generally,” says a writer in the Birmingham ‘Boat,’ “there is every reason to express pleasure at its progress, One would hardly say that it has reached the pre-war standard set by the New Zealand touring side in 1905. One _ can regard that year now as an interesting criterion in forming contrasts in view of the visit next September. They lake their football very 'seriously in New Zealand, and to every playing member of to-day one would commend a perusal of their history and the adoption of their maxims, which have been practised with an uncommon success. Such a variety of strategy can bo employed in Rugby football that it requires" close collaboration to make it effective.

“In England we are, perhaps, too casual; the Saturday afternoon game for the game’s sake suffices, with perhaps a stimulated effort at serious training for r. couple of days prior to a match. In New Zealand they have a perfect organisation which makes its influence felt upon lads in school, whom it watches with the eyes of an anxious parent. The system is so arranged that stage by stage tho schoolboy as ho grows in years and skill is brought higher and higher, until he becomes a national player. The training hall is one of the most prominent features of their union and club system, and is undoubtedly ono of the principal aids of encouraging young players to fostering the spirit ■ f enthusiasm, and to perfecting ideas for the better development of the game on its practical side. And here we have the basis of successful colonial football, and can contrast it with our own. They practise tactics—which are the soul of Rugby football. A team may be composed of stars, and then bo beSlen by an average side if that side employs sound tactics. And combination is not tactics; it is assumed, and the tactics are a refinement of it. When clubs understand that there is a severe limit to what is possible by individual effort, or by combination in its elementary forms, then more study will be given to tactics, and club football will advance. "Some clubs are still trying to. evolve, by playing five three-quarters and seven forwards, a result of the last New Zealand tour, when the visitors’ adoption of a wingforward—not tho wing-forward spoken . f to-day, for ho is really a wing-forward —created dismay, and their etxraordinary aptitude for securing ‘ a shooting ’ possession of tho ball from the caused some doubts as to the legitimacy of their play. It is stated that, the team to commence its tour here in September will be more powerful than its predecessor in the forward rank, and ; one can only wonder whether we are to sec supermen, for on the previous occasion there were five forwards over 6ft in height, and the weights were lost, list 61h, while tho average was lost. “ The presence of the Now Zealanders will give the game an added impetus, and in reflecting on this last season’s play one wonders how the victorious English side would have fared against that all-conquer-ing colonial team of 1905. Our play is traditionally tho same now as it was then. We have made no great effort to emulate New Zealand method. As on example, outback play is often very pretty, but ineffective, and we wonder why. The New Zealander never parts with tho ball until the moment of tackle, on tho principle that the tackier is a defender out of action as far as stopping tho lino is concerned. As a team ono would rather' plump for their superior cleverness, their general exercise of strategy and tactics, but whether they wore faster than this year's English and Scottish three-quarter hues is doubtful. Speed has beefi tho essence of our game, and what an improvement the New Zealanders will find in France, who are now keen opponents.” But A. C. (“John") Wallace, (he Oxford University Rugby Union player and Scottish international, thinks more of the capacity of the Home teams. In a letter to friends in Australia he gives some interesting details of the recent England,v. Scotland match, in which he played, Wallace states that they were beaten in tho forwards, but had their luck held they would have won. Slight errors were responsible for Scotland’s defeat Wallace says that the English team sel- | dom missed an opportunity that presented itself, and their tactics, both between forwards and backs, were better than ScotI land’s. He thought that England would put up a fine game against the All Blacks. Wallace toured New Zealand with the 1921 New South Whales team, when he played with tho University Club. Ho afterwards j joined up with G.P.S. Old Boys.