RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 19552, 10 May 1927, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,——l went out to Carisbrook last Saturday, and was painfully impressed with on© fact, and that is the inside backs do far too much kicking, and not enough handling. I repeatedly (in the four teams) saw the first five-c* - hth kicking down the field and ' leav*ig three men all in line without the chance of handling, and those three men (second five-eighth, centre threequarter, and wing three-quarter) should have been constantly fed. _ Why do trainers impress upon their inside backs to kick ? It is a wonder Southern, Zingari, Kaikorai, and Company do not take notice of ’Varsity A’s tactics. You never see their inside backs kicking down the field (thereby disobeying the first cardinal rule of football, which is to keep possession). No; they throw it out to the second five-eighth, who sends it on to the centre. Then the wing always has a chance. But go and see Kaikorai, Zingari, Southern, and the others, and you see their wing three-quarters in the air all day. Another thing: what is wrong with our full-backs? There is only one fullback in Dunedin at the present time who puts his backs into position tor attack. That player is Wilson, of Kaikorni. * How often do you see a fullback run lip to his three-quarters and start passing? Very seldom, except, I say, Wilson’s play, of Kaikorai. What oh earth is the matter with the scrums these days ? Trainers should teach Hacking. Half the scrums, are not properly ■ packed, consequently you will often see one set of forwards push the other pack before the ball is hooked. Then what has become of the art or dribbling? Two of the best men at that game I ever saw were Bain, ,oi Southern, and Peter Williams, of Alhambra, but, alas, it seems as if forwards go in for close rucking instead of the dribble. I trust coaches will note my remarks, which I offer for the wood of the game. In conclusion, I don’t see forwards follow up like one forward (Alex. M'Donald, of Kaikorai) T have in mind. Be never failed to follow up, especially when the other side were going to force the ball.—l am, etc., . Rugby Wellwjsheb. May 7.