GREAT INSIDE BACKS

Evening Star, Issue 21007, 22 January 1932, Page 6

GREAT INSIDE BACKS

WING FORWARD NEVER HINDERED THEM [Special to the ‘Star.’] AUCKLAND, January 21. Concluding a column article in the ‘ Star ’ on the new scrum rule, Mr V. R. Meredith the famous Wellington half of thirty years ago, with Morrie Wood as five-eighth; and the successful Auckland selector till ill-health caused his retirement two years ago) says: “ Mr Dean is reported as saying that the abolition of the wing forward will improve our inside back play. I think he must have been misreported, because no one with any knowledge of New Zealand football could possibly make such a_ remark. To mention just a few prominent inside backs of the past (the list is not intended to be in any way exclusive) who had the faculty of penetrating the defence,,, a faculty so glaringly lacking in the men recently selected to represent New Zealand, 1 name Elliott, Keogh, Duncan, Wood, Stead, and Hunter. All of these men played against one, and most of them against two, wing forwards. It was probably the alept opposition that sharpened them up. In any event, the backs of those days never asked for certain players to be put out of action to enable them to be brilliant. The fact of there not being any inside backs with penetrative ability at present representing New Zealand is probably due to the fault of selection. The attacking, player has been discouraged, and preference mostly given to players with all the qualifications of a full-back, but none of anything else. Anyhow, New Zealand must alter its methods and evolve new methods arising out of the altered scrum. Undoubtedly, however, the breakaway or some other form of obstructionist will be developed.”