RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL SLACKS’ FLAY INFLUENCED BY KIWIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL SLACKS’ FLAY INFLUENCED BY KIWIS

Team Disrupted at Times Australians Beaten at Own Game Since the Kiwi Rugby team returned to New Zealand there has been much discussion as to the possible influence of its brand of football upon the game in this country as a whole. When New Zealand at Carisbrook on Saturday won by 31 points to 8 the first of the two Tests to be played against the visiting Australian team there was no mistaking the domination of the Kiwi element. Only six of the All Black team were ex-Kiwis, yet the play repeatedly look the form of Kiwis versus Australia (says the Evening Post)- . . . It so happens that the Kiwi style is in some respects the Australian style, with the result that when the tourists came off the ground they nad to admit that they had been beaten: at their own game.

Tendency to Disruption. The predominance of the Kiwi contingent in the New Zealand team certainly brought many points to New Zealand, but it also tended to disrupt the team at times. When a link Is suddenly found to bo missing from a Kiwi chain movement there may easily be a dangerous turn. The Haws which existed in this respect have been recognised by the appropriate officials, and in an attempt to rectify them the team for the second Test is to be assembled two days before the match.

Next time it is to be hoped that the Kiwis will not be operating as a team of their own among feliow-All Blacks just as likely as the opposition to be baffled by unexpected manoeuvres. One bad flaw in New Zealand s performance was the failure io provide the intensive backing up expected of such a side. Many of the openings presented to the Australians, openings which were,, nullified by th? Australians themselves, should have been sealed off. ’What was mainly lacking from the play of the New Zealand forwards was concentrated drive. Partly responsible was the fact that the ball, was too lively on the hard ground and in the strong wind to bo dribbled effectively. Retention of Elvidge. The retention of Elvidge for the second Test surprised, almost all who saw Saturday’s match, though it w possible that the selectors showed appreciation oi the circumstance in which Elvidge found himself for th? first time, between two Kiwis. Things would almost certainly have been better had th.? undoubtedly brilliant Alien been next to Smith and a player such as Barchard or Colquhoun at first fiveeighths. As things were, Elvidge’s tendency to run almost to his marker

Marlborough to Play at Greymouth West Coast footballers have welcomed the news that the Marlborough representatives, who have repelled all challenges for the Seddon Shield this season, will play West Coast at Greymouth on Saturday week. The shield holders have proved a fine team, very strong in the forwards, where they are led by T. Hegglun, the South Island front-row forward, F. Bennett, a grand type of lock forward, A. Haines and the Gibb brothers. The Marlborough backs have not won the highest honours, but two of them, B. Fitzgerald (second five-eighth) and G. Ireland (half-back) were in the combined Seddon Shield districts’ team which gave the Australians such a close game at Westport. West Coast was considered a little unlucky in some quarters to have to be content with a draw in its shield challenge match, and the second meeting between the teams will give West Coast the opportunity to prove its worth, though a Marlborough team without the shield at stake might not be such a formidable proposition.

Strong Forwards. Much lias been made in the Westland district this season of the strength of the Kokatahi forwards, but they met more than their match in the Celtic pack last Saturday. At times, with combined foot rushes and determined rucking, Kokatahi looked all that had been claimed for them, but in at least 75 per cent, of the game they were beaten. The Celtic

forwards started very loosely, but

they soon rallied, and their success in winning the ball was a big factor in the victory for the side. The best of the Kokatahi forwards was Ritchie, a front-row man, who was on Ute ball all the afternoon. He is not big but he is strong and-fit, and he was always in the limelight. Others to impress were R. Godfrey for his work in the tight, P. Duggan, R. Wieblitz (hardly the forward he was several years ago), and J. Monk.

Outstanding Backs, The Kokatahi backs were decidedly weak on Saturday as an attacking combination —there was little or no combination —but two of them, W. Amberger, a provincial representative, and C. Monk, a former West Coast: back, played splendid .games, and it was largely due to their fine defensive work that Celtic did not run up a bigger score. Why two such outstanding players should have been played at centre (Monk) and on the wing (Amberger) was something of a mystery, considering the state of the ground. They seldom received a chance on attack, except those they made for themselves. When Amberger moved in to second fiveeighth in the second spell, he • was frequently dangerous. Monk has lost little of his skill, and his positional play and tackling were excellent.

Bright Football. The Celtic backs provided some bright football in the first spell of their match against Kokatahi on Saturday, throwing the ball about freely and handling well, in spite of the heavy rain and strong wind. The defence of the opposing backs, however, was solid, especially among the three-quarters, and Celtic did not score in the first spell, in which they faced the wind. Celtic have reaped the reward this season for their efforts to play open football. They were unfortunate in the matter of injuries early in the season, but recruits such as G. Parry and A. Howell strengthened rather than weakened the side, and much of the success of the backs in the later stages of the championship was due to their play, combined with the marked improvement shown by the forwards, giving O Callaghan, Sil—cock, Millett, and Rea chances of which they made good use.

Canterbury Again, „ , , West Coast defeated Canterbury at Greymouth in June by 11 points to 9, and they will try to repeat the dose at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday. Canterbury football > has not been of a particularly high standard this season, in spite of the win over Australia and the close game against Southland fol the Raiifuily Shield and 'West Coast should have at least a reasonable chance of winning’ ”lt has to be taken into account, however, that Lancaster Park has not boen a lucky ground lor West Coast. FreouentlV Canterbury has been beaten at Greymouth only to turn the tables on its home ground. di Union’s " l ' ; Help Appreciation of the harmonious way in which the pinion and subunion had worked together during the season was expressed in a letter from the Westland Sub-Union received by the management committee of the West Coast Rugby Union at its weekly meeting last evening. The letter said that at a recent meeting subunion members .had voiced their apnroval of the efforts of the union to Leet the wishes of the Westland secMr F W. Baillie, president of the Rutov Union, said that every endeavour bad been made to consider the outlviim’ districts and it was pleasing to think that these efforts had met with approval. Mr Baillie presided. Others presen were‘Messrs A. M. Jamieson, O. S co tt M R Bunt, w. Blair, A. Lind. gXs Hendry, A. Agnew, G. Nel-

son, R. Longstaff, I-I. Clifford and 0. McLean (secretary). Mr. R. Longstaff, manager of the Greymouth team which was defeated by Inangahua in the challenge match for the Dittman Shield at Reefton on Saturday, reported that the trip was enjoyable and that a fair standard of football was seen.—lt was decided to congratulate the Inangahua SubUnion on its success. It was decided that nominations be called for a seven-a-side tournament ■for all grades on Saturday, nominations to close to-morrow afternoon. It was further resolved that efforts be made to obtain the use of a loudspeaker in order that the broadcast of the Canterbury-West Coast match could be heard by spectators at Rugby Park. The Celtic third grade team was granted permission to play a Marist (Christchurch) team at Greymouth on Saturday. The Celtic junior team was granted permission to play New Brighton at Greymouth on September 28. The secretary reported that he had received advice by telephone that the Marlborough team would visit Greymouth. on September 28 and that written advice would be forthcoming shortly. Members expressed the opinion that the match should prove an excellent draw and were appreciative of the decision of the Seddon Shield holders to travel to Greymouth for the game. The arranging of publicity was left to Mr. Baillie and Mr. McLean. The selectors were instructed to choose the West Coast team to play Marlborough during the week-end. The matter of attending to necessary improvements at Rugby Park was left to the grounds comriiittee with power to act. Changes in Wes l Coast Team R, L. Roberts (three-quarter) and J. Haddock (emergency forward) are not available for the West Coast Rugby, representative team, which will leave to-morrow evening for Christchurch to play Canterbury on Saturday. They will be "replaced by L. Silcock (Celtic) and* C. Lewis (Westland). Proposed; All Black Tour to Australia (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. The chances of an All Black visit to Australia in 1947 are to be discussed with the New Zealand authorities by two delegates from the New South Wales Rugby Union, Messrs A. J. Tencred and W. H. Cerutti, who arrived at Auckland by air from Sydney. They will also confer with the New Zealand Union on international Rugby rules.