SOUTH AFRICAN SCRUMMAGINGALL BLACKS DECIDE TO RETAIN OWN METHODS IN MEANTIME

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 June 1949, Page 4 (Supplement)

SOUTH AFRICAN SCRUMMAGING—ALL BLACKS DECIDE TO RETAIN OWN METHODS IN MEANTIME

[From CLAUDE KING, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent

with the All Blacks]

CAPE TOWN, June 2 (Rec. 10 a.m.). —During a conversation with the assistant-manager, Mr’ A. McDonald, and the vice-captain, R. A. Dalton, the 1937 Springbok vicecaptain, D. Craven, claimed that unless the All Blacks followed the South African hooking methods they would not win the ball.

Summarised, the South African scrummaging methods are: —

Six Points 1. The flank forwards pack on an angle of almost 75 degrees and push on the hips of the front row props to keep the front row compact.

2. The hooker advances both feet to the centre line of the scrum and then moves them as neax- to the side from which the ball is being put in as possible.. 3\ The locks keep both legs back and the inside leg of each lock presses against the other to ensure greater ‘stability.

4. The whole scrum pushes immediately the ball is put in. 5. The flank forward on the side the ball is put in then swings a foot to assist in the hooking. This releases the weight from his ‘side of the scrum, which then tends to swing the hooker toward the ball. I 6. The channel the ball comes out is between the lock and the flank forward and, because the flank forward swings out so wide, this is also a wide channel. I The South African referees do not appear to consider that the flank forwards’ stance constitutes an obstruction position. ■ I Wilson Not So Experienced I

E. H. Catley adopts the same stance in the scrum as the South Africans, but N. .Wilson is not so experienced. In practices since the Univerities’ match Catley has been instructing Wilson and the results may be better in the future. The All Blacks are otherwise in the meantime retaining their normal packing methods. Wilson’s sore arm muscles have responded to treatment and he will play against Boland. The All Blacks today were the guests at a Parliamentary luncheon at which the Prime Minister, Dr Malan, and the Leader of the Opposition, General Smuts, were present.

Six All Blacks On Injured List: Three Out Indefinitely

From CLAUDE KING, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent with the All Blacks]

CAPE TOWN, June 2.—lnjuries have mounted among the All Blacks. E. H. Catley, F. R. Allen, and R. R. Elvidge will be out of action indefinitely, P. Henderson has broken a bone in the little finger of the left hand,, N. L. Wilson has strained arm muscles, and N. H. Black is nursing a bruised leg. J. C. Kearney now appears to have recovered from a pulled leg muscle.

Should Wilson not be fit for Saturday’s game, D. L. Christian will go into the scrum as hooker.

Among the most discussed incidents here after Tuesday’s match was the referee’s decision in disallowing a try by Butlex- for Western Universities in the second spell. The start of the movement was comparable with that engineered at Auckland against Britain in 1930 by Mark Nicholls, whose astute crosskick enabled Lucas to catch the opposing wing out of position and score. On Tuesday, Fry cross-kicked to perfection, and Butlex- had a slight advantage ovex' Henderson as the ball rolled ovex' the line. Butlex- dived, but the referee had no hesitation in awarding a drop-out.

Published photographs show that Butler was underneath Henderson in the dive for the ball, but both men appear to have their hands on the ball.

After reading a report from New Zealand summarising the reaction at home to Tuesday’s result, the All Blacks’ manager (Mr J. H. Parker) said: “We do not intend to offer excuses for the fact that we were not as fit as we expected. We had a good training programme, but it has not been enough. Therefore we intend to get down hardei’ to oui' task than ever.”

MAORI TEAM FOR • I ? AUSTRALIAN TEST SYDNEY, June 2—The Maori Rugby J team to play Australia in the first test. ; at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sat- , urday is as follows: — Full-back- H. W. Kenny. I Three-quarters: N. P. Cherrington, R. McKinley, W. Taylor. | Five-eighths: P. Smith and B. Couch or B. W. Beazley. Half-back: L. Raureti. Forwards: W. Carrington. A. L. West, K. Matthews. R. Hohaia, S. T. Reid, J. Marriner, T. Stirling and A. W. Blake. Efforts are being made to get Kenny fit for the match. He received a kick on the back of the left leg in the Newcastle match. Marriner is Having treatment for a knee injury. West is recovering well from the injuries he received in a motor accident last Saturday night. It is now believed that he is certain to play in the test. Though Couch was considered the outstanding Maori back at Newcastle, he appeared to have injured his left shoulder. As a result the Maori selectors are still doubtful about playing him in the test. • The forwards are the same as those who played against New South Wales.

Maoris Have Scored 118 Points In Four Games

With four matches already played the following is the remaining itinerary for the Maori Rugby team in Australia:—

Tomorrow, June 4 v Australia, Sydney. Wednesday, June 8 v New England, Armidale.

Saturday, June 11 v Australia, Brisbane.

Monday, June 13 v Queensland, Brisbane.

Saturday, June 18 v New South Wales, Newcastle. Wednesday, June 22 v Central West, Orange. Saturday, June 25 v Australia, Sydney. In theix- first matches, the Maori side has an unbeaten record. Their four matches have resulted as follows:— Defeated Southern States, 35-8. Defeated Canberra, 47-3. Defeated New South Wales, 19-14. Defeated Newcastle, 17-0. They have scored 118 points to their opponent’s 25.