Only Two Left— Nearly-new Backline For Buller Match Tomorrow

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1950, Page 3 (Supplement)

Only Two Left— Nearly-new Backline For Buller Match Tomorrow

The fact that West Coast drew, 19-all, against Buller- when the teams played at Greymouth earlier this season, points to another evenly-contested game at Westport tomorrow. But, in actual fact, the teams will be considerably different.

With J. Gillan now on the wing, the actual “engineering” section of tomorrow’s Coast backline will be entirely new compared with the match earlier this season.

The hall-back, J. Robinson, has been replaced by N. Lynch, the young Kiwi half-back, of Hokitika, the first five-eighths, G. O’Callaghan, has boon replaced by M. Thomas; the second five-eighths, R. Breeze (injured) by J. McKenzie, one of the two new “caps” in -tomorrow’s team; the centre, Gillan, by R. Stoop; and the wings, E. G. Walker (injured) and R. Bretherton, by Gillan and D. J. Kelly. This may be considered a remarkable change in a provincial side within such a short time, but it has to he remembered that the changes have been made gradually and that some of them were unavoidable. Two Nev; “Caps” The two new “caps” for tomorrow’s match, N. Lynch and J. McKenzie, are. both young players of promise. Lynch scored three tries last week and he was closely watched by thq strong United pack, so that there can be little doubt as to his ability to move around the scrum. McKenzie is a versatile player who is at home in most positions in the backline.- He is fast. He certainly should be a match for L. Champion, promising Buller second five-eighth. There is little doubt that Gillan will do better with the more room he will have on the wing, and given possession of the ball the recast West Coast backline should function particularly well tomorrow. • The third locking combination of the season will be ’ tested tomorrow with A. McLean and W. Hornby in the team. Hornbv and J. Hagen locked the scrums for the first two matches, and then T. Mathieson and McLean took ovei- the job. Now

Mathieson has gone to the side of the scrum, replacing J. Woods, who has left the district, and Hornby has been brought back into the pack. A lot will depend on the support given the front-row by the locks tomorrow, and it is to be hoped that this combination is at last the right one. Buller Changed Also The Buller team has also undergone some changes, and does not appear to be the strongest available. No doubt the Buller selectors are com-

pleting their,tests prior to selecting the final team to defend the Seddon Shield. Because of the various changes, the result of tomorrow’s match may not be a definite pointer to the result of the later challenges for the shield.

A West Coast victory in any circumstances, however, would be welcome. The Buller team has not had

its colours lowered by Coast for some time, but the winning margin has become particularly narrow lately. After winning the first game last year by 11 points, Buller won the next by only a single point. The next two were drawn. 6-6 and 19-19, so that a win for Coast tomorrow would not be entirely unexpected.

Sport Critic’s View In Defence Of Otago-style Rugby

According to an old saying, nothing succeeds like success. But, strange as it may appear, the success of Otago Rugby football has not succeeded in convincing some critics J that there is anything very attractive, in the game here, states the Dunedin Star Sports. Much of the criticism has come from disappointed supporters of teams beaten in Ranfurly Shield matches, thus giving the impression that Otago has indeed been too successful. But the critic is not unknown in Dunedin itself. We’ have published a letter from one who complains that, like the Kiwi bird, Rugby here is grey and colourless/ and who charges Mr V. G. Cavanagh with incorporating excuses for Otago’s style of play in an article on the strategy of the game.

Refreshing And Stimulating There is no need whatever to rush to the support of Mr Cavanagh, whose great record as a Rugby coach and tactician speaks for itself. The writer of this article, however, feels that it would not be out of place to say that, after six recent years in the North Island, he finds it refreshing and stimulating to be able to see, on Carisbrook, Rugby football as it should be played. About the Otago game there is a streamlined team-spirit purpose and zest in which most of the undoubted brilliance seems to be wasted on a few carping critics simply because it is, not so obvious and flashy as individualism. There is no wish,to decry Rugby north of the Waitaki. It would be foolish to declare that there is nothing good in it. Much of-the club football in Auckland, for instance, probably strikes a brighter average than club football in Dunedin, if only, for the reason that the Rugby people up there have at the back of their.

minds a feeling that they must play as spectacularly as possible to compete with Rugby League. Yet Mr T. Pearce, a well-kncwn Auckland player and coach, has expressed his admiration for the Otago game and uttered the exhortation that his province should adopt more of the Otago principles. Try-To-Score Pressure ” This writer saw Rugby in Wellington for three-quarters of last season.

• Although his verdict is that a well,’coached Wellington provincial, team i 1 could this year present a formidable -challenge for the Ranfurly Shield, he Jean state from first-hand knowledge (’of Athletic Park activities and of play in many other parts of the North Island that—always excepting Auckland —Rugby football in the north is mainly negative and uncon- : structive, based on stopping the opposing side at all costs, and containing little of Otago’s, try-to-score ! yourself pressure. It is significant 1 that, between them, Auckland and - Otago should have earned the reaward of constructiveness by supply- ■ ing the majority of the All Blacks ’ for South Africa. ! i Use Of Country Talent Admittedly, Otago has the advan-

'tages of (a) no Rugby League com1 petition, and (b) the presence of Uni- > versify students from all over New Zealand. “ But in recent years this - province has also made the most of 3 its country talent, and, above all, ’.perhaps, its players have responded ’.with keenness and a sense of discipline to training by the best coaches 2 in the Dominion at this period. Con- ‘ trary to the apparent opinion of some h critics, many of the players have ’ individual brilliance, but that bril- “ liance is partly subordinated into the 1 unselfish role of units working in har--1 mony for team precision. ' As Mr Cavanagh states, there is a ’.similarity between Otago methods J and those of Mr C. K. Saxton’s Kiwi > team. No excuses need to be made ; for Otago Rugby. If it is indeed grey ’ and colourless, then what must be the ’’real standard of a procession of Ran- ’ furly Shield challengers who among ' them could, in three seasons, score Jonly’69 points against the 357 piled ; up by Otago teams?