RUGBY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10710, 6 October 1928, Page 11

RUGBY.

“INFERIORITY COMPLEX.”

SPRINGBOKS’ MAIN TROUBLE.

ALL BLACKS’ REPUTATION.

“I think that the All Blacks’ greatest difficulty on this tour has been to try and live up to theijr reputation, whereas South Africa’s problem has been getting nd of the ‘inferiority complex.’ ”

Such is the arresting preface to a long letter written by Mr. [Leon Downes, of Cape Town, to “CrossBar ’ anent New Zealand’s 1928 Rugby tour of South Africa. The writer is an officer in the Standard Bank of Cape Town and a very keen Rugby supporter. His criticisms, apart from their natural interest as coming from a. South African, are refreshing in that , they are a distinct change from the usual Press comment. His letter constitutes a candid review of the play of the world’s Rugby giants as it appealed to the average looker-on. His letter, which is dated August 4, proceeds: “We in South Africa ait. somewhat disappointed with the All Blacks’ showing to date although they certainly have improved of late. Of course, I am. naturally a Springbok partisan, but at the same time I try to get a square view of both sides. Before the arrival of the All Blacks the papers were full of the capabilities of individual players, and l am afraid that the majority of Sbuth Africans expected them to waltz through us and I am inclined to think Now Zealand expected the same.

FORWARDS “LEFT STANDING.”

However, on arrival they proved to be nothing out of the ordinary. No doubt you will say this kind of talk cannot be regarded as constructive criticism. To get down to tin tacks, the All Blacks as a team are not outstanding; the backs are capable 'but not brilliant; the forwards are magnificent in the loose and are far ahead of the Springboks in this department of the game, hut when it. comes to scrummaging—well, they are left standing.

I saw both games in Cape Town and have seats, reserved for the other two still to be played. Dealing with the first two games, it has been said that the All Blacks bad not had a chance to settle down and a certain amount of criticism w r as levelled against those who drew the itinerary up for arranging those games so early in the tour. All other touring teams have started with the same games, however, and even allowing for their unpreparedness the All Blacks were fortunate in losing to the Town team by such a small margin (7—3). It is said that in Rugby, a team days as Well as their opponents alow them, but this argument could not be applied in this case a$ we had a star back division which was supplied with the ball from the scriem at will. It was one long chapter of dropped passes and knock-ons. A week before the game the Town team played the Country team and gave a brilliant exhibition of back olav, beating the country 38 to 3, but against the All Blacks the same back division ■ threw away certain tries, one after- another, throughout the game. It is stated that the All Blacks now appear to have found their feet and are showing vast improvement. I hope so, but while there is every indication of improvement, it must bo remembered that apart- from the second test, the opposition has been composed of moderately weak teams. THOSE SCRUMS'. A'on raise the question as to the scrum formation being the cause of the comparatively disappointing show'. This is quite right and, after seeing and studying both styles, I am convinced that the 3-2-3 or 3-4-1, w'ith forwards individually of more or less 'equality." fo those forming 2-3-2 will gain at. least eight out of every ten scrums (tight).- Regarding your opinion that the All Blacks should have played ug at our own 3-2-3, this was tried in the. Transvaal match and abandoned, but a different story might have been told had the teams played this formation in New' Zealand for a year or so before the tour, and the forwards picked for South Africa on their showing in this formation.

The 2-3-2 formation seems to have produced the type of forward who shines in the loose but who has lost the art of using his weight in the scrums.

This was particularly demonstrated in both the Town match and firsttest. In the game* against Town, at the commencement, the local team packed 3-4-1 and heeled monotonously. Bennie Osier who was well marked. received a bad gruelling and was temporarily forced to leave the field. A forward (Daniel) was taken out of the scrum and placed on the wing, Bennie Osier was given a roving commission and the forwards packed. 3-4 and still obtained possession at will. SOUTH AFRICA’S 14 MEN. The same remarks may he applied to the first, test when Duffy was injured and South Africa played 14 men throughout the second half. South Africa packed 3-4 and still obtained 75 per cent. of the ball. I mentioned previously the South African team’s problem in getting lid of the “inferiority complex” and I think this had something to do with the poor showing given by the. Town backs. The forwards had theirs removed by “Boy” de.VHlliers, an old Springbok (1904)). a few days before the match. He gathered together a strong pack of forwards, including two star hookers, and placed them in the 2-3-2 formation against a comparatively ordinary pack forming 3-2-3 and 3-4-1, 'and the latter heeled the. ball nine times out of every ten set scrums. This certainly gave our forwards all the confidence in their own formation they required. THE “LOOSE-HEAD.” The method adopted by the All Blacks in counteracting this scrum superiority in the second test, by Stewart coming up and joining the front rank, thus gaining the loose head, has caused a considerable amount of discussion and F. Ml Howard (an English correspondent specially brought out from England ’by the djape Times to report on the games) has questioned the legality of nt. j. do not altogether agree with him and it- seems perfectly legitimate, but I do not- think that this alone was responsible for the improved hooking by the All Black’s.

j am of opinion that, to a certain extent, the Springbok forwards were “stale.” In fact, the whole team appears to have given a lifeless -display as compared with their showing an Durban. There is every indication that they were content to sit on their three-point lead but they were a different proposition after Strang dropped his goal. After that they were all over the All Blade defence and, for the last few minutes, • did everything bar score. -

PORT ELIZABETH “UNLUCKY” ?

However, we now have the third test to- look forward to at Port Elizabeth and tins i$ South Africa’s unlucky gfiound. Somehow or other, the Springboks have never, done well there, but if the right team is chosen they will give a good account of themselves. Personally 1 Would like to see a draw result 1 at Port Elizabeth, so as to have the final : decision at “Newlands.”

At any rate, it is my sincere hope that [South Africa will be- in a position to field her strongest back division at “Newlands.” Owing to injuries South Africa hag been rather unfortunate in her back divisions in both tests. We have had! a centre (Tindall) playing in the full-back position, a full-back playing on the wing (Brand) and three star centres and five class . wings were unable to attend the trials owing to injuries. If we can field the following back division for the last test (they will not all be fit fop - the third), then I can’t, under any circumstances (bar injuries), see the All Blacks winning: Wings, J. C. Slater and J. Van Niekerk or J. JPienaar; centres, Stanley Osier'and Willie Rosseau; stand-off half, Bennie Osier w’ith J. de ViTliers at the base of the scrum;

NICHOLLS “AN OSLER.”

That w’ould constitute South Africa’s strongest back line available but, unfortunately, ow’ing to injuries they have not been able to take the field together. J, van Niekerk, in form, is superior to any of the All Black wings, and I think that Rosseau and S. Osier have the pull over your centres and your nearest approach to a Bennie Osier is Mark Ni-oholls, who has not been played in the tests so far.

Since writing the above South Africa has had further misfortunes in the way of injured players and it is definitely certain that none of the star backs will be on view. However, we are not complaining—it is all in the gameThe All Blacks are continuing on their winning way, but I do not place much reliance on their showing against the- very weak teams they havbeen meeting lately (Aug. 9), as we are quite- used to seeing others defeating them by large scores. I am quite satisfied that our men have been overdoing it. What with keeping up their own club games, travelling round the country ‘ participating in trials, representative matches, etc., the result is a loss- of good players through injuries. We have not got the vast reserve of players in South Africa that you have in N.Z. Owing to the size of the country, and sparsely developed centres, there is not so large a following. However, the game is the thing and hOre’s luck to the. winners—may they be the best team!