RUGBY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10723, 22 October 1928, Page 3

RUGBY.

"N.Z. SHOULD STICK TO 2 -3-2 SCRUM.”

HAZLETT’S VIEWS

Some interesting opinions on the South African tour were given by n. Hazleit, a member of the All Blacks team, on his return to Invercargill. liazlett, who is a son of the well-known Southland sportsman Mr. W. T. Hazlett, was considered by many good .judges to be the most improved player of the tour. “I cau honestly say that Maurice Brownlie is the best forward I have even seen,” he told a Southland “Tjm'es” reporter. ‘‘He wt?s upagainst it in Africa for there were always two men marking him, and ho got anything but a good spin. As our captain we had the utmost respect and affection for him He did wonderful work coaching the forwards, and was always thinking of us. To say that he and Mark Nicholas were at loggerheads is all nonsense. Before the team left, these two men had agreed to sink any differences of opinion on tactics and pull • together for the sake of the side. They, were always associated in coaching the team, Maurice taking the forwards, and Mark the hacks-. Mark Nicholls was certainly a great tactician. : Instead of the Tress running BrowtTlie down they should lie-proud of him.’’ 'That the-New Zealanders played the more enterprising game was the bpin’on of Southland’s All Black. The South Africans, save for Usler and de ViNers, did not have the initative or the New Zealand backs, nor were they as sound on defence. Under their "rules the Springboks were inclined to play a ,f iAocl-'' game. When the ball was hooked either the half or the live-eighths would find touch, and by this means gradually work play to their opponents’ line. Their tlfrco-quarters, however, Were faster than tho A]! Black wings. There was no question about tho superiority of the Springbok scrummaging m tho first part of the tour. The All Blacks ha'cfHost tho art oi successful scrummaging, but taking a lesson from the first test, by the time half the tour h?.cl been com pleted they had regained it. and were getting the best of matters at the end.

“I tliink we should keep to our 2-3-2 formation. 'We can more than hold our own with it if we pack correctly. The ball comes out more quickly from our scrums than from the 3-2-3.

“We want to concentrate on the scrum work in the next few years, and we will have no reason to fenr the next visit of the _ Springboks. But we must go in for tighter scrumming. it has been a very valuable tour as far as teaching- us that lesson ;is concerned..