EVERGREEN DEBATE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 12

EVERGREEN DEBATE.

WING FORWARD PLAY. Ernest Booth, a three-quarter in the 1905 All Blacks, was amongst those travelling with the New Zealand team ’on the tour of Australia. The following ] is from his pen: “Regarding wing-forward play, the Sydney referees hold that the wingforward must remain behind the ball at all times while it is in the scrummage. This means, virtually, that the wing-forward must retreat in a line with the ball when his forwards have it and are heeling it. Thus ultimately he should stand behind the scrum-half when that player receives it. It is considered, that this renders the wingforward less dangerous and somewhat ineffective.” The decision of the New South Wales referees is the correct one —any player outside the scrummage in front of the ball is off-side, and should be penalised if he takes any part in the play. That is the way referees rule in New Zealand, and no exception is made for the wing-forward. The comment that “ultimately the wing-forward should stand behind the. serum-half when he receives it” is not correct, however. If, when the ball comes out of the scrummage, the wingforward or any other player is in line with it he is on-side. And, while it is in the scrummage, he is within his rights in advancing with the ball a lien hits opponents are heeling it-.

NEW ZEALAND RULES. SPRINGBOK’S OPINIONS. Ever since the tour of South Africa last year by the New Zealand team, arguments have been adduced that the time was opportune for Rugby in the Dominion to ,be put in order. Amongst other things, it has been asserted that the kicking-into-touch - rule must go, the 2-3-2 serum -formation will have to be scrapped, and that another place will have to be found, on the field for the wing-forward. It is therefore refreshing to read an article by “Boy” de Villiers, 1906 Springbok and coach to the University of Capetown, in which he expresses the reverse opinion. In discussing the exhibition match given by the All Blacks in Capetown, do Villiers says: “They were playing under their own rules, of course, but it was not the ( rules that mattered so much as the whole spirit of the -game. The teams were out to play fast, open Rugby, keeping the ball constantly in play and —'"well, they did it. We have not seen a game such as this at Newlands for many a day. .-Sis (conclusion is:—,“We shall have -to some extent to change our (tactics, to play a new and better game if we are going -to take advantage of the lessons the All Blacks fanght us I should like to see the new game (1 call it that to help my explanation) played in every school and club match this season, and particularly in the Curry -Cup tournament. Our game falls short of the very highest standard and we must adopt new tactics and new ideas.”

HOW TO PACK DOWN. , ADVICE TO FORWARDS. ’ Everyone knows that there is something radically wrong with the method of scrummaging in Now Zealand today, but few people, not even excepting club coaches, can put their finger , on the trouble. Some good advice to present-day for- . wards was given in an interview by Mr. B. Fanning, a famous ex-Aill Black and lock of the former Canterbury re- . presentative teams, to a 'Christchurch “Star” reporter. “I’ve got nothing against the game as it is to-day,” he said. “That is from the spectacular point of view. But, the forwards seem to have forgotten the fundamental part of their job. Forwards are included in a team primarily to protect and act as a shield for the scoring division, which is the back line. The forwards of the present time, however, give me the idea that they all I want to be backs, which, of course, | means that they encounter trouble. My J advice to forwards is to stay down in the scrum a few seconds longer than they are doing, and make sure that the ball is cleanly out to the backs before they break up. “As things are, the scrummaging is not effective because the ball is not hooked cleanly or heeled back smartly enough. . “For instance, a serum is set. One side gets the ball and it is heeled, but hangs in the back of the scrum. Instead of staying down, the side with the ball breaks Up and the other side pushes through and takes possession, giving the backs, who, had they received the ball, would have been away, a harassing time that, gradually takes the sting out of them as the game progresses. _ “The forwards should stay in the tight more than they are doing instead of interfering with the backs. Seven fast men are all that are needed in the rear division, and if the forwards act as forwards should, the backs icannot fail to score. “More attention should be given to scrum formation,’ Mr. Fanning said.,’ “The scrums of to-day should be more] evenly balanced with all the thrust going in evenly. Not enough care is taken in packing down, and it is because of improper balancing that a heavy pack is often beaten by a lighter but more evenly weighted one. “There has been talk of the adoption of the 3-2-3 method, but I would much prefer to sec the 2-3-2 formation continued. Properly formed, the 2-3-2 scrum will always got the advantage. Sivright’s team had one of the heaviest forward packs that ever came to New Zealand, but their 3-2-3 formation was no match for the 2-3-2 method that was used against them by Now Zealand. We beat them for 'the ball nearly every time. “Yes,” lie 'concluded, “if the forwards remember to stay down a little longer and play the forward game from first to last, New Zealand need not fear a challenge from any part of the world. ’ ’