CLUB COACHES SHOULD TEACH RUDIMENTS OF RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 12

CLUB COACHES SHOULD TEACH RUDIMENTS OF RUGBY

Faults That Should Be Given Attention

(By

“Magpie.”)

Football as a game is played by some very well, by others fairly well and by the remainder not so well, in other words there is the good, bad, and indifferent player. It is the same in all other games but in the game of Rugby played as it is by 15-aside the indifferent player very often upsets the theme. In club football it is difficult to have the call on 15 first-class players, but it should not be difficult to instill into all the players of the side the rudiments of the game. After all it is the simple things in Rugby that count and if all would pay attention to them the game would be a greater pleasure for those playing it besides giving greater interest to those who attend as spectators.

Watching the opening games last Saturday one could not but be impressed with the arnestness of the players, but there was apparent the same dis regard of the little things that count that I have noted at the commencement of every season, and generally they' remain right through it. Club coaches pay a good deal of attention to scrummaging, and as there is an average of 60 or 70 scrums in a game, this is essential, but if one watches carefully it will be noted that few tries are scored direct from the s„rmn, one reason being that both fifteens are in correct position and ready to attack or counter as the case may be.

In addition to the scrums the game abounds with a good deal of rucking, that is when the opposing packs gather around the ball. It is hero that very little science is shown in the club games. Rucking takes place very often at the end of a forward rush, play being held up frequently by one of the defenders falling on the ball. It is here that many of the defenders are out of position, and a quick heel back to the half-back has greater scoring possibilities than the common practice of endeavouring to kick the ball ahead through a forest of legs.

Club coaches do not pay enough attention to heeling back from rucks, and these lines are penned in the hope that they will experimeut in this direction. I have no doubt of the results to be gained by those that do.

Throwing-in at Line-outs. Another bad feature is the throwingin from the touch-line. There are as many line-outs in a game as there are scrums, but very few of the wingthreeqarters whose duty it is to throw the ball in, can do so with any accuracy. Every wing-threequarter should be trained io be able to throw the ball out 20 yards if necessary, and with a high dropping shot that lands the ball just at the spot aimed at. Too often do we see an unmarked man on the end of the line-out, but the winger, due to his inability to throw the bull out, rests content with getting if, out to just where the players are most thickly congregated. Practice at throwing tho ball in from the touch line is necessary to good football.

Value of Early Passes. The one other point I wish to touch mi concerns the backs more than the forwards, and it is to stress the value of the early pass. In a Rugby game we see some players who arc continually on the ground, but my personal liking is for the player who keeps his feet; he is iu the game all the time,

but the other fellow is out of it. (H course, there are occasions when a player has to go down on the ground, but being always so becomes a habit. In every game we see passing bouts ruined because of one player who thinks he must run 'with the ball until ha is collared. Then he thinks of passing to a comrade, but the momentary stoppage has spoiled everything, as the trailing support has run past him. Other backs imagine that they must not pass until their immediate opposite has laid hands on them, but here again the momentary stoppage has spoiled all. Good class backs wait until there is no opportunity of the immediate opposite doing more than catch the one in possession of the ball, and it is then swung away to the waiting support and the first player is still on his feet and in the game ready for a reverse pass. There is the player, too, who never dreams of passing until he is iu trouble, after which he unloads on to a player who is in a worse position than himself. This type of player is useless in a team. At times we see a back or a forward make a break into open country. He may not be very fast and a comrade will sprint alongside in support.

It is generally sound policy to give the ball to the sprinter immediately, because there will be less chance of his being overhauled from the rear and besides being relieved of the ball the medium-paced man can back up for the return pass if it is necessary. Carrying the ball is a handicap of six yards in a 100.

The above are the simple things in Rugby that every player should be able to do, and if they do then the game will be ever so much more interesting to watch.

A Point for Referees. To conclude with a word to the referees who stop the game on tho slightest provocation. This is a growing practice, and somtinies I think they must be in league with the ambulance men, who of course like to be busy. We soe a player receive a kick or a knock and the referee blows three blasts and 'the ambulance men ruu on the field. The only time the ambulance men should be allowed on the field is with a stretcher to remove a player who is injured and cannot walk off himself.

All other injuries requiring attention should be performed off the field of play. When referees apply the rule in this connection they will find that players will not stop for the trivial knocks that they do now, and the ambulance men will have an easy time.