NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19657, 8 June 1927, Page 16

NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY

FORTHCOMING ENGLISH TOUR CONCERN REGARDING FORWARDS. Sydney Rugby Union followers are slightly nervous about the New South Wales forwards for the English tour, a feeling that has grown since Mr. W. T. Parata pointed out the necessity of having big men, says a Sydney exchange. The views of T. Lawton, who has had English experience, are therefore interesting. lie says : "Candidly. I think the Light-Blue forwards will do very well on the tour. Naturally there are a few things to get used to —temperature and humidity of the air, soft grounds, and that sort of tiling. Soft grounds mean longer studs, which are more tiring, but soft grounds are easier on the feet and the bodies of the troops. Ido not think that they will ever be seriously outweighed. And if they are, I think it need not worry them. "Naturally, a heavy pack has an advantage on "a soft ground, or can have by working together, keeping the game ciose, and controlling the ball. But, unless the ground is boggy, and the ball sodden, a lighter and more vigorous pack can outplay heavy opponents by clean heeTTng and quick-breaking tactics, protecting their halves and backing up threequarter movements. "Big men tire sooner in an open game. To my mind, the ideal weight for a forward, unless he be a Finlavson, the North Auckland All Black, is 12i stone tl* jr s^one - The Light Blues will scale