RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20261, 22 May 1929, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

UNIVERSITY TEST PLAYERS. RULINGS TO BE DISCUSSED. SELECTING REPRESENTATIVES. Tho Australian Universities Rugby team arrived in Wellington yesterday. It will play its first match against Victoria College in Wellington to-day. It will leave for Dunedin to-night and will play Otago [University on Saturday. Otngo University supplies six representatives and Victoria Collego five for the New Zealand Universities team which plays Australian Universities in the first test match at Christchurch on Saturday week. Three Canterbury representatives and one from Auckland complete the side. Auckland would havo had a much better representation had other of its players been available. Minns, Carter, Jenkin, Anderson and Linton all have good prospects of gaining places in tho team to take part in the third test iu Auck- '' land on June 8.

Bush should worthily represent Auckland in the first test. He played for tho province last season Bush has not been doing quite so well this season as last, but ho is gradually getting into his best form. Ho will please the southern critics if at his best on the day. Wellington Proposal Defeated. It is pleasing to record that the proposal emanating from Wellington that <ho old rules should be reverted to this season was defeated at tho annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The voting was 42 to 29. It would bo interesting to know from what part of New Zealand (hose 29 votes actually came-. The best argument that could bo put up for the proposal was that it was necessary in order to beat the British players next season. Tho majority of the delegates, however, very wisely adopted the attitude that it would be a retrograde step to sacrifice bright club and interprovincial football this season. Mr. S. F. Wilson, one of the Canterbury delegates, very aptly summed the position up when ho said that going back to the old rules would be like scrapping electric tramcars and reverting to those of- the old steam type. The New Zealand selection committee!, Messrs. G. Nicholson (Auckland),. E. McKenzio (Wairarapa), N. McKenzie (Hawke's Bay), W. Maxwell (Canterbury), A. McDonald (Otago) and A. Geddes (.Southland) will meet in Wellington to-day to do preliminary work in connection with tho forthcoming tour of the All Blacks to Australia. An early announcement may be expected of the teams to take part in the trial match in on Monday week next. It does not appear at present as though there will be a very large proportion of last year's South African All Blacks in the team for Australia and it will be interesting to note what new blood is introduced by the selectors. Question of Eulings. A special meeting of delegates to the Auckland Rugby Union is to be held next Monday evening to discuss a letter sent by the Grammar Old Boys' Club to the management committee protesting j against the playing of two rules which are not in the New Zealand rule book. The rules are ''an imaginary line through the back of the scrum" and "no charging of any kicks." The "imaginary line" rule is all right provided a liberal interpretation is placed upon it. For instance, it is aggravating both to the players and spectators for a referee to blow his whistle for some breach by a playfcr when the opposing side is off with u passing rush. Only on rare occasions does a breach of the "imaginary line" rule really affect the back play of the opposing team, so why observe the rule strictly to the letter and play a* continuous tune cln tho whistle ? The advantage rule makes the game of football. That admits of no argument. It can be applied to scrum work most successfully, imaginary line or ho imaginary line. ■ The question of charging kicks is another matter altogether, and it is not easy to understand why a departure has been made in this respect. A kick at goal after a try or from a mark should certainly be" chargeable. As a matter of fact it would be a big improvement were kicks at goal from marks to be debarred altogether. Taking a mark should be purely a defensive measure and not as a means of scoring points. The calling of "mark" should be permitted only inside the defending team's twenty-five, and the iule would thus be brought iiito line with that governing the kick into touch. Task for Selector. The sole selector for the Auckland Rugby Union appears to have a rather unenviable task this season to make his final choice. Therefore his selection for the" match against the Waikato representatives at Hamilton on June 3 will be awaited with considerable interest. Judging on the gaiiies already played there ";s a lamentable weakness at the present time in inside back play. There is no outstanding player for the position of either first five-eighth or halfback. Last year Jenkin and Carter filled these positions respectively and may be called upon to do so again. It appeal's likely that Carter with his experience will be given first trial. Jenkin, however, is not playing up to his last season's form and must have a serious rival for the position in G. L. Weir, of Training College. Weir oil form to date has shown himself sound on attack and defence and with more experience in higher football should develop a great deal more. Coming to the second five-eighth position there is one player who in spite of his weight has been really outstanding and that is Cammick, of Ponsonby. He is a very fine attacking player, who in company with Lucas brings off some brilliant movements. Wealth of Threequarters. There is a wealth of talent offering for •the threequarter line. Lucas plays centre for his club team and tilled that position for tho All Blacks in tho last test in South Africa, but there is no doubt he is seen to much better advantage on tho wing. Seeing there is a lack of centre threequarters up to standard, and that such good wings are offering, the selector may decide under these circumstances to play Lucas centre, especially if Cammick is lucky enough to catch his eye. The two outstanding wing-threequarters are Minns and Abbott. They both possess speed and determination and outside a good line of backs would got the necessary opportunities. L. Hook is not playing "up to form and possibly would tlo well in the position of rover. The choice for fullback seems to be between Butler and Bush, both of whom have represented the province before. J3(itier has so far this season been the most consistent of the pair. There are some fine young forwards coming on»md many of tho more experienced cannot afford to rest on their reputation. However, for a start the older brigade is likely to be given a trial. Even then some fine forwards will have to be left out. Holt, City, and Solomon, Ponsonby, are promising rovers and as Keene appears, to be past his best a new man may be found tilling that position.