RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21257, 10 August 1932, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL

tour of representatives DIG SURPRISE IN WELLINGTON ranfurly shield contests The Auckland representative Rugby team is having a very successful tour so far. H lins won all three of its matches in the North Island, having defeated Tlawke's Ray.//10— 8. Wairarapa, 12—3. and Wellington. 24—14. The defeat of Wellington was a hig surprise, as only the most optimistic Aucklanders gave the touring side a chance against such powerful opposition. The score was being put up at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon for the bene'fit d'f the spectators at the secondary schools' games, but, when the board showed 21—3 in favour of .Auckland at one stage, there were many incredulous ones who thought someone was having n joke. However, it turned out to be correct, much to the surprise and (jelight of all northern followers of the game, Auckland's victory was due mainly to the line play of the forwards, to whom Corner, the halfback, paid a high tribute when he returned to Auckland on Monday morning. The whole Auckland team went on the field realising what a task confronted it, and the fact that the Wellington side contained no fewer than eight •\il Blacks did not affect the Aucklanders one iota. In fact, it had the opposite effect, and every member of the touring team gave of his best. Most Important Game Auckland's next match will be against Ota< T o at Dunedin this afternoon, and the game against Southland will be played at Invercargill on Saturday. The tourists will then go°to Greymouth where they will play the West Coast representatives next Wednesday. The most important match of the tour from Auckland's point of view will be that against Canterbury next Saturday week. That is, of course, providing Canterbury retains possession of the Ranfurly Shield when it meets South Canterbury on Saturday afternoon next. Both shield games, therefore, hold exceptional interest from an Auckland point of view. Auckland's success over Wellington makes its prospects look good for its matches in the South Island. It is hardly likely that the opposition encountered will "be as strong as that provided by Wellington. This is the natural conclusion from the point of view of All Black representation. However, very frequently , nothing can safely be taken for granted in Rugby. Southland has upset the calculations of" many strong teams in the past, and it has a* solid pack of forwards this season. , Match Against Thames Valley The main attraction at Eden Park on Saturday next will be the match between the Auckland B representatives and Thames \ alley. Ihe exact strength of 'the Thames team is not known, but it will need to be fairly, strong to hold its own against the players from whom the Auckland team will be chosen. Nineteen iave been selected for practice. A player who has been unfortunate in Lping overlooked is Fletcher, centrethreequarter for the Technical Old Boys team. The ex-Manawatu representative lias been displaying great form since arriving in Auckland, proving himself to be one of the brainiest backs playing here. R.M.T. writes:—"Now that the secondary schools' Rugby competition is over, 1 should like to point out one great essential for the benefit of schools' Rugby generally, and that is, connecting backs will win the game for any side. Backs playing solo will lose it. Yet how often do we see backs spread-eagled all over the ground; standing far too deep from the scrum or line-out to connect with the ball when it comes out? The result is they give themselves rkiuble the territory to cover they should have, besides which a solo back is almost certain to be tackled in possession. A good chain of connecting backs is what gives truth to the rule, possession js nine points of the game. " As proof of this contention, I would quote the remarkable improvement in the Mount Albert team. This has come about becausfe the Mount Albert boys have either been coached in, Or else have iearned for themselves, the technique of connective plaving from scrum or lineout to the fullback. In order to provide that type of football which we expect to see from our schools, it is imperative that all school teams should be coached iii this vital principle."