RUGBY HALFBACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 23

RUGBY HALFBACKS

SMALLNESS OF STATURE A CORRESPONDENT'S OPINION A correspondent, " Old Timer," Pokeno, writes: —"Having been a keen iol lower of Rugby football in all its varying phases since 1888. when Stoddart's English team visited this country, I read with particular interest the comments in last Wednesday's issue of your paper regarding the halfback position, for they correspond precisely with the views 1 have formed on the question. Granted always that there have been some famous halfbacks of small stature —Humphries and Kibinan, of pre-All Black days, being but two brilliant examples thereof—it nevertheless stands to reason that a man possessing the recognised attributes for the halfback position, plus stature and weight, must ultimately prove more effective than his lighter rival. This, of course, with the proviso that he can reach and keep perfect form—a more difficult proposition for a heavy than for a light man. "In recent years, with the plethora of fast, heavy forwards addicted to open play, coupled with the corresponding dearth of first-class halfbacks, it has been somewhat astounding to me that the specialists in controji of Rugby have not tried out the experiment of converting men of the Rankin and Ward typo into finished halfback exponents. Many doubtful expedients have of late been adopted. I venture to predict, however, that the one outlined herein would go a considerable distance toward radically improving our club, representative and international Rugby teams. "The football community, only last season, was given a stern and definite realisation of what is practicable in such circumstances."