THE TEST MATCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10992, 30 August 1921, Page 8

THE TEST MATCH

STANDARDS OF FLAY ALL-BLACKS’ PROSPECTS FOR FINAL TEST. LESSONS OF TRAINING. (“Times” Special Reporter.) Everyone connected with the game of Rugby, from the highest of the governing officials down to the last man to leave the Waikato for Auckland, is now turning over in his mind the prospects of victory for the All Blacks for the third test match, to be played in Wellington three weeks hence, to decide whether the ashes of Rugby sha” remain in New Zealand, or travel to the newest of the British Commonwealths, South Afrjca. SPRINGBOKS’ ASCENDANCY. One's impressions of the game at Eden Park are legion, and the lessons that may be learned from it and the first test match are not a few. A a the South African manager, Mr Bennett, expressed it to the “Times” special representative after Saturday’s game, the circumstances attending New Zealand’s first try in the first test were such that, although it did not more than draw the scores level, it had the effect of robbing the Springboks’ play of a deal of its inspiration and moral ascendancy. In simpler phrase, they were not satisfied. The Auckland game, on the other hand, demonstrated to the most captious supporter of the All Blackn that the Springboks were their masters. NEW ZEALAND MATERIAL. What, then, of the third teet? Is the material available to New Zea*land that will ensure its international ■ reputation being sustained P That the task of the selectors is an unenviable one is conceded on all hands. Of the first test fifteen, three were replaced on, Saturday last. The names of the twenty players selected to assemble for training for the third test do not include four players that represented the Dominion in the second. These facts are a .clear . indication that the All Black team this season is in the melting-pot, and the biggest handicap to success lies in the probability of a further shuffle of players and positions. PROBLEMS OF MATCH-WINNING. True, this has also been the experience of the Springboks, who made no fewer- than six alterations in the first test team before they reached the selection for the second. But the alterations were rendered necessary not so,much by considerations of quality as conditions of play, which differed so materially in the two games. The value ' the South Africans placed on the hard, dry ground may be gauged from the fact that four new forwards came in, for their speed chiefly. New Zealand fifteen’s claim, or it is claimed for them, that they are equally at home on the hard-as-steel surface of Eden Park as on the heavy going at Carisbrook. This expresses one of the problems of match-winning, and the varying standpoints from which it may he viewed. New Zealand forwards have shown m each of the test maitches to dtute' that, with certain that may be accounted for and overcome, they are equal in attacking, strategy, ami defensve tactics to the bulkier vanguard of the Springboks. The backs are not in such a happy position. Hie South Africans’ methods have all been laid bare. Nothing remains for them to show us. They <san spring no new surprise®. Yet they share the general disarppcdn'fcment felt in New Zealand at the fall in the standard oi back play of the All Blacks. NEED FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING. A casual observer of Saturday’s game at Auckland could not but be impressed that the actual physical condition of the visitors was superior to their opponents. In the last, ten minutes of the game many of the AII BUadk forwards were exhausted, and could not summon enough energy to follow up. It was much the same with tile backs, whose ordeal was, however, less severe than the continuous speed trials the forwards were cal Led on to put up. Even allowing for the fact that the South Africans’ business for the moment is football solely, while the Home team’s thoughts are divided between the game and their civil occupations, there is room for vast improvement in physical condition, and lit is pleasing to note that the selectors have decided to put the “ possibles’ ’ into camp, with fihe view of guaranteeing the betterment of physique that must attend the discipline of a oamp, away from, the temptation" of hotel and city life. FIRST ELEMENT OF VICTORY. Combination, the first line of attack and defence in the great All Black teams of the past, is now conspicuous by its absence. But it is not an unknown quantity. In - the material available there is a latent fund of combination, cohesion and team work that oould' be easily tapped, by means of dose association in the curriculum of training and practise matches, in which the possible team will play in the relative positions for which they are best suited in a test match. WEAKNESSES AND THEIR REMEDY. The weaknesses in evidence in the second test at Auckland were failure to keep up with the ball, the absence of passing among the forwards, clean packing of the scrum, lateness in getting .down to it, loss of opportunity at the line-out, and the tendency to tackle high, or to anticipate a pass and not tackle at all. “VVanted, Five-eighth,’ ’ sums up the chief weakness in the backs, who were also lacking in the duty of attacking straight, tackling the nearest man with the ball, use or the line and the centre kick, aid pass mg. The finer points of all the elements of good football were missing in a match in which the Springboks played as close to the book of good Rugby as their admirers could "wish. The multitude of penalties, for breaches in the scrum, off-eide, and inoorreot throwing from the line, were about halancod by the visitors’ lapses, in hanging on to the ball, and the habit of the half of snatching it up before it passes the alignment of the back men in the pack. THE SELECTORS AND THE PUBLIC. The selectors and coaches have a big bask ahead of them, and they will have the support of the football world in any schemes they may formulate for the improvement of the standard of the national game, so that its great traditions may not suffer through failure to take seriously the all-round qualities, and the capacity t-o adapt them-

selves to varying styles of play, that have so far been the chief charoateristics of the Springboks.

N.S.W. V. NEW ZEALAND. MARKHAM INCLUDED. Markham, the Marisfc five-eighth, has been notified of his selection to play in the New Zealand team to meet New South Wales on Saturday next. 'He will take the place of Grierson (Auckland), who is not available. WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND. TEST PLAYERS SELECTED. Messrs G. Aitken, who captained the All Blacks’ team on Saturday, J. J. Moffitt and E. Roberts have been notified of their selection to represent Wellington against Auckland, in the interprovincial match to take place at the northern city on Saturd-aw next. THIRD-GRADE REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON DEFEAT MANAWATU. A match between the Wellington thirdclass representatives and the Manawat’i juniors was played at Palmerston North on Saturday afternoon. visitors had an easy win by 22 point* to 9. Tries were scored for Wellington by Sanderson (2). Lowe, Olsen, Dalrymple, and Chaney; and Laner and Moekeridge each converted one. For the losers, Wilton. McCaskill. and McConachie each scored & try. During the game Hester (Wellington) had a collar-bone fractured. PETONE THIRDS. DEFEAT SOUTH W AIR A RAP A. The Petone third-class team defeated a oombined South Wairarapa team tt Carterton by 8 points to 6. Jenkins and Ambler each' scored a try for Petone, the latter converting one. Kiddie scored a try and Humphries kicked a penalty goal for the losers. FOiTBALL AT EASTBOURNE MARRIED v. SINGLE. ' The annual fixture. Married v. Single, drew a large crowd at Eastbourne on Saturday, the married being successful bv 16 points to nil. Tries were scored bv Adams, Stevens, and Johns. Adam* converted two of the tries and kicked a "penalty goal. Mr Hazelhurst refereed. As a curtain-raiser a fifth-grade match, Marist v. Eastbourne, was played, the former winning by 18 points to 3. In the evening both the married- and single men were entertained at a smoke "social/'' at which about fifty players and supporters were present. A number of toasts were honoured, including that of the Springboks and. All Blacks. Musical and elocutionary items were given by Messrs G. Olapham, J. Beattie, SNorris, M. G. Thompson. A. Curtayne, Hines. Walling. J. Norris, and Moore, and Mr J- Ridler gave a violin solo.