SHALL THE WING-FORWARD GO?

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 17

SHALL THE WING-FORWARD GO?

WELSH UNION ASKING FOR RULES TO EXCLUDE HIM OLD CONTROVERSY MAY BE REVIVED IN NEW ZEALAND

“Old Player” raises the old old question : Recent files from England show that the tide of adversity has set in against the wing-forward. The recent display in the international match between England and Wales brought forth a tremendous amount of adverse criticism of the wing and winging forwards. All the “untoward incidents” which took plaoe in that game were laid at the charge of the wingers, and, in consequence, they are in great disfavour. , Now. comes word that the Welsh Dnion is moving in the matter, and is going for an amendment to tho rules making it an offence for any member of a team tot advance beyond a line drawn through the front rank of the scrum before the ball is clear of the scrum. No doubt this is aimed at curbing the activities of the winger, and po on© can deny that it would be a very good thing for the gam© generally if wingers were abolished. Apparently the players in the recent match made things willing, so much ao, that several of the more important papers have seen fit tft get opinions from prominent officials, ox-play-ers, etc., and these all seem unanK pious on the point that the winger must go. The following .extracts will show the trend of such opinion : NEW RULE FOR SCRUMS “Mercian” says in “Athletic News” ; “ « . . Condemning a system does not necessarily carry with it the condemnation of tjhe men who aro appointed to carry out that system, and I should be the last to urge that every player who takes on the often-thankleas task of a winging forward is a natural spoiler of the game. Conoemiug th© difficulty there may be over the framing of a rule to deal < with the trouble, it may. be added that the Welsh Union put up a proposal to the International Board to the effect that no player should advance in front the first row of his own forwards until the bail j is clear of the scrummage. Such a rule is in existenoe in the' Northern League; Wales are keen on such p rule, and I can say that it is q'uite possible that it will be adopted next season so far as club matches in the principality are concerned.” The president of the English Rugby Union, Mr H. E. Ferens, expresses the opinion tht we should get better Rugby without a winging forward on the side.He continues: “There certainly should not be more than one winging forward on each side, and then he should be very fast if he is to be of any value to his side. There have been winging forwards in the past who have been of’ the greatest value to £h € ' r . side, and, on the other hand, winging forwards who have completely spoilt the game of the backs.” A famous half, T. H. Vile, who, as a great scrummage half-back himself, knows all the wiles of the winging forward, says: ‘*l have felt for some time that we shall never see really good Rugby again until we insist ppon the half-hack keeping to his own side of the scrummage until the hall is out. We might even'go further and say that the forwards, as a whole, should not h© allowed to leave their positions in the scri|mmage until the hall is. clear on« side of tho scrummage or the other.” HeT© in New Zealand, where wingforward play has been brought to a high pitch, many will be found advocating his retention, but I think that if a referendum were taken it would be found that y the vote wogld be against him/There cannot be any doubt that the abolition of wing-forwards would make for much' brighter play, and would he hailed by the backs with a

paean of delight. A can be said quite safely that wingers are a curse to the Rugby game—although I will say this in their favour, that they have been partly responsible for bringing the half-backs and five-eighths to the high standard of excellence for which New Zealand has long been noted. The aim of forwards in the scrum except in certain circumstances, Is to get the ball away as quickly as possible to the backs. The winger is there specially to counteract that, and he tries to carry out his duty the best wav he pan. If he can manage to hoodwink the referee so much the better for his chances of sucoess, and one’s sympathy goes out at times to the sorely harassed official who seems at time* as if he should have eves Hack ana front and at both sides of his head. , ONE CAUSE OF ROUGH PLAY It is well known that if the wincoi is thoroughly honest in his regard for the rules, and the referee absolutely correct in his interpretation, then th« winger has a much harder row to hoe, 2nd lie is not nearly so successful. But, of course, this is not all. The wing* forward is an “upsetting beastie,” t 4 use a homely Scottish saying, and causes more “rough house” work than any other player on the field. How often has one watched the unedifying duel going on between oppos- ; ing wingers, and how often has one cursed the number of free kicks caused through his over-zealousness ? This writer for one will give a sigh of relief when tho winger is off the slate, and is certain that lees games will develop into aimless when that time arrive*. N lf he goes, where shall he go? New Zealand has “banked” on the “seven” scrum, and it has been suggested quite eeriouslv by men of high repute that two full-baoks should be played. However, if Wales is raoccasful in carrying its proposal, the formation of teams will have to be reviewed, but until then, no doubt sleeping dogs will be let lie, and the 6&me old nurlyburly will continue. N.S.W. MAY ADOPT "WINGER” [Since this was written we have been told in a Sydney cable that “New South Wales is seriously considering returning to the two-three-two scrum formation and a wing-forward, especially in view of the report of Mr Harold Baker, manager of last year’*? New South Wales team which visited New Zealand. In hii report he said principle of wing-forward play had been considerably changed, ana in place of the old stumbling flock of the past is a roving back or extra fiveeighth, who, more often than not, is a distinct advantage to the hacks rather than a hindrance to the forwards”] i* Sydney has discovered another boy swimmer who bids fair to develop into a real champion, and if he continues to improve—and there is no reason why he should not —he will be an Olympic man for certain (says the ‘ “Globe”).; Frank Brandt is a student at the'' Christian Brothers’ College, Waverley, and at the annual carnival of the Catholic Colleges he made history. Entering in all for three championships and two relay races, he won his championships in times . vdiich would have done credit to swimmers many years < his senior. In the 50 yards junior he registered 26 2-ssec, extraordinary time for a youngster, and indeed he beat the record, 27 2-ssec, made by Frank Doyle, the present Australian cham- * pion, when he was competing in these carnivals. Not satisfied with defeating hoys his own age, he also won the 50 yards senior event, and also the 100 yards junior, whilst his relay team won oomfortably. Brandt is only 15 years of age, and weighs 9st 51b.