ENGLISH RUGBY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18757, 10 January 1923, Page 3

ENGLISH RUGBY

THE NEXT NEW ZEALAND TOUR. “TEAM MUST BE OUR BEST.” By G. G. Aitkkx. Now Zealand Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. At the time of writing all interest in Rugby is centreing round the Oxford-Cam-bridge match, which is to be played at Twickenham on December 12 (won by Cambridge). Both teams have their problems, and the respective captains have been trying many experiments to try and place the-best team in the field on the great day. Our problem is to get a pack' to stand np to the heavy forwards from Cambridge, whereas they are looking for backs to support their pack. We began the season as favourites, and it was predicted that oar back division would hold its own with any team in England, but subsequent games have revealed the weakness of our defence. 'This was especially shown when we were beaten by Leicester (28 to nil). They are a team who profited by the visit of the Now Zealand 1905 team, and have improved on the game demonstrated to them They play our scrum with marked success, but. instead of having a wing forward, they have an extra three-quarter. In the game against ns they controlled the forward work, and had an extra man in their back division for attack and defence. Their hacks played with beautiful combination, and every try was the result of a combined movement amongst the backs. We were unfortunate in this match, in that we lost one of our best men, I. J. Pitman, who played for England last year. He is very fast, and was playing a good game for ns when he was collared and broke his right leg in two places, which will keep him out of football for this season at least. Leicester is a groat football centre, about 30,000 people turning out to see onr game. Naturally they were very pleased with the result. People here still talk of the 1905 All Black team, and, in (he pavilions of all the clubs I have played against they have photographs of parts of the games. Contrary to their usual custom, they don’t give the scores. NEXT NEW ZEALAND TEAM. I hope that some time in the near future a New Zealand team will come to England, hut it must he our best team, for English football is of a good standard. I think, however, from the teams that I have seen —and they are the first-rate ones —that a, tour through England would be successful from the New Zealand standpoint. Our forward play especially is superior. The English forwards are good scrimmagors. but they don’t develop loose play lo any extent. It is rarely that one sees forwards break through a line-out with (ho ball at their toes, and I haven’t yet seen a passing movement amongst the forwards. The Oxford forwards, for instance/ arc very light, and the loose forward game, with the long line-out, would suit them, but they try to play the tight game against heavier padks. OXFORD BOXERS. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Eagan, an American Rhodes scholar, boxing against. Guy’s Hospital, and the only thing I don’t like about him is that ho made the fight too short, knocking out his man in the first round. He was the winner of the light-heavy-weight at the last Olympic Games, and so he came here with a reputation. It was reported in (he papers that he had challenged Battling Siki. but this he says is a mistake. In the presence of a newspaper reporter lie expressed a wish to meet Siki, but of course he couldn’t do this without forfeiting his amateur status, which he wouldn’t, do. He is a beautifullybuilt man. and as quick as a feather-weight. In the fight Inst night ho hit his opponent when and where he wanted to. It was thought at first that he would box heavy for the ’Varsity, and all the heavies were striving to train down to light-heavy. They are putting on weight now. He has the appearance of a fighting man. but when he speaks he sounds the most inoffensive man in the world. There is no bluster or swank about him. and be is very popular at his college (New College). Athletics are also flourishing, although I can’t understand whv tbev run them in the winter. The track is always wet, and conditions are hardly congenial for good performances or pleasant exercise. Very few colonials turn out till the summer term. Oxford has found- a good quarter-miler in Stevenson, an American, who beat Kudd. the Oxford holder, last year in 48 3-ssec. He is quite young and should make a big name for himself here. Oxford, England, November 9, 1922.