RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF ENGLISH SEASON. LESSONS FROM THE ALL BLACKS. (Feou Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 8. In spite of the fact that cricket matches are still being played, Rugby and Association football has begun in England. In reviewing the possibilities for the Rugby season, a special correspondent of The Observer makes mention of the All Blacks.

■' It is true,” he writes, “ that wo have been awakened from a state of torpor occasionally by our visitors-—ever welcome — from the' colonies. Rugby football owes a debt of gratitude to the New Zealanders and South Africans, who have shown us very plainly that, in conjunction with thoroughness of effort and training, good sportsmanship can also go hand in hand. The intense interest shown with regard to the New Zealand matches last year must have been most gratifying to those who have worked for the game as it is, and who had, years ago, a great fight in its behalf. That. Rugby is daily gaining adherents is obvious, when one sees year after year more of the schools taking up the game. There is room, for both Rugby and Association football, we know, and it is certain that the governing bodies of both are perfectly content to work hand in hand, as they have always done-

ADVANTAGES OF A TOURING SIDE. “ When one is asked plainly the question as to what we have learned from the All Blacks of last year, it would probably bo safe to say that, in technique, little or nothing, but that a young and very fast side, which has nothing to do but play football from one end of the week to the other, will always have a chance of beating a team of players who are past their best in many cases and who have not. and never can have, under misting conditions, the same team feeling that a touring side naturally possesses. That wo were beaten last year does not mean in any way that our game is going back. The magnificent sides that have represented England since the war will grow up again. We cannot always expect to have a Sam Woods, a W. E. Bromet, a W. W. Wakefield, or a Commander Davies to hand, but they will' come in their turn. As long as we have such a great player and judge as John Daniell, aided by J. Baxter, to look after our selection, then as far as English Rugby is concerned the game is in the best of hands. “ During the summer there have been made one or two small alterations in the laws, but they do not amount to much. The question of getting the ball into the scrummage will always be one of difficulty—the possession of the balls means so much. In America the ball is given to a, side three times in succession, but a certain amount of ground has to he gained in those three scrums. It would hot work here. It is extremely difficult to see what can be done j in the matter; perhaps it is best to go on trusting to the good feeling of the players of the game, for one is certain that in all matches what is asked for is a square deal, so much so that one can well believe it would be possible for Oxford and Cambridge, or Blackheath and Richmond, to play a game without a referee at all—the captains might settle matters between themselves. It may sound fantastic, but it could be done. Such is the spirit of the game.” NEW RULES. “Certain alterations in the rule? for the game generally will be introduced this season,” says the Referee, “but the one of chief importance is that which provides that the ball must bo thrown out five yards in line-outs. For some years this rule has been in force in New Zealand, its object being to do a wav with the rough and tumble of the short line-out, and from ail points of view this change must improve the game. A good many would doubtless welcome the adoption of another New Zealand rule, which provides for a penalty of a serum back when a player outside- his own twenty-five kicks the ball straight into touch, but this is too drastic a variation of our game to be thought of officially yet awhile. France, however, has embraced the New Zealand rules, and wo may to a greater or lesser extent later on. We have made a start in that direction, anyhow. “ Tliere is another rule in force in Australia and New Zealand that finds no sympathy here, and that is ‘he rule which provides for the replacing of injured E layers. There is a good deal to be said oth in favour of this rule and against it. It could possibly lead to many undesirable things, though in polo, where an. injured: player is replaced by another, subject to certain restrictions where tournament matches are concerned, it works perfectly well. DOMINION REPRESENTATION. “ It is to be regretted that at the outset of another season there should be distant rumblings of a brewing storm. To say that the colonies and France are disappointed that their application for representation on iho International Board was turned down is to put the case mildly. The New Zealand Rugby Union, in common with South Africa and New South Wales, has protested against the present representation of the dominions in the government of the game, and the situation, it seems to me, will require careful handling if a split is to be avoided. The present constitution of the International Board was right enough in the old days, but Rugby js no longer the insular point it was. It is played now wherever the English tongue js spoken, and it has almost as firm a grip in France as it has here. Therefore the old habit of thought must give place to the changed conditions.’’