RUGBY STANDARDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19584, 16 March 1938, Page 10

RUGBY STANDARDS

DOMINION PROBLEMS TACTICS AND STRATEGY REPORT BEFORE COUNCIL Recommendations designed to improve the standard of Rugby football in New Zealand and dealing with both the playing and administrative aspects of the game were adopted by the New Zealand Rugby Council at a recent meeting in Wellington. Causes believed to be responsible for a deterioration in the standard of play are set out, together with suggested remedial measures.

The report, which was adopted by the council, stated: —

It is to be recognised and admitted that, viewed from a comparison with international sides and playing under international rules, there has been over a period a deterioration in the standard of New Zealand Rugby, and this report is framed on the basis of that comparison.

The causes can be classed under three heads: —

(1) The original departure from international rules.

(2) Failure to adapt ourselves to the new scrum formation.

(3) Gradual but decided lack of strict attention to recognised fundamental principles of the game. Line-Kicking Rule.

Dealing with these headings seriatim: —

(1) The alteration of the linekicking rules altered to an extent the tactical side of the game and had a general tendency to prevent the development of accurate line-kicking and the over-development of open forward play. These factors place at a disadvantage players who have learned them football under amended rules when required to play under international rules.

(2) The adoption of the threefronted scrum altered the playing of the game materially in. two directions: (a) The method of packing and disposition of forwards; (b) the back play close to the scrum and the disposition of the backs. New Zealand play has developed under the traditional 2-3-2 scrum, and the back play associated with it. There has been a tendency to retain those methods under the altered scrum conditions to which they are not fully suitable, instead of developing or adopting the different methods rendered necessary by the change. Lessons as to what those changes should be were learned to some extent by the 1935 team in England, and were further demonstrated in. the recent tour of the South Africans. Necessary Fundamentals.

(3) There are certain' fundamentals necessary to be observed in playing of Rugby irrespective of what particular set of rules are being observed, mainly: (a) Determined clean tackling; tb) ability of backs to field the ball with certainty, either in the air or on the ground; (c) ability of forwards to control ball at feet; (d) ability of backs to kick accurately with either foot; (e) ability to deliver and take passes cleanly; (f) honest and correct scrum work; (g) jumping and team-work on line-outs; (h) a general knowledge of the laws of the game and the spirit in which they should be played. It is felt also that all these phases of the game should be developed by players in the very earliest stages of their football careers, as it is useless for an adult player to attempt suddenly to develop them when approaching the interprovincial or international class. It is considered that there has been a decided falling-oil' in attention to these details and there should be adopted by those responsible for the coaching of even the youngest players an insistence on the observance of them.

Recommendations on Playing Aspect

(1) International rules should be adopted, except that the present practice of replacing injured players be not interfered with.

(2) Adoption of the 3-4-1 scrum, the basis of the packing being low with straight pushing. (3) Alteration in. the tactical play of the backs, mainly:—(a) The halfback to develop a longer pass from the scrum; (b) to stand alongside the opposing half when the latter is putting the ball in the scrum, and, on the opposing side getting possession, not to retire; (c) the first live-eighth to stand further from the scrum. (4) There should be held in the various centres frequent meetings of club coaches and captains for the discussion of tactical and other methods of formation and play in connection with the game, particularly with a view to general changes necessitated by alteration in scrum formation.

(5) That there should be made available for the unions for display to club coaches, captains and players and schools, copies of a slow-motion film of correct scrum packing, hooking, and passing.