“THE LUCK OF THE GAME?"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 10

“THE LUCK OF THE GAME?"

A CURIOUS feature of the two Rugby tests in South Africa has been the value of potted and penalty goals as a matchwinning factor. Bennie Osier practically won the first test for the Springboks by his astonishing performance of scoring 14 out of 17 points in goals, and Lindsay and Strang took a sweet revenge in the second match. In both games, team work and combination have had to play second fiddle to pot shots at goal, and penalties from the other side’s mistakes. Even the South African critics are expressing doubts as to whether the game will continue to attract public support if these tactics are persisted in. The points value of potted goals is a survival of fifty years ago. Everything then was subservient to kicking goals. The modern passing game was unknown, and long-drawn-out “mauls” were the basis of the game. In recent years, attempts have been made to persuade the English Rugby Union, the fountain-head of the game, to adopt a more equitable system of scoring, but without success. It is contended that all goals—whether potted, penalty or conversions—should count as two points. The experience in South Africa is a strong argument in favour of this contention.