ENGLISH RUGBY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23314, 25 September 1945, Page 4

ENGLISH RUGBY

Points New Zealand Should Copy (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. Flight Lieutenant Eric Grant, of Gisborne, who returned with his wife and child from Britain tp-day, played for Scotland against England four times during his service in the United Kingdom. England winning three of the matches. Flight Lieutenant Grant said the New Zealander, Maurice Goddard of Timaru, playing first five-eighths, showed really brilliant attaching foim in games for England against Scotland and Wales. McKenzie was still the forward who gained All Black honours, and another good forward, now unfortunately missing, was lan Dustin, who plaved' for England on several occasions. The English backs, he said, were impressive in speed, handling and constructive play, specialising in the open game. He did not consider England had any really great forwards. Wales, in this respect, being on top. New Zealanders who played in England learned something about back play behind the 3-4-1 scrum, and should be able to give valuable advice on their return He was of the opinion that New Zealand should change her back system to that of two halves and four three-quarters, for it was found that even teams which obviously were not up to the standard of New Zealand teams in England always managed to get the ball away faster and more efficiently than the New Zealanders.