NEW SCRUM FORMATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20167, 8 June 1928, Page 4

NEW SCRUM FORMATION

ALL BLACKS CHANGE TACTICS Victory For New Zealand Tourists, But Display Voted Not Brilliant Fielding a team which included seven players who had not yet had a game on the tour, with three men in front of the scrum in place of the usual two, and an extra three-quarter in place of a rover, the All Blacks triumphed over Griqualand West at Kimberley on Wednesday, the final scores being 19 to 10. Despite tue alteration in tactics in the scrams only a fair share of the ball came the way of the New Zealanders, and as the opposition met was not of the best standard the result of the game cannot be accepted as an indication of what is likely to follow in the sterner task against Transvaal to-morrow. Beyond saying that a fair share of possession was gained by the All Blacks the cabled reports do not indicate definitely whether the changed scrum formation was a success or not. The fact that Griqualand scored a try directly as the result of clean hooking, however, does not indicate that the tourists had the upper hand. That the tactics have been changed, though, serves to prove that experts on the spot are dubious of success with the New Zealand 23—2 formation. It is thus possible that the contention that eight men against seven gives the former formation an advantage is likely to be proved correct. K*:W ZIIALA-7D BACKS’ THREE GREAT TRIES. A 3 a spectacular euvrt uifi match was apparently not brilliant and both sides gave disappointing expositions. In the backs the Dominion had the upper hand and tnree great tries were scored as the result of concerted movements in which practically every back took part. Summing the meagre cable news up, it would appear that the greatest concern of the All Blacks is their scrum work, and if they can overcome the difficulty there the gradual tendency by the backs towards surer handling will tell its tale later on. Griqualand West is not the best of sides and perhaps too sanguine a view of the margin of victory should not be taken, but doubtless the game served its purpose in testing altered tactics at a time when thq degree of risk was at a minimum. .ralian Press Assn. —United Service 1 KIMBERLEY, June 6. bhowing belter form the All Blacks beat Griqualand West to-day by 19 points to 10, but as the home team is not reckoned among ths strong sides the margin was nothing to boast of. On the other hand, as the ground was a hard red dirt this was a new experience for the visitors, and probably affected them to some extent. The scores were made up of live tries, two being converted, to one try, one penalty, and one potted goal. The New Zealanders were again favoured with brilliant sunshine, but the attendance was only 5600. The spectators were not treated to anything brilliant, the match being a disappointing exhibition on both sides. CHANGES IN FORMATION AND TACTICS. The New Zealand team took the field as follows: — LINDSAY. RUSHBKOOK SHEEN LUCAS STRANG JOHNSON CARLETON KILBY BURROWS WARD STEWART (Captain; u. brownlie McWilliams snow finlayson The All Blacks in this game made radical changes in their formation and tactics. They played three men in the front of the. scrum and four behind. Carleton acted as an extra centre. As a result of these alterations the New Zealanders got a fair percentage of the ball from the scrums. For a little while the advantage lay with the local side. Within three minutes of the start, Holton kicked a goal from a penalty in front of the New Zealand posts.

ALL BLACKS’ BACK LINE LEADS TO EQUALISER The All Blacks then started a succession of dashes, from ong of \\hi> a the Mil came to the backs. Lucas kicked in-field accurately and McWilliams gained possession and scored near the posts. Lindsay, huwcv vas 100 slow with his kick, which w as charged down. ALL BLACKS 3 GRIQUALAND WEST 3 The Gnqualanders came back and remained on top for some time, keeping the All Blacks busy defending. Holton secured from a scrum in front of the posts and potted a goal, ®aking the scores:— GRLQULAND WEST 7 ALL BLACKS 3 i .uyiug with, determination the home team pushed the All Blacks .. and still kept them on the defence for a further period. SEVEN ALL BLACKS FIGURE IN SPECTACULAR MOVEMENT At last the New Zealand backs got an opportunity, and from his own twenty-five Strang gave Kilby a pass and the ball travelled the rest of the length of the field. The leather was handled by Lucas, Sheen, McWilliams, Johnson, and Rushbrook, who raced across the line after a most spectacular movement. birang’s kick missed and the visitors were still one point down; — ALL BLACKS .. .. .. (5 GRIQUALAND WEST 7 inc Griqualand team still had something to say, and imine Ua. . farted a whirlwind forward attack, which took them close to the M.. Zealand line. There a scrum took place, th'e. ball has heeled out to Bok, mui. he shot over at the corner. The kick at goal missed and the home team’s lead was increastd • GRIQUALAND WEST 10 ALL BLACKS 6 The All Blacks, however, gvened up before the spell ended with tut•thcr pretty movement. Kilby shot the ball away from the scrum to Johnson to Strang, to Sheen, who cut in and passed to Carleton, who finally handed to Rushbrook. The last-named dashed over the line and Lindsay converted, making the half-time score:— ALL BLACKS •. .. • • a a aa a a .. .. a a 11 GRIQUALAND WEST 10 NEW ZEALANDERS PREVAIL IN SECOND HALF. The local side, who had so far done very well, fell off in the second naif, and the All Blacks had all the best of it, though they did not score heavily. Their backs showed up very prominently. Ten minutes from resuming, Kilby, who in particular was playing a great game, started a passing rush in which Johnson, Strang and Sheen took part. Carleton cut in at the right time and handed on to Lucas, who sailed over at the corner. Lindsay’s kick, though difficult, only just ALL BLACKS 14 GRIQUALAND WEST 10 Several more combined movements promised well but were :q failure to put in the finishing touches. FINLAYSON SECURES LAST-MINUTE SCORE At the last minute Brownlie, however, got possession from a out and passed to Finlayson. The big Aucklander swerved his way through to score between the posts, and Strang had no difficulty iu converting, the final scores being: ALL BLACKS 19 GRIQUALAND WEST .... .. 1®