RUGBY TALENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 158, 6 July 1934, Page 8

RUGBY TALENT

BURDEN ON FIVE-EIGHTHS EFFECT OF SPOILING FORWARDS FORM OF PAGE AND GRIFFITHS (By “Crossbar’’) Public interest is keen at the moment on the work of the four New Zealand selectors who are to choose a number of All Black players to tour Australia. The personnel will be announced to-morrow night after the inter-island trial at Auckland. ihe team is scheduled to leave Wellington on July 24 and the following itinerary has been airanged: — August 1 v. Western Districts, at Orange. August 4 v. New South Wales, at Sydney. August 6 v. New South Wales at Sydney. August il v. Australia at Sydney (Test). August J 5 v. Queensland, at baneAugust IS v. an Australian XV, at Brisbane. August 22 v. Newcastle, al Newcastle. August. 25 v. Australia, at Sydney (Test). On the eve of a lour of this son, and particularly because it will have to be followed next year with a combing of tha Dominion for talent to send to Britain, there is a great deal ot speculation and criticism. Pessimism grapples with optimism and parochial tendencies exercise an over-riding influence. Stern responsibilities rest on the selectors, who base judgment off the form of individual players assessed over a number of games and brought to a ulimar in specially-arranged trials, such as that played at Wanganui on Wednesday last, il is only natural, ot course, that no matter what team is chosen to make the trip, it will exclude players quite as well fitted to wear the* New Zealand jersey as any of those awarded the honour. It would seem that the intention un Saturday will be to base the team for Australia on the young combination

which performed well there iu J 932 and returned much the better for having been coached by “Billy” Wallace, of“ 1905 fame, in such a policy the selectors are acting wisely, it is true, of course, that in many cases original selection is purely a matter of luck, but retention of a place in an All Black side is not based on luck, but on the ability of the individual to lift himself into/the class of football set by international matches. Very few of New Zealand’s selected players in Test sides have let the country down. Beveral have been taken overseas and have not made names for themselves, but few, if any, of really All Black international fifteens have not lived up to the responsibilities involved. Plenty of Forwards Available After last Wednesday’s trial in Wanganui there is little to won} about so far as forwards are concerned. The standard set in that match proved very definitely that a player must be in the vwy pink of condition io get* his place- Last year s mterIslaiid fixture offered proof just as conclusive. The way the Boutn island pack, led by Andrews, played in the second spell well satisfied tne most exacting of fans that New Zealand’s great Rugby vanguard was as worthy of its name as ever. Notwithstanding the .tact that i’age and Griffiths botn played remarkably well in the trial at Wanganui, the weakness of the day so far as the "ame is concerned lies in the inside positions. Until that section is improved tne three-quarter line, forced to make most of its own play, will al-ways-leave the public with a sense of disappointment. W hat is not generally appreciated, however, is that tne weakness inside is due largely to the bud scrummagiiig brought about by New Zealand .s aii-suffenng acceptance uf the three-man front, row and the consequent discardisg of tne tried and tested'diamond lui’ination. With foiwards not concentrating on fair uouking of the bail, but eager to spoil, a Ji\e-eiguthb line must possess superiiumaii qualifications to xeed the tnieequariers as they should be fed. Once ■a first live-eigiiths snows penetrative anility and is served by a good hooker, Hie opposing set 01 lorwarus worij little about me bail after a scrum ge.t> 'lowu. Their breakaways ran oui, ami the first live-eigain.j luces an impossible position, wiiicn forces him lo move across tne field, too far. Lt is admitted tuat the first five-eightns, except in surprise moves, must run out to some extent, and rely upon his outside players to straighten the play up. The blemish, about, image’s play is that he carries the cross-field running too rar. Until New Zealand improves in scrummaging, attacks from set scrums and line-outs will always leave the three-quarters with little to come and go on. simply because players in the xey positions inside have to beat spoilers plus direct opponents. Quick passing minimises the spoiling, but reacts disadvantageously because it loses ground. The point in the arguments raised along such lines is this: Bhould the three-quarters of to-day be judged harshly when their opportunities have been limited by the continual breaking up of the inside backs? When Greek Meets Greek Most people were surprised that few openings were made in the trial match L. Ransom v. B. Harvey. W. Dean v. F. Hackett. Q. U. Wilson v. H. McFarlane K. W. Dalrymple v. D. H. McKay. W. Aitken v. R. Broun P. Jeffries v. J. C. Brown. F. 8. Collier v. F. J. Hill E. W. Smart v. H. Webb. G. Young v. A. H Boyes W Drew v. J. E. Fister. L. A. Sadler v. G. S. Friend.