TREVATHAN TROUNCED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 55, 28 August 1939, Page 6

TREVATHAN TROUNCED

EASY MEAT FOR SPRINGBOKS PLAYED HIM INTO TESTS Once again the claims of Dave Trevathan Otago's go?-! kicking genius, for inclusion in the New Zealand team for South Africa next year are being strongly advanced by Dnnedin writers (writes H. J. G. in the Christchurch Star-Sun) . By scoring one hundred points in club football in Dunedin tins season, Trevathan, New Zealand's first liveeighth against the Springboks in 1937, would appear to have justified the support that is being accorded him. As an cx-Otago Rugby enthusiast, with an open mind in regard to the experiences of the pa-t few years, I have no hesitation in saying that the selection of Trevathan in the next New Zealand team would be greeted in South Africa with considerable glee by all members of the last jSprin.gbok team to visit New Zealand. To Trevathan's band of hero wor. this statement will no doubt cause surprise and probably resentment. It cannot be denied, however, that Trevathan failed to justify the confidence that had bee n placed in hi i n when he was chosen to represent New Zealand against the 1937 Springboks. The lessons to be learned from the Springboks cannot be too often examined in. view of New Zealand':; showing. Tt is not the purpose of this article to deal with the many phases of the game, but to reveal the weakness of a policy that -encour. ages players of the Trevathan type. Shrewd judges of the game in Dun edin will recall one of the highlights of the match between the visitors and Otago. That feature involved Trevathan. Despite the fact that the j Springboks hoisted the biggest score of their tour in this match the ''flat footed'' Trevathan broke through the defence in a manner which would not have been permitted in Dunedin club football. •In the match against Otago, "the Springboks " deliberately gave Trevathan a good deal of latitude. It was part of a cleverly conceived plan. 1 will not go so far as to say that Trevathan was responsible for New Zealand's defeat, but the Springboks realised that Trevathan was a weak link in the All Blacks' back line, and they did their best to ensure his selection for the subsequent third test. Now why was Trevathan regarded as a weak link? Defenders of Trevathan will proud Iv point to his prolific scoring i.i club football and for Otago. In 193G, when Otago defended the Ranfurly Shield against a]J_eomers. Trevathan was credited with having scored about half of Otago's points. T R EVA THA N O YE R-iESTIMATED That in itself was a fine performance, and in fairness to Trevathan. it must be admitted that on his fo"m that season there were few superior five-eighths seen against him. Trevathan was solid and this combined with his spectacular kicking made him shine over his opponents who were unquestionably a poor lot. Despite the fine record established bv Otago in that season, however, it is the writer's opinion that the Otago selectors and Dunedin football critics at the time overestimated the value of Trevathan. Otago, in 1936, could have beeri represented by an even stronger com bination, if the "Trevathan complex'' had not prevailed. Until Trevathan arrived on the Rugby stage, it was generally recognised that the first five-eighth holds the key position in any attacking movements .essayed, by the backs. Against fast breakaway forwards the success of back attacks depended upon the speed with which the bail travels from the base of the scrum to the three-quarters, and of course, upon the penetrative ability of the inside men. With r.I! due respect to Simon and Irevathan who have given fine service to Otago, ifr cannot be denied that as a combination they are far to 0 slow to operate a cha'n of backs . against an opposition as strong as the Springboks. ALTERNATIVE SELECTION. If no other inside combination had been available in Otago in 1933 there would be no cause for complaint. Charlie Saxton and Col'n Gillies, for instance, were never given, a chance although it was recognised they were brilliant in their respective "'post.

tions. They have both represented New Zealand, and their performances were distinctive. Saxton rose to fame with the New Zealand team in Australia after th? Springboks visit here, while Gillies played first five-eighth against the Australian team in the second test at Dunedin in 1936. In the latter match Gillies was smartly served from the scrum by the plucky little and he gave one of the finest exhibitions of first five.eiglith play seen in Dunedin, for years. Gillies proved himself capable of feeding his three-quarter line, with the result that the Australians were soundly trounced—3B points to 13— compared with the narrow win of 11 to 6 AA-hcn Killeen had received preference over Gillies. GILLIES' QUA LIFICATIOXS. , Throughout the 1936 season, however) Gillies was forced to play second fiddle to Trevathan, in the Otago team. It is the writer's belief that Gillies was conscious of the fact that he was not receiving a fair spin, with the result that he lost interest in the game, and eventually decided to drop out of big football altogether. Gillies possessed two qualifications which Trevathan lacked—speed off the mark arid initiative. He was :: tower of strength on. defence; he could kick to the line as accurately, as Trevathan, and he could also pot goals. In looking at Trevathan's scoring records it is well to remember that •3 he lias had every chance to shine. The number of times that his shots have failed is completely overlooked by his admirers. Recently, the Dunedin Star admitted in the report of a. club match that Trevathan had had seven pots at goal before he was successful in landing one. 'There is no need to elaborate on that significant statement. It did not take the Springboks long to realise that the whole of the New Zealand back line had been weakened, because Trevathan had been included in the team to sneak the potted goal that was exDected to turn the tide in favour of New Zealand. SOUTH AFRICA'S EXPERIENCE. Tlie Springboks had also benefited from their experience with the famous Bennie Osier. Strange as it may seem, international matches in which o<der played were invariably won by South Africa, and yet South Africa's football sufFerqd a serious setback because of Osier's style of play. Many members of the 1937 team spoke feelingly on this very point, in private conversation. Tt was strikingly manifested during the Springboks' 1931-32 tour of Brita'n that Osier was hindering the development of rearguard movements. He had brilliant men outside of him, but they were virtnallv starved because of the potted goal craze. Tt was because South Africa offieials adopted bold steps to stamp out ali trace of the Bennie Osiers that South African football arose to it* previous level of greatners and a team was despatched to New Zealand that has been described as South Africa's greatest Springboks. / —