A GENIUS IS BEHIND MANY OF BEST RUGBY MOVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 61, 26 June 1950, Page 3

A GENIUS IS BEHIND MANY OF BEST RUGBY MOVES

Rugby football is generally looked on as a team game, but it has owed its most dramatic and successful periods to individuals of outstanding ability. Their genius has inspired many teams to great heights, writes Corinthian in the Dominion.

One flash of inspiration can turn the whole course of a game. Modern New Zealand rugby, steeped in orthodoxy, could be restored to much of its former glory by such an inside back. Just what this could mean is suggested in the performances in the tests of the British Isles stand off half, J. W. Kyle. Kyle’s Contribution

Whereas the modern New Zealand conception is that an inside back should be purely a connecting link, Kyle, with much less of the ball than his opposites, has shown in two tests the contribution a player of genius can make—a contribution that may yet pave the way for a spectacular British success, which would not go undeserved.

The first test showed that on the 19 occasions Kyle received the ball, sometimes in a defensive position, he kicked in five, knocked on once, threw out two erartic passes, sent the ball on nine times, broke away on his own once to score, and cut through on another occasion to crosskick for Jones to score. Matthews handled six times. He kicked in three, passed the ball on once, was caught once, and gave one erratic pass.

Beatty handled on 34 occasions, He kicked on five, varied with a short punt on three, knocked on five times, had a pass intercepted once after he was caught, and sent the ball on 20 times. In one passing movement his quick thrust created the overlap for Roper to score. Elvidge handled on 21 occasions. He kicked once, was caught or ran into'the tackle four times, knocked on four times, passed on 10 times, sent out one erratic pass, and went over for a solo try.

Kyle and Matthews handled 25 times, and Beaty and Elvidge on 55. What might have been the story of this drawn test had these figures been reversed? Though the handling was better in the second test by the inside All Black backs, the story was again similar. Fumble—No Try

Kyle handled 16 times. He passed the ball on 10 times, once cutting through and only a fumble prevented a probable try. He kicked five times, and sent out one forward pass.

Matthews handled seven times. Twice be passed on, kicked four times, once after beating Elvidge, and was caught once. Haig handled LI times. He flicked five times, shortpunted ahead in five, twice causing U,e opposition trouble, was caught three times, knocked on once, had one pass intercepted, potted once, and passed on 15 times. In one rush he cut through to create a try. Elvidge handled on 15 occasions, He was’ caught twice knocked on once, kicked ahead judiciously once, Roper being beaten by the bounce and knocked on, and passed on 11 times. Kyle and Matthews handled on 23 occasions, Haig and Elvidge on 46. Result, one back try to the All Blacks. In the two.tests the All Blacks scored three back tries and the British Isles two.