First Duty Of Forwards Is To Win The Ball

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1948, Page 6

First Duty Of Forwards Is To Win The Ball

DUNEDIN, Oct. 5. Mr. McDonald's (New Zealand seleetor) opinion that "Otago rueking experts would learu t.o vary and expand their play so that they could play tlieir part in the open when necessary," was not read as .a slur on Otago footbali by experienced Dunedin judges of the game but it was regarded as a questionable direetion to players .who are to tackle the Springboks in their own country. There was general agreeiuent with Mr. MeDonald that the team will be a good oue and that it should develop into a very even and sound combination. Nevertheless, it was emphasised in direct contrast to Mr. McDon- ■ ald's views, that the first aim of the New Zealand forwards must be the rtchievenient of top efficieney in scrummaging. • - s ''The Springboks put their faith first in scrummaging,7 7 Mr. V. G. Cavauagh juhr., South Island selector, Otago seleetor and eoaeli, said. "Their first* olijee ti ve is possession of the ball. The eorrectness of their system does not require empliasis. If their forwards are winning the ball, the whole team caa niamtain pressure until the way opens up for the backs to score tries. 7 ' Mr. Cavanagh i-eaffirmed that the whole taetics of the Otago team in the past two seasons, had been based on that eardinal rule of winning possession and keeping possession. "If forwards are to concentrate also on open play, their energies must bo divided, ' ' lie said. "The qucstiou is, which is better — that they should race about after their opponen.ts have won the ball, try-' ing to win it back, or that they should' tuake their first duty to get the ball and let their opponents do the chasing about after it. " Leaving Otago 's pcrformances out ot it altogether, he said obviously lirst empliasis against the Springboks must! be on scrummaging. That was the basis of the whole game and it was. uioro logical and uiore important that evcry forward in the New Zealand team should maka scrummaging his primc duty. "You can't have it both ways unless you have supermen forwards," he said. "There is a limit to their energies and it' is of greatest importance that* their vim should bc directed wholly where it can be of most use. The trend towards opou footbali by the forwards in New Zealand in rccent years, caunot be justified by results and a continuance of it, especially in South Africa, could be disastrous. "