RUGBY IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 89, 9 January 1935, Page 3

RUGBY IN BRITAIN

Game Experiencing Boom MANY GOOD PLAYERS Harder Row For All Blacks An ex-New Zealand Rugby player, writing from Glasgow at the end of November, declares that the Rugby game is experiencing a boom all over Britain, with a consequent improvement in standard (reports the “Auckland Star”). He thinks the All Blacks should win the more important matches of their coming tour, but they are not likely to have the unbeaten record of the 1924 team, ■ ' “It is fairly safe to predict that the 1935 All Blacks are not going to have such an easy passage as the 1924 All Blacks had,” writes Mr J. Watt, an exNew Zealander, from Glasgow. “I have no desire to increase the pessimism which appears to prevail in New Zealand regarding next year’s team. But as they say here in Scotland, ‘facts are chiels that winna ding,’ which means, in effect, that you canont get rid of facts by shutting vour eyes to them. “One fact is that Britain as a whole is experiencing a Rugby boom —a mild one, perhaps, but still a boom. Not only is the game growing in popularity, but there is a greater wealth of talent than has been the ease for a number of years. AU four countries have manypromising young players. Of course, it is still too early to say what sort of teams are going to be fashioned from the material to hand. We must wait for the international matches to discover that. But at least there appears to be no lack of material. As one writer puts it: Internationals abound, and the number of first-class players is likely to embarrass the selectors.’ Not the Only Worry. “An embarrassment of riches is, however, not the only worry of the selectors. The talent is not evenly distributed between the four countries. While the English selectors are unusually anxious about the position of fly-half, Wales, it is said, has so many halves that the Welsh selectors have nightmares in which they see thousands of halves rushing about like imps, and each performing prodigious feats of skill. England, on the other hand, has an embarrassing nuftber of three-quarters. “Forwards keep (the Irish selectors awake at night, or disturb their sleep. Ireland is reported to have about two dozen first-class forwards of about equal merit, and they are going to take some sorting out. No doubt the selectors wish that some of them were backs, especially centre three-quarters, for it is here that the chief weakness of Irish Rugby appears to lie. “Here in Scotland the season has not revealed any particularly bright stars. Nevertheless, there is plenty of youthful talent, though at the time of writing both Glasgow and Edinburgh selectors are rather worried over their back divisions for the annual inter-city match. However, Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs do not represent the entire playing strength of Scotland. There are sure to be Anglo-Scots in the Scottish fifteen again this season. The clubs of Glasgow Edinburgh, and Dunfermline, and the Anglo-Scots, ought to supply the selectors with plenty of material, and Scotland ought to have a creditable rearguard. “As for forwards, Scotland has many likely jflayers. The Border clubs alone could supply a pretty creditable Scottish pack. Particular attention is being paid to forward play by the Border clubs this season. It is said that they wish to revive the traditional Scottish game, but they may have the visit of the New Zealanders in mind also. It may be remembered that the play of the South of Scotland forwards came as a surprise and something of a shock 'to the last Springboks team. Strength of Teams. “It is difficult to say which country is likely to have the best side this! season, and more difficult still to foretell which country is likely to field the strongest team against the All Blacks. The international matches will answer the question, and will also provide grounds on which to base a prophecy with regard to the strength of the teams next season. “At the moment it seems possible that England will have the strongest team next season. According to one criticprophet, the English team this season will consist of ‘‘a brilliant back division operating behind a big, heavy and fast pack of forwards.’- But there is one important proviso. The selectors must solve the fly-half problem. “If Wales had the wealth of talent, and especially of youthful talent, that report says she has, then it is possible that her team will prove the toughest nut for the All Blacks to crack. Of course, statements like ‘a deluge of Rugby talent’- ought’to be discounted, but there is no doubt that at the moment Welsh prospects are particularly rosy. And this much is certain, when she meets the All Blacks she will be keen to repeat her .success of thirty years ago.

Irish and Scottish Forwards.

“If Ireland can discover some suitable backs she may have quite a formidable team. Her main strength will probably be forward, however, and if she has a pack as fiery and impetuous as some of her packs of the past she may well give the All Blacks something to think about.

“The Scottish forwards are also likely to extend the All Blacks, but, like Ireland, Scotland may lack a really first-class rearguard. At least she is not likely to have such a back division as she had not so many years ago, when lan Smith (“The Flying Scotsman”), G. P. S. Macpherson, J. C. Dykes, and B. Waddell were at their best. I do not think that Scotland has the equals of these players to-day. Still, she ought to have a serviceable team, back and forward, next year.

“Just how good our best national team will be is a matter of conjecture, and besides, a lot depends on the standard of comparison adopted. However, it is safe to predict that the best will not be the equal of the 1924 All Blacks. At the same time, the standard of British Rugby as a whole has improved since 1924, and it is for this reason, coupled with the fact that they will be playing the British style of Rugby, that the 1935 All Blacks are going to find more difficulty in maintaining than the 1924 All Blacks had in creating the unbeaten record. “However, there is no need for despair or pessimissm. After all, the British standard of Rugby Is not so very high, and unless it has fallen very considerably I Imagine that the New Zealand standard is still the higher.”