MARK NICHOLLS’S BOOK

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 3

MARK NICHOLLS’S BOOK

COMMENT OH SCRUM FORMATION “ SOMETHING DRASTIC MUST BE DONE " That something drastic must be done to pub our scrums in order it we wish to retain our place among tho great Rugby playing countries of tlie world is the opinion of Mr Mark Nieholls, vice-captain of the 1928 All Blacks, whoso book, 1 With the All Blacks in Spriugboklund,’ has just been published. Tho book, ot which an autographed copy has been sent to ns by the writer, is attractively arranged, and is one of tho most complete and comprehensive that has been published on any tour. In addition to a tub description of everv match played, there are numerous statistical tallies and a number of special articles on tho lessons of the tour, comparisons between South African and New Zealand styles, and impressions of the tour. The book is also replete with excellent photographs of tho teams and players in the games in South Africa. Mark Nicholls's reflections and lessons of the tour lorm a highly-interest-ing introduction. “The South Alrieans have a Rugby style all their own,” he writes. “Whatever and however they may play amongst themselves, they played without exception the one stylo of game against us. it was always a forward game, assisted by their flyhalf or first five-eighth kicking to touch almost invariably to tho side on which his forwards were nearest. In this respect wo can learn something from South Africa. Since tho new rules have been introduced into New Zealand our scrums have fallen away. The fact that wo wero so decisively beaten for the ball in Africa, also in Great Britain in 1924, and in our various visits to New South Wales, should result in the changing of our scrum formation in some respects. J. know that our scrum properly packed and the right men putting all their weight and pushing power in, can hold eight forwards, but the question to be answered is: What of the hookers? 1 am quite certain that two hookers cannot hope to beat three. It lias been done, i know, but it is hero that a change must take place. There will bo a bitter controversy if we attempt to change our scrum, but those ot us who have toured Great Britain, South Africa, and New South Wales realise that something drastic must be done immediately to put our serums in order it wo desire to retain our place among the Rugby ■playing countries of- the world. . . . Our 1928 forwards are the biggest and the fastest set that New Zealand has ever produced, so that their failure cannot be put down to want of speed or physique. Mr George Devenish, one of tho ‘ nig livp ’—a South African selecto, told me that when he first saw them line out on to tho field at Capo Town to play they wero physically tho finest set of forwards ho had ever scon, and that his heart went down to his boots—for South Africa. Alter tho first Transvaal mutch fie said: 1 They cannot scrummage, and they will bo beaten forward everywhere.’ Fancy tho pick of New Zealand forwards beaten time and again by ordinary provincial teams!” Dealing with the scrum formation, Mark Nieholls says: ” Our traditional scrum formation has had a very severe trial during the past seven seasons. From my experince our 2-3-2 scrum has failed to gain its fair share of tho ball when up against 3-3-2, 3-2-3, or 3-4-1 scrums. We all know of tho great success our formation had in the All Blacks’ tour of 1905. But this is easily understandable when one realises that at that time the British forwards wero not-trained to specialise in the scrum. With them it was a case of the first forward up being tho first down, and so on until the scrum was packed, in our 1924 tour we struck a different proposition. Their hookers were trained men, and had made a study of the art of hooking, and in consequence we were able to obtain possession to the extent of 33 1-3 per cent. The same applies to our visits to New South Wales in 1922, and also in 1924 and 1926.”

An article on ‘lmpressions of the Tour' is supplied by Mr W. 1C Hornig, the manager, who points out the diffi-

cultles of the long train journeys and of the changes of altitude, which played havoc with tho players. lie pays a tribute to tho hospitality accorded the team in Africa, and stresses that the team was a happy family, with no discord or dissension. An interesting “ scrum talk ” is given by Mr G. T. Alley, a member of the team, who concludes his article with the remarks: “ It will be a surprising thing if in next year’s football in New Zealand there is nob a reaction against the quick-breaking forward. It is unlikely that tho 2-3-2 scrum will be dropped. It is a part of our Rugby, in spite of its drawbacks, and it is certain that New Zealand football, hardy and healthy youngster that it is, will keep on growing, all the better for lessons learnt in South Africa in 1928.” There are descriptions of tire wonderful sights which tho New Zealanders saw, a great deal of comment from the African side, ami numerous features which should make the publication much sought after by the followers of the national game of Rugby in New Zealand.