WHAT STEAD THINKS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 190, 28 August 1937, Page 18

WHAT STEAD THINKS

THE SECOND TEST DE VILLIERS AND HARRIS 2-3-3 SCRUM FAVOURED : BRAND AT FULL-BACK Early this winter I expressed disappointment when the New Zealand Rugby Union rejected the Taranaki remit for a return to the 2-3-2 scrum which it had successfully exploited in club football, writes ,W. G. Stead, the famous 1995 New Zealand five-eighth in the Southland Times. No one present at the annual conferenqe has had greater experience playing behind^the two fronted scrum against three in international games than I, and I am not astounaed that with only seven forwards the All Blacks should still hold the Springboks. I do not want to traverse ground already covered in articles I have written since we consigned out "two-front" to oblivion —but I once again reiterate its efliciency over any other formation. j If seven can hold eight as in thc ! first test, still retaining the three in front, it is common sense to suggest that the real 2-3-2 wedge would have every chance of dominating the Springbok eight— weight makes no difference. , Prior to the match I gave New Zealand only a bare chanco if the players tackled^ as there lies the weakness of all the provincial sides yet pitted against the visitors. Playing against a side wliich well knows its own combination, New Zealand was under the f earf ul disability in having to find in actual play its own strength and weaknesses, at the same time playing up to well-defined definite tactics. Obviously all would depend on the forwards developing their game right from the jump and any attempts of the Springboks to get their three-quarter line in action frustrated at de Villiers or Craven. The New Zealand forwards were ipagnificent and their pressure so well maintained in the opening quarter that the back team was able to settle down and give jqdicious support to the forwards. That first quarter was the critical period for New' Zealand and having done so well the players came into their "second- wind" -with the confidence of a team. Tr.evathan and Simon were .fitting in and when the former put over the first -score his subsequent policy of using his ■ boot in preference to opening up . risky handling would be quite the'tactical play to adopt. The defection of Cobden, and Ward having to leave* the scrum to take over, would make it more than ever necessary to play safe. . " The frequency with which Taylor, playing safely at full-back, was mentioned shows that the New Zealand pressure would not allow any concerted handling by the Springboks who must have' had to kick-thrpugh in a hurry. This kick from the attacking flahks to the centre has been featured as a very salient phase in the play of Ihe visitors. Bedell-Sivright's team arrived here in 1904 after paralysing Australia with this same centring kick and

when New Zealand met them in one and only Test the All Blacks proyided for it by bringing back P. Harvey scrum-half and C. Seeling to assist the full-back with complete success. New Zealand has repeated history for more than once T. Simon was along with Taylor and on one occasion forced from a nasty rebound off the post. New Zealand has got "one leg" in by getting down to the very fundamentals of the game— hard pushin^ relentless tackling forwards and safe kicking and tackling in the rearguard. I must pay a tribute to the intensive and judicious coaching which could place on the field such a machine-lilce forward division and a team of backs all new in Test games who could so quickly adjust themselves under abnormal temperamental conditions. For the next Test the visitors will probably play Brand at full-back and Harris al fly-half. That means that Craven will have to stand down as de Villiers must hold his place at scrumhalf after liis recent display, although under the "no-replacement" rule Craven, as a utility player, may get the half position. Harris is a player similar to Hooper (playing in the same position for New Zealand) and cuts in a zig-zag fashion with great pace and New Zealand will find him much more dangerous than Craven on attack particularly on a diy turf. Barring accidents New Zealand cannot' make many alterations. The forwards will probably ba lcepf intact but a new wlng three-quarter to replace Cobden will have to bc brought in. Wero Mitchell available to go into Ithe three-quarter line, especially at ; centre, we would be fielding a much [improved line. ,