RUGBY SCRUM

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1927, Page 4

RUGBY SCRUM

DISCUSSION BY X.Z. UNION. WELLINGTON, May 27. ‘•The tltiv of t’ e 2-3-2 scrummage is passing, and if New Zealand wishes to have an equal chance of obtaining possession of the hall from the set. scrams she must adopt a formation different from the traditional one.”

This wa >: mi opinion voiced by the chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby l nion (Mr S. S. Dean) last evening, when no 1 >ss than three managers of recent All Black teams admitted that the sides which they had taken abroad had boon beaten for the hall.

The matter arose through a request from the New Zealand Referees’ Association that the u'nion should apply to the English Union for a ruling on the meaning of the new scrummage law as to the putting of the ball into the scrum. The Referees’ Association held that the new rule had been framed for a 3-2-3 serumage, and that it was not effective, nor was its meaning clear, when applied to the New Zealand formation. From this point the discussion turned on the relative merits of the two formations, Mr Dean holding that the 3-2-3 pack must always have a big advantage in a battle for the ball. The All Blacks of 1924 bad been “up against it” in scrummages, he said, and bad never even halved honours in the struggle for possession. After using familiar arguments in favour of the English formation. Mr Dean invited Mr H. Leith, manager of the All Black team which toured Australia last year, to give his experience.. “We did not get the hall more often than twice in ten times.” said Mr , Leith.

Mr E. M’Kenzie. New Zealand selector and manager of the All Black team in New South Wales in 1925, confessed that all through the scrums their opponents had held the advantage.

“That should be convincing,” said Mr Dean, “and what is more. T know that Mark Nieholl* and Porter are seriously considering the adoption of the 3-2-3 formation hv clubs to which they belong.”