FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1930, Page 3

FOOTBALL

NEW ZEALAND’S BEST

“New Zealanders are looking forward to the visit of the English teanl with far more satisfaction than was the case a little while ago,’’ writes a New Zealander to the London “Observer.” “In New Zealand Rugby this year the demand has been for forwards with tne ability of scrummage, and backs who will retain possession rather than seek safety in kicking for touch.” die continues. “We have seen brilliant Rugby, with the ball coming from the scrum as clean as a whistle, the backs swinging down field passing accurately, and the forwards moving down the centre in close formation, backing up in the Approved style of New Zealand play, and always ready for the swinging infield of the attack. We have deiinitely decided to model our style of forward play on that of the 1924 team, with a call for improved scrummaging, and it is thus, combined with unorthodox back play, that your representatives will have to combat.

“Three players well known in England should form the mainstay of our back attack. They are M. F. Nicholls,in many respects the fipest Rugby •strategist in New Zealand, A. E. Cooke, as mercurial as ever, and F, W. Lucas- who, in.good company, can Vise to magnificent heights.

“It is. the genera), view in New Zealand that Nicholls will bring his football career to a close in international matches -this season. The ba<-:k*,liUe 1 would select on present form would be W-.G. Dally at half, Nicholls and Cooke at five-eights, and Lucas at centre, with two .'comparatively new players, P. f. Minns and W. Elvey as wingers. However, H. Lilburne, who played good football in South Africa, and was the only back of note in Australia this year, has strong claims for inclusion as first five-eights. He is the soundest back New Zealand has produced since 1924, and, as he is still a young player, a determined attempt will be made to give him bis place. “For . the position of wing-forward there is only one choice,, the evergreen G. •G. Porter, ’ jwho,: since- i his jreturn Horn Australia,, .is playing better then ever' 'bi-fore. ” ! 1 '•;, ‘ ‘'' 1,1 • -

» / “The sdlectimi of the All 'Blafck scrum wilj.he ,nq;easy task; Onilyjtwo mem-! Iters, qf the 1924 paek-f-M.. J; Brow lie lie and F. £>tewart~kare candidates' for further international Ikmohrs, and it was only toward the end of last; sefison'; that Brownlie emerged froni fcenipbrary .'retirement. Stew Art is now* one of our best forwards. He has filled Out a lot since he was in England, and weighs well over lost. He is still very fast, and can handle like a back.

“As for the others, there will be several who made -the trip to South Africa, notably R. G. McWilliams and W. Hazlett, both forwards of the Jock Richardson type. AV. Irvine is still playing interprovincial football, but is Hardly up to All Black standard now. At present it seems that the selectors will have sqfnte .difficulty in choosing a man to. lock, the scrum. I. Harvey is the natural ’choice, but is the most unfortunate .footballer- in New Zealand. ,He was in ; hospital for -the great part of the English tour, and he had his experience repeated in South Africa last year. Toward the end-of last -season he received,a painful eye inqury, but he still hopes to be able to take the field this year.

THE BRITISH TEAM

The calibre of the British Rugby sid to tour New Zealand, the possibility o the Domonion having a say in the mak ing of rules, and the evergreen subject of the worth of a “dropped” goal as compared with that of a try, are among the subjects recently given promihence in English newspapers. Alfter the selection of the team 1 tour New Zealand was announced, Hr James Baxter, one of the selectors and manager of the team, made the following comment when asked to express an opinion:

“The team differs in some cases from the men we finst approached a year or so ago, but we never expected that all those we invited originally would be able to go. We should have liked men like George Stephenson and G. P. S. Macpherson to have been able to accept, but they could not manage it, Any side that can be selected from 24 internationals—-the great majority of this season's choice—must be regarded as representative.

‘“I may say that very great care has been taken with the selections, and if our anticipations are realised the men will blend together splendidly; and one own personal knowledge of the men : an assurance that they will be ji distinct credit to the United Kingdom both on and off the field.”

In a leading article, the “Bail Chronicle” says the team is

strong one and capable of worthily upholding the Rugby prowess of the Oh 1 Country. “Though it is managed exclusively by the English union,” the writer continues, “the 29 players selected include six from Ireland and f from Wales, and also one from Scot lain 1 The long period of absence from Great Britain (over six months) which is necessary in order to cover both New Zealand Australia in a single season renders an amateur’s tour by no means easy The selectors are the more to be congratulated on having secured so many great internationals.

“Players wlio go ’out in this way to the Dominions have an important role They represent Great Britain not only

on the field)'but of. it. It is irem them that the flourishing offshoots of the British race look to learn what the parent stock is like. Let them be worthy ambassadors at all points.” ONLY ONE SCOTSMAN.

The Rugby corespondent of the “Sun day Observer” makes the following ermment: —

“The first thing that strikes cue about the 29 players chosen to represen the Home countries is that only Scotsman is included. One cannot help regretting that such players as G. P. S. Macpherson, J. B-. Nelson and H. S. Mclntosh are not available. The selectors must be congratulated, however, on having got together a team that will represent England, Ireland, and Wales worthily. Sixteen of the 29 players are Englishmen, but the majority of those from Ireland and Wales are among the best men. “At full-back J. Bassett is probably the most useful man now playing in any country, and his understudy, G. M. Bonner, of Yorkshire, was on the English trials list. Th'e great feature of the three-quarters is their adaptability. C. D. Aarvold and A. L. Novis are men who can play in more than one position. J. C. Morely and J. S. R. Reeve are as good as any pair of wings available, while M. P. Crowe, R. Jennings and T. E. Joncs-Davies are all sound players in the centre. Jennings, the only one who is not an international is just the man for such .a tour, where his kicking will he Very useful; “Although AV. H. Sobey and R. S. Spong will he available as first choices at half-back, the reserves are not up to international standard. Neither T. E. Knowles nor H. Poole has been capped, and- if Sobey should unfortunately he crocked, scrum half will be a weak spot in the combination. It is a pity that W. G. Powell is not available.

“Among this year’s successful England hacks are H. Rew, B. H. Black and H. AVilkinson. G. R. Beamish and J. L. Russell are two of Ireland’s best forwards while Wales is represented hv Ivor Jones, the former AVelsli captain, and still their best forward, and D. Parker. The remaining forwards have all earned their places on this year’s form. This team, which includes twenty four internationals, should have a successful tour if they can steer clear’ of accident's.”

THE RULES POLICY

The' International ’Rugby Board will shortly he holding a meeting at which the future unity of ! 'the' Rugby game will be ail important matter for decision, states th.e .“"Field” 'of March 1. At present the boiird’s authority is ostensibly limited to international matters; it has no yontrql over the separate unions represented on it, which please themselves whether they adopt for their clubs the laws of the game laid down by the board for international matches.

Three years ago there were several differences in the laws adopted by the various unions and chaos threatened until the unions agreed among themselves to adopt the International Board laws for a- period of three years. (That: period expires this season'p and it now: riemains' to he seen whether the unions will agree permanently to play under i the International Board laws. I

j Such a decision would mean virtually the constitution of the International Board as s the lawmakers for the game ;v and ipso facto tlie d-kjectiOri' to France’s representation \qn , thp 'board coiilj; no longer be reasonably maintained. *-Nor aught the unions of South Africa, New Zealand and New South Wales he refused direct representation any longer. In short, the time seems to have arrived to centralise the government of the Rugby game under a new body, be it called the International Board or any other game. The Rugby Union, the original law makers for the game, are no longer able to command the authority to control other governing bodies, though the overseas unions are represented on the committee.

THE “DROPPED” GOAL

The fact that three Rugby internationals matches (in Britain) this season have been decided by a dropped goal has produced a fresh agitation from those who advocate a reduction in its scoring value, declares an English writ, er. All the old arguments that it should at least be reduced to the same value as a try are renewed, together with the contention that the dropped goal is more often than not a fortuitous score.

What is frequently forgotten or overlooked is that dropping is a very fine art, and that the opportunity for dropping a goal may be manoeuvred with more ingenuity than a try. And the penalty of failure is severe, for it means complete relief to the defending side and loss of ground for the attacking side.