THE BRITISH TEAM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1930, Page 2

THE BRITISH TEAM

THE FIRST TEST,

TO BE A BATTLE OF TACTICS

AND FITNESS

DUNEDIN. June 16,

The stage is gradually being set for the first test match New Zealand v. Britain on tnrisbrook ground, Dunedin, next Saturday. The British team, much heartened by their greatdisplay against Otago, are training hard on the ground where the test will Im decided. They are fitter tlmn they have ever been on the tour, which is saving a good deal. Their main training work this week will he concentrated on tactics calculated to upset New Zealand attacks and pierce the defence. The British conferences nil tactics against New Zealand are likely to rival in seriousness any of the more re cent naval and political parleys, as the team are really bent on lowering the Dominion’s colours next Saturday.

The opposition enmn of New Zealanders will be pitched at Oamnru on Tuesday nierht and on the following day they will have a rehearsal against a North Otago team, Tim AH Blacks —for cue unconsciously slips into the use of the old title—will not mil undue risk of injury against the provincial team, but they will have to extend themselves sufficiently to show the selectors that they are at the ton off their form. Should North Otago banpen to beat them such a defeat would not he without precedert, for New Zen. 'and teams about to leave on overseas tours have thought more of escapum: injury than of beating a provincial side n f«w davs before sailing.

The New-Zealand carrm will be struck on Thursday and shifted to Diinediri-, where the men will stay at. the City Hotel. The members of the r> > , it’«b team are encamped at the Grand Hotel.

No denite arrangements have been made as to when the Carisbrook ground will be available for each team bn Friday.

WILL NOT BE CAUGHT

NAPPING

On the present tour the British team have played against eleven of the nineteen men selected for New Zealand. They met Mill and Irvine at Masterton, Porter, Nicholls, Johnson, and Olliver nt Wellington, Stewart Cottrell, Hart and Lilburne at Christchurch, and Hore at Dunedin last Saturday. The visitors have henrd a good deal of Cooke’s football prowess, and in view of the test they were disappointed at not having a chance to study his tricks in the Wellington provincial match. The visitors have yet to meet on the field such heavy and dashing forwards as Hnzlett, M’Williams, Finlayson, Steere, Irvine and Patty. Backs who have not played, against Britain in the Dominion are Nepia, Lucas, and Cooke. The visitors have not travelled twelve thousand miles to be caught napping in the first test, and the crowd at Oamaru on Wednesday will, it is understood include, at least two British players and students of form. New Zealanders have seen the visitors play and will no doubt welcome them to the exhibition at Oamaru.

Tn spite of what might have been said one way or the other, it is certain that the British team did not like Porter’s style of play in the Wellington match. His inclusion in the New Zealand team and his appointment as captain are to them significant of hard .spoiling work in the tests and of bor-der-line tactics round the scrum. The visitor’s ideal of a wing-forward, if there must be one, is Scrimshaw, the Canterbury man, whose work among the backs in the Canterbury match earned their admiration. Knowing that Porter will be on the field for the first test, it is likely that the visitors will have mapped out some scheme for getting the ball away from the scrum with more success than they met with at Wellington, where Porter left the scrum half alone and went for Spong the clever fly-half.

PROSPECTS VERY EVEN. The display given by the British team in their match against Otago has made the test prospects very even, and tluye is a strong element of doubt about the New Zealanders being able to repeat, against Britain the defeats they inflicted on England in 1924. The visitors have been improving in combination all along, whereas the New Zealanders have scarcely had a game together this season. It is generally believed, however, that as the provincial packs have been able to hold the visiting forward* 5 ‘or most of time, the All Blacks will be able to do tbe same and to greater effect. New Zealand will probnblv predominate in forwards, but the British backs may win through with their speed, fitness and combination. They have a fine pair of wingers in Reeve and Morlev. who are better men than Olliver and Hart. Even Johnson and Lucas on the wings would still leave Britain probably superior there. The British attack is generally made by the wingers, to whom the ball is whipped out from the scrum without much attempt be in" made to penetrate at five ei"ths. New Zealand back attacks will be made nearer tile scrum, but In spite of tbe extra man in tbe wing-for ward there will be stiff opposition in Spong, Bowcott and the speedy break-

a ways, at the back of the British scrum who are round on to the opposing inside backs in a twinkle.

Summed up, the first test will be a ‘■’battle of tactics and fitness. New Zealand lias the football brains gained through years of experience. Whether fitness and youth to last out a hard game is there is another question. On this and on scrum work the match will depend. One point which lias been impressed by the visitors’ play, particularly last Saturday, is that they do not use the old kick into touch game to slow up the game. They prefer to set ' the backs going .even in their own twenty-five rather than find the line. The forwards join in a rush to stop which requires the defence to be accurately in position.