RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 342, 1 October 1932, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

"Free Kiek.")

SEASON REV1EWED FORWARDS IMPROVE BUT BACKS STILL PATCHY. TACKLING VERY WEAK. '

(Notes by

Now that the end of the season is here it seems to be.a fitting opportunity to sum up-the progress or oth'erwise which has marked the season. Forward Play. — In some branches of this very xmportant department distinct progress has heen made. The dribbling of the packs has shown a. marked improvement, although there is still a tendency to kick too hard. This fault in forward play must be watched, as there is always a tendency towards "root and boot" which loses possession of the hall. No packs playing in Rotorua seem yet to have grasped the principla that possession not only gives one's own side a chance to score, but prevents the opposition from doing so. The Scrum. — On the whole, OE think that teams generally should be congratulated on the scrum work which, although not yet brilliant, is sounder than I have ever seen it here. There has been less hanging off waiting for chanees and I think the new scrum formations have done much to eradicate the "shiner." I have been pleased to note that most teams have adopted the 3 — 4 — 1 formation, as I think this is admirably suited to develop the game rapddly both on attack and def ence. I . would like to see more attention paid to the placing of the feet as often the ball is hooked eleanly but hangs in the middle of the scrum. Remember, if you hook the hall, every second lost in getting it to your backs is worth five seconds to the opposition. Remember, too, that it is on your co-operative work that the game will rest. j I am still sorry to see that there is I little cohesive work either in attack I or defeiice by the forwards af:er the I scrum has broken up. I would advise , coaehes to set to work and plan out a defensive and offensive scheme for the pack after the ball has been heeled. In football, as in all other sports, brains and science may combat brawn. If this advice is taken now the scheme will be ready for next season. I would also advocate a more extensive use of the blackboard for tactics. The Line-Out. — This remairs the weakest link in forward play as a whole. Forwards will brealc the fundamental law of line-out play by knocking the ball back instead of handling the ball eleanly. To a good attaeking opposition pack this trait is worth ten points. Only two teams, Kahukura Juniors and High School, show any elementary knowledge of I packing-in in the line-out. This ! prevents the opposition from coming ] through the line-out gaps. Every for- ! ward must go into the line-out with i head down and anns out ready to in- : texiock and forrn a scrum. | High School this year are a revelai tion in the quick heel of the ball from ; the loose, and their exhibition in this i department is unrivalled in my exi perience. Each man must watch the j ball and have a foot up ready to heel i quickly. Most seores in the hacks [ come from this movement and speed [ is the first essence. i Full-backs.- — This position hrs provI ed most unsatisfactory. Full-backs show a lamentable tendency to await j the bounce of the hall. Anoth ?r fault i's that th?y will try to kick too far. i Remember that a full-back who is sure to get his line is worth to his ; team two of those who may or may : not. There seems, also, no attempt to : judge a kick for the line and all seem ; to give the impression of being caught j in a hurry. Stand back, as it is easy to come up to a ball but impossible to ; go back. Never let a ball bounce if I O'.ur.i vwjK"" >■. o • • iK'iu'w-'.'i'

you can possibly take it on the full axid if there is any doubt as to whose ball it is call for it yourself. Three-quarters. — The play of th'e three-quarters line has been seriously hampered during the season owing to the fact that faulty handling inside has not given the wingers the opportunity eonsistently to show form. However there is too much 6f a tendency to try to score near, the posts and nearly all the senior three-quart-ers tend to run in-field instead of for the corner-flag. The first essential of a three-quarter is that he should be a strong runner and from this point of view our three-quarters are a failure, there heing too much of a tendency to stop or slaeken pace. The Five-eighths. — This is the weakest link in our football at present. There is not only a lamentable lack of penetration in this branch, but a positive inability to handle the ball which makes some games pitiable to watch. There is too strong a tendency to watch the man instead of the hall, and thus some ghastly jumbling has simply ruined back play. There is also a tendency to try to beat too many men. Remember that once you have drawn your xnan, your job is done and you should let ' the rest of the back top off. The solo effort should be more the exception rather than the rule. 1 Half-backs are seriously lacking, and I would advise club coaches to look ; for more promising juniors in this branch. ; Tackling. — In all branches this still remains the worst il have ever seen, • except among the juniors. Backs are ' more to blame here than forwards, although the latter are also very ; weak. Weakness in this branch stamps : the standaxvd of any team's football j as being very poor, and the tackling ' bag must be used more frequently. j All cliibs except High School and ; Kahukura Juniors show that little or j ho time is spent in combined effort. A | run is all very well for fitness, but j the pack, above all; must get prac- ! tice together. | To the union, I would pay a tribute I for the work they have done in th'e j face of a difficult season. I might i point out, however, that until decent ; grounds and accommodation are pro- ! cured, the attendances lxxust be p>oor. | I would also advocate less senior ; teams, ' so as to make places in such ! teams more competitive. For the rest, j I would say, "Don't wait till next sea- | son opens to begin to train. keep fit ; during the summer and your standard | will improve." i Morrinsville Team i The following will represent Morrinsville against the Arawa Tribal I team at Arawa Parlc this afternoon. ! Full back, Angus Cameron; threej quartex's, J. Harnett, J. Aitken, M. Anderson; five-eighths, A. Robson, W. Cameron; half-back, G. Bowden; forwards, A. Carter, G. Reynolds, J. Headley, Alex Cameron, G. Frear, C. Roaeh, C. Cameron, G. Leeson. Reser- ; ves: K. Campbell, G. Muir. ! Mr. R. G. Webb will control the j match.