THE BATTLE OF THE SCRUM.

Shannon News, 15 June 1928, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF THE SCRUM.

, ALL BLACKS SHOULD PERFECT * THEIR FORMATION. MR JAMES RYAN’S OPINION. . In an interview with a Palmerston Times representative, Mr James Ryan, the well-known Manawhenua selector, All Blacky and trainer of the Hew Zealand Army - team which toured South Africa, made some interesting references to the tried and proven New Zealand 2-3-2 scrum formation. It will be remembered that the New Zealand Service Team won the Army Tournament in 1919. Having enough ’ players for a B team tours were undertaken through England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forty matches in all being played by these two teams in Great Britain. On the way back to New Zealand at the invitation of the South African Rugby Union, the A team reinforced by some members of the B team made a tour of the Union playing sixteen games in South Africa. It was with reference to the New Zealand 2-3-2 scrum formation that Mr Ryan was able from experience in bofh Great Britain and South Africa, to give most interesting information. During th'e tour of both countries the New* Zealand forwards were able to get'more than their share of the ball and thus allow the backs to play the open back game that delights the spectators and also wins matches. The hookers for the Army Service team were Mick Cane and E. W. Has©ll. These two players were champions, - They thought, talked and practised hooking as if it were a religion; The other members of the pack were also

specialists in their respective positions. MUTUAL AGREEMENT/ Before each game in South Africa the two captains, both sets of hookers and the referee used to confer together. The manner of packing down? and the method of putting the-ball into the scrum were agreed upon. The New Zealand pair of hookers used to pack down with their heads one on, each side of the centre man in the opposing trio. This point was always, insisted upon and saved the necessity, of fighting for position. It also gave the New Zealand forwards the -decided advantage by properly balancing the pack. And in practice it was proved that as only two men can hook a ball properly, the New Zealand , hookers al{ ways had the better chance. The South Africalns < repeatedly experimented with various serum formations, sometimes employing the three-, four, at other times the three-two-three and even the All Black- two-tliree-two formation. But as none of their forwards were specialists in the art of, hooking they repeatedly failed to beatthe New Zealand pair; * ■ a REVERT TO 2-3-2 PACK.'

■ Mr Ryan was emphatic that for the present All • Blacks team in South? Africa to show their true formj they; would have to revert to the 2-3-2, formation and stick to it...

The pack would need intensive practice, but it was thp only means of {heir; ever being able to’ ght‘sufficient posses-? sion of 'Vfhe;ball ’tq ten'abie’the backs to shbw their . true ealibfi’. 1 /' In ; tlie 19i9 'touFby'tire Zealand Army/ T&jufr the" ' fJ 'WbSterlr Provinces were beaten in the final matchby; 2i-3., This team I contained’ eleven Members of the 1 teaifi that toured; New ’ -Zealand. Itwas' thh, getting the ball ffofa tlib scrum that ; pa^ed/ ; the wav fot* this , Victory. ‘ / While 1 , at. Captetown ; ‘just / prioP ' to! leaving-Mt ,: Ryan 'gaye “ritriny lectures! to the South Africans on /jcrtym forma-? tion and tactics so convinced" were the South Africans as to. the .merits of New Zealand methods. SOUTH AFRICAN FORWARDS." :

Mr Ryan stated that the South African forwards were a fast, solid type. They revelled in the thiek play, and were allowed to get away with far more rough play than was tolerated in New Zealand. A favourite trick in the line-out was for one forward to secure the ball and hang on to it, while the others .packed round and drove him througn. It was in the thick stuff that the New Zealanders would meet their match and it .was essential that the All Blacks should adapt their tactics accordingly. The South African forwards would undoubtedly endeavour to make the game tight and prevent open play as much as possible. In other ways both sets of forwards were similar. - * TRANSVAAL MATCH. With regard to the Transvaal match, Mr Ryan stated that he was not, surprised at the loss, as the All Blacks had been experimenting instead of getting down to solid practice in the formation to which they were accustomed. It was on this same ground that an incident similar to Finlayson’s accurred in 1919. A Transvaal forward came out of the scrimmage with a strangle hold on a New Zealand forward. As soon as lie released the grip the New Zealander stood back and let him have it. So convinced were both referee and spectators of the intense provocation that the incident was passed with suitable remarks to the original aggressor.