THE BATTLE OF GIANTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 10

THE BATTLE OF GIANTS

All Blacks Versus Springboks

How an Australian International —E. Mandible —lnternational 1907-8; Wallabies 1908-9 — Now Living in South Africa—Views The Approaching Struggle

■ANE sincerely hopes that the South African Rugby Union will tackle the All Black problem in the same enthusiastic manner as the New South Wales Rugby Union did when the All Blacks visited Australia in 1907. The New South Wales team of that year, on arrival back at Sydney at the conclusion of their annual tour to Queensland, were immediately sent into camp to prepare for the New Zealanders. The camp consisted of a quiet hotel situated adjacent to the Sydney Cricket Ground. The writer, who was a member of the team, and incidentally an Australian international in the same year, well remembers the enthusiasm «nd ardour which the whole team disduring their period of training. I am convinced that a really useful purpose would be served if the South

African team could be gathered together at least a week before the tests and placed in a camp run on similar lines to the above. Reviewing the play of interprovincial matches of the past two years, one is forced to admit that the standard of play at centrethreequarters is not up to international class, and unless two good classy centres are found I fear that the Springboks will be up against it. For the forwards I have nothing but the greatest of admiration. They are all good, solid scrummagers, and fast and clever in the loose. And in my opinion they will more than hold their own against the New Zealand pack. Personally, I would urge the inclusion of a forward of the type of Payn, the Natalian. A player of this kind is absolutely necessary if we are to cope with the wing-forward of the All Black side. Besides, he would be bound

to prove a source of annoyance to the five-eighth of the opposing team. Call him a wining forv/ard, a non-pusher in the scrum; call him all the names in the calendar, but there is no denying the fact that he constitutes a powerful matchwinning factor. “Speaking of the backs, I would call attention to one phase of South African back-play that I would like to see eliminated—namely, the dive-pass by the scrum-half. This method of passing is certainly spectacular, and draws forth the admiration of the crowd, but grandstand play never won a match. It must be obvious to anyone, surely, that when the scrum-half delivers his pass, lie deliberately puts himself out of play for several seconds when his presence might be most urgently needed. The halfback of a side should bo on his feet, instead of burrowing his head in the ground. NOT OFFSIDE “Turning now to the All Blacks. It is probable, I think, that the most

discussed member of the visiting side will be the wing-forward. And if I may be permitted to anticipate, I suppose he will come in for a great deal of criticism both by the Press and the public. One remembers in this connection the criticism that was levelled at the late “Dave” Gallagher, the captain and wing-forward of the original All Blacks side that visited Great Britain in 1905-6. One and all denounced him as an obstructionist, and an offside player. An obstructionist he was, I grant you. Had he not been that he would not have been worth his salt to the side. But an offside player he was not. At times, it is true, he went dangerously near to stepping over the border line, but the New Zealand forward of my recollection had always been a brainy and clever footballer, who would never have jeopardised the chances of his side by deliberate offside play. The wing-forward, as most of my readers will know, throws the ball into the lineouts and the scrums, and this enables his halfback to keep

behind the forwards all the time. On countless occasions, too, I have seen him on the fringe of a loose ruck, grab the ball, and set his backs off in fine style. And when a New Zealand back division gets going they are a treat to watch.

A favourite mode of attack by the New Zealand backs is as follows: After a series of straight orthodox passing rushes, the halfback, on securing the ball from the scrum, dashes off, and having drawn an opponent to him, passes to his inside five-eighth, who on nearing his vis-a-vis short-punts over the latter’s head in the direction of the outside five-eighth. Should the bounce be favourable to the latter, there is generally a little more work for the gentleman who attenc%; to the scoring board. This move, whether it results in a score or not, is very disconcerting to the opponents, who, on finding themselves outwitted, have to turn and pursue a speedy lot’of backs such as New Zealand always seems able to produce.

But what a battle of giants there will be when the forwards of the two

countries meet! Hard knocks will be given and taken in plenty, but Rugger was never a parlour game. And once more we shall have that old-time discussion as to which is the better scrum, the 3-2-3 or the 2-3-2. Having always played behind the former, I may perhaps be biassed when I state that I prefer the former. In boxing circles, you know, there is a saying that a good big man will always beat a good little man. That is why, all things being equal, it is a reasonable contention that a pack of eight should beat a pack of seven.

“The inclusion of a manager is of course essential, and one would like to see a coach like Boy Morkel or Theo Pienaar, both of whom have had experience of New Zealand football. By the time the test matches are due, the All Backs will have worked up a splendid combination, as all touring teams invariably do . It behoves the South African authorities, therefore, to see that their men are equipped ith the same weapon.” “The Outspan, ’ S.A.