THE BRITISH RUGBY TOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 9

THE BRITISH RUGBY TOUR

THE British Rugby team has started its tour better than was generally expected. Its win over Wanganui was elcar-cut and decisive. Good judges expect it to work tip into a formidable combination. It is too soon yet, however, to express any opinion about its chances in the Tests. Although the visitors showed splendid sportsmanship over the question of playing colours in the Tests, it is to be noted that they will not budge one iota on rules. The presentation of a copy of the International Board’s latest rulings to the referee just before the match was a delightful little aside, not without significance. Their decision not to have an extra ball on the touch-line, coupled with the reduction of playing spells to 40 minutes, will be regretted, but there it is, and New Zealand must accept it gracefully. On the question of the wing-forward, the British manager, Mr. J. Baxter, must be prepared for strong opposition to liis provocative comment on the wing-forward, at tlie dinner tb the teams after the match. A humorous feature of this incident was the remarkable effort of the 19-year-old captain of the Wanganui team, who gravely endorsed Mr. Baxter’s remarks in spite ot' the fact that the wing-forward was a tried and proved feature of New Zealand football long before he was born! Mr. Baxter comes with the reputation of being a shrewd tactician, but whether bis bold policy of carrying the war into the enemy’s camp will be successful is another matter. It is enough tc say here that an equally shrewd counter-thrust was delivered when it was pointed out that the two English breakaway forwards offended just as much as did the Wanganui wingforward.