From the match programme:-
"Mr. Cliff W. Jones kindly promised the Editor on article for the Programme, and his contribution appears hereunder:-"
"MODERN SCRUMMAGING AND THE VALUE OF QUICK HEELING FROM THE LOOSE."
"During the last few seasons, modern scrummaging tactics have come in for a great deal of criticism from those whose business it is to watch and write on Rugby football week by week."
"With one or two honourable exceptions, these critics have been destructive rather than constructive, and must take their places with the evergrowing band of old players who, not without justification, declare to those whom it may concern that "The game is not what it used to be, Sir"."
"The storm of criticism seems always to reach its height after the England v. Wales matches, particularly after the game at Swansea, in January, 1936, and at Twickenham last season, where the scrummaging, to say the least, was ragged and ineffective on both sides. As we all know, slovenly heeling allows the opposition wing-forward and the defence as a whole to move up and yet remain on side, so that when the attacking fly-half receives the ball from his partner, he finds the defending open wing-forward already pouncing upon him, and his centres securely covered by their opposite numbers. A quick and clean heel, however, allows the movement to be started at speed, gives the attacking fly-half and centres the necessary space in which to manoeuvre, and is almost always the harbinger of a score. Thus it was that when Wales vanquished New Zealand, at Cardiff, in December, 1935, the Welsh forwards were comprehensively outplayed in the tight scrums and heeled the ball approximately eight times during the game. Of those eight heels, four were both quick and clean, and Wales scored three tries as a result. Furthermore, the last three of those heels were effected after the Welsh hooker (D. J. Tarr - whom we are all pleased to hear is once more his old fit self) had been carried off the field - all of which goes to prove that it is the properly directed shove of the pack as a whole which determines the hooking and not the brilliance of a single hooker. A hooker, be he ever so brilliant, cannot succeed against a moderate performer if that moderate performer is getting the shove from his second row, backed up by two solid wing men alongside him and a tight lock in the back row."
"The ball should be heeled not by a process of hooking and scraping with the feet, but by a progressive and concerted shove over and beyond the ball, forcing the opposition backwards, and incidentally, thereby engaging the attention of the defending' wing-forwards, who will always break loose on the slightest provocation. When all is said and done, however, and a good deal too much is said and a good deal too little is done about set scrums, it is the behaviour and tactics of the forwards in the loose mauls which is of such vital importance. One quick heel from the loose is worth at least five from the tight, as witness the successful display in this phase of the game by the Cardiff forwards against Neath last Saturday. Cardiff scored all of their five tries as a result of quick heeling in the loose, when all efforts to pierce Neath's defence after receiving the ball from set scrums had failed."
"After a loose forward rush the opposition backs are almost certain to be out of position; a quick heel and a swift pass from the base of the loose scrum, and a fly-half with any speed off the mark will score on his own more often than not, or set up a lively looking attack. Failing that, it is only downright bad passing or lack of intelligence which will prevent either his centre or wing from scoring."
"That scrummaging is not the be-all and end-all of Rugby was demonstrated in no uncertain fashion by the New Zealand players recently on tour in this country. Their games were won not by orthodox Rugby, not for them the set three-quarter movement, nor the copybook form of attack, but a lively and resourceful anticipation of the mistakes of their opponents, whether actual or implied, coupled with perfect physical fitness and team work."
"They were a beautifully balanced team, with tremendously powerful and fast forwards; a scrum-half (B. S. Sadler) who for ingenuity, sense of perspective, and cheerfulness - even after undergoing the most intense battering - has no equal in the world; a master tactician in the centre (Oliver) - who for all his executive ability never seemed to catch up with his reputation - and great scoring power on the wings. A side hard to beat, but delightful to meet, and it seems to me that the present Cardiff XV. are, on their present dashing form, bidding fair to rival those overseas visitors in almost all these respects."
"I am looking forward very much indeed to taking my place in their midst on October 9th, v. Gloucester, but if the Cardiff side continue their wonderful run of sound and brilliant displays, I think all will agree that I would be more useful sitting in the stand and keeping in touch with this grand old game by means of the pen instead of the feet."
"Yours sincerely, CLIFF JONES."