Players used individual ability
From page 20.
‘‘We stay in touch, unfortunately it’s normally funerals, that is how we have been catching up in recent years,’’ Schmidt said.
‘‘So it was good to sit down and have a chat with those at the reunion on Saturday.’’
While back then they were still very much amateurs, players as well as the coaches were either, trying to hold down a job, newly married or some were doing apprenticeships.
The biggest difference Schmidt sees between rugby then and now is that they never worked to a game plan in 1976.
They would practice their set moves but never considered what the opposition would do.
So the coaches didn’t come up with a plan to counteract that at all they just worried about their own plan.
‘‘We would pick the best 15 players we had as there were no replacements unless it was injury back then.
‘‘And we selected them on their ability to sum up what to do on the field under the captain.
‘‘There was no such thing as a game plan.
‘‘If we had a game plan it was to get more points than the other buggers,’’ Schmidt said.
‘‘As a union we thought if we can play as well as we can, then let them catch us up.
‘‘It didn’t happen very often as they were usually ahead of us.
‘‘But we relied on the individuals on their own ability, not only physically but also what they had up top.
‘‘And let them use that ability on the field,’’ Schmidt said.
Schmidt is 80-years-old and living in Hamilton.
He is still an avid follower of all rugby. He coached with Wright until 1978, with Wright returning for a further season in 1980s.
Those at the reunion would have enjoyed watching the Swamp Foxes kick off their Heartland Championship against Horowhenua at home on Saturday.
This weekend the Valley team will travel south to play North Otago in round two of the competition.