THE SPRINGBOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 187, 8 August 1921, Page 7

THE SPRINGBOKS.

AGAINST SOUTHLAND. VISITORS' EASY V7IN. BRILLIANT PLAY ON HEAVY GROUN3. Ny Trlpprrapli.—Props Association.) INVERCARGILL, Saturday. The match between the Springboks and Southland was played in bright sunshine thouph the atmosphere was chilly and the ground heavy, owing to previous raft.,, J he attendance was estimated at fifteen' thousand, easily a record for Southland. lho Springboks' team comprised- W T)e Villicrs, Henry Morkel, Strauss', Meyer, \ an Heerden, J. \\\ Jlichau, Townsend, O. Morkel, Kruger, Rcholtz' Pienaar, Melish, Walker, Duplessis, j! M. Michan. I'he .Southland team was:—Forwards, Rice. Agnow, Cockrott, Langbein, White, Brett, Strang, Raird; backs, Brown) -J-nch, Lopdfll, (Jilmour, U'Kaiie, St George, Davidson. The visitors won the toss, and played witn the sun and a slight wind at their back. After fast forward work in the Southland twenty-five, from a line-out a fine passing rush by the green backs resulted in Van Heerden scoring in tile comer. The kick failed. From a forward rush llorkel passed to Merer, who scored, but the kick again failed. An off-side by Brett pave the Africans a free-kick, but the ball went wide, Southland forcing. In spite- of the condition of the ground play was fast, and some brilliant passing by the South African backs was witnessed. At halftime, when play was in the centre of the field, the scores were: — Springboks G Southland 0 In the first part of the second half Southland took the offensive, and looked like scoring, but several openings were spoiled by off-side play. The Southland backs were reluctant to attempt passing rushes, and weak line-kicking gave the visitors relief, their accurate fielding and magnificent line-finding proving a feature of the match. Two tries were scored in the latter part of the spell from brilliant passing, the backs giving an attractive exhibition, in spite of a greasy ball and heavy ground. Henry Morkel scored first try from a serum feed. In the final try Townsend made an opening from the scrum, the ball going out to Van Heerden, who ran twenty-five yards, fending off Gilmour, to score wide. Villiers failed ■with all four kicks, the game ending:— Springboks 12 J" Southland 0 Mr. McKenzie, of Dunedin, refereed. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. WIXXERS BETTER ORGANISED. (By Telejrrapu—Tress Association..! IXVERCARGILL, Saturday. Contrary to general expectations the weather cleared magnificently. White frost lay round but the sun was sinning.'[ The show ground playing area was sodden and lion resilienti making running laborious and fast sprinting almost impossible. A sharp southerly wind prevailed.. The attendance was estimated at 10,000. lost the toss, but by a freak of nature secured the windage advantage in both spells. Africa played, their special 15-stone pack, and their backs worked with splendid cohesion. Fifteen minutes elapsed, and Van Heerden scored the first try, which came as the result of good feeding from a scrum. Southland' commenced somewhat nervously but shortly settled down to a loose forward game. Their dribbling* attacks, had, for a time, a demoralising effect on the visitors' backs. The Africans second try by Meyer was a somewhat lucky one, following the charging down of Brown's returning kick. After Southland had found the standard of their opponents they played vrith great dash, especially in the vanguard. Baird, the Southland captain, proved costly to his side, his off-side proclivities giving several free kicks to the Africans. The visitors were more uniformly successful but the heavy ground soon taxed the stamina of both teams, and its surface soon became a quagmire. The last two tries were the culminating results of most successful workings right from the scrum, Townsend feeding his rearguard with splendid regularity. The Springboks showed to the better advantage on line oubs, Michau's tall stature being largely responsible. Their ehort massed formation was in evidence, but its effective breaking-away tactics ■were spoiled by the Southland pack, which had been specially trained in counter movements. The game throughout was a great test of physical endurance as well as aptitude and adaptability. The game never reached a brilliant standard, the deadly tackling on both sides hampering and curtailing the usual fine weather strategical operations from the base of the scrum. In set scrimmaging Southland held the weighty visitors' vanguard tenaciously, but in raking for possession they were invariably beaten three times in every five scrums. The central backs and five-eighths, St. George and Gilmore kicked judiciously low but failed to cut off the African's well-organised back movements. The ground was largely responsible for spoiling what would have otherwise been a brilliant game. Taking the game through, the Africans early demonstrated a decided superiority in organisation, both fore and aft. In raking for possession they beat the local front row most consistently, their backs operated with more cohesion than Southland, and their backing-up was superb. They never held Southland cheaply, but played with extreme care and thoroughness. The Africans used their test pack averaging 15 stone per man. and this extra poundage in a game palpably slowing down every few minutes gave them a most material advantage. They used only one ball throughout both spells, Baird, the Southland skipper, actually agreeing to this bad arrangement. Their three front row men secured the ball by the middle man's foot, advanced often before the ball's entrance. Apparently this escaped the referee's notice. The African success in the scrum was not so pronounced in the line-outs, as the Southland pack tackled low and hitfd, Michau often biting the mud with force. The game was keen, pjd a test of adaptability and aptitude, and the visitors must be complimented on their ability to show wet weather football proclivities. All the goal kicking efforts on both sides were nullified by the sodden and insecure foothold In taking off to kick the ball. Southland based all their tactics on eound and safe lines, attacking throughout the field with fast following and

loose dribbling rushes. When within easy striking distance the Tearguard attae.< was opened and used. The Africans handling was, however, much su Pwior, and the better organisation won, their understanding proving in good stead. Southland were a young. untried team, who, however, made a plucky and tenacious stand. The Africans varied their style more as the game progressed, opening to the backs with more freedom and confidence from even open rucks. The Southland public was generally disappointed at the loss, but pleased at the local boys' showing, fully recognising the tremendous task required to defeat the visitors. Africa's twelve point win fittingly demonstrate.-; the relative merits of the teams. „•»- AUCKLAND V. SPRINGBOK?. In the evening the selectors mot and chose the combined Auckland, Xorth Auckland, and Smith Auckland team which is to play the Springboks at Eden Park on August _0. The team is: — Full-back: Mutr (Auckland). Three-quartirs: B. Finlaysnn (North Auckland). K. Ifwereen (Auckland), 11. Grierson (Auckland). , Five-eighths: C. Badeley (Auckland), L. Weston (Xorth Auckland). Half-back: S. Crawford (Xorth Auckland). Forwards: Wing, Nicolas (Auckland); front row, A. Lonias (Thames). Tresize (Auckland); second row, C. Fletcher (Kaipara), Mclnr.es (Auckland). McLean (Auckland) ; back row. T. Finlavson Xorth Auckland. T. MilHken (Auckland). Reserves: Racks, J. Alavlntyre (.South Auckland), Hughes (Auckland), Morris (South Auckland), Mathieson (South Auckland) ; forwards, L. llarty (South Auckland). M. Hayward (Thames), B. Fletcher (Kaipara).'