ALL BLACKS' TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 10

ALL BLACKS' TOUR.

THEIR DOUGHTY RIVALS.

PLAYERS WHO WILL CONTEST THE

KUGBY LAURELS.

SOME AFRICAN "STARS."

The All Blacks will play the opening game of their South African tour tomorrow week at Capetown against a Western Province country combination. According to the latest advice from Capetown this will be largely in the nature of an exhibition match, to be followed on Saturday by a similar game against the combined Capetown clubs; the match against the Western Province rep. team will come near the end of the tourists' programme. Western Province is one of the three big provinces from which the bulk of the South African t~vst teaniw will be selected. In fact a correspondent, writing by the latest mail, states that there will be only one or two players from the smaller provinces in the test teams, and that only three of the side that toured New Zealand in 1921 are likely to be included—Mostert, Tindall and Kruger. To date, no official announcement has been made of the South African team for the first test, which will be played at Durban on June 30. No doubt the first- two matches at Capetown will decide the fate of the Western Province candidates for African honours. There are ten Western Province {layers in the running for African rep. onours, two of them being the brothers Osier, of the elder of whom a deal has been heard, and other two being Mostert and Tindall, who were in Auckland in 1921. No doubt they will be performing in the opening games against the New Zealandera next week. Western Province Representatives. The following notes on these players may be of interest to Rugby enthusiasts: — B. L. Osier. —Fly-half (five-eighths), is 25 years of age, and weighs lOst 121b. He is considered a certainty for the African representative isde, as he is considered tlie best half In the country. H® is a fine place-kick. Represented the province since 1922, and played for South Africa in all four Tests against the English team in 1924. 8. Osier.—Age 20, weight lOst 51b. Followed his brother as captain of the Capetown 'Varsity team. Played well for Western Province in the Currie Cup tournament.

J. C. Tindall.—Age 27, weight 10st 131b, plays as fly-half, centre or fullback. Was fly-half for the Springbok jn New Zealand, but has since "W'wt games as full-back for against the English team

W. Rousseau.—Centre three-quarters, age 20, weight lOst 131b. Is a university, player who has not yet played for Africa, but performed well for his province last season.

J. Van Nickerk.—Wing three-quar-ter, age 20, weight list, is considered the best wing three-quarters in the province since the war, and is considered certain of a place in the Test team.

P. De Villiers.—'Scrum half, age 21, weight 9st 81b, has been associated with B. L. Osier as the Western Province pivot of attack, and is quick and resourceful.

P. J. Mostert.—Forward, age 29, weight 14st, is one of the most brilliant and experienced forwards of South Africa. Played against New Zealand in 1921, and against England in 1924. Captained Western Province last season, and scored six tries and dropped a goal in the Currie Cup contest. A. Wood.—Forward, age 22, weight 13st 41b, who is considered especially dangerous in the loose, and handles well, represented the province in 1925 and 1927. '

S. Van Wyk.—Forward, aged 25, weight 13st 81b, was one of the first scrummagers into the Western Province team in 1925 and 1927.

G. Pienaar.—Forward, age 25, weight 13#t 81b, is probably the fastest forward in the Western .Province, and handles well. A brother of the player who captained the Springbok team in New Zealand. Other Strong Players. Outstanding players of the other provinces include:— B. Sieff.—Fly-half for Transvaal and Witwaters Rand University. J. Divine.—Scrum-half for Transvaal, who partnered Osier in the third Test against the English team in 1924 and is considered the quickest half in Africa at getting the ball away from the scrum. J. Prinsloo.—A scoring wing threequarter of Shellenboscli University and Transvaal. H. Jackson.—Full-back for Natal, aged 27, weight list 31b, is a deadly tackier and accurate line-finder, though not brilliant. J. Slater.—An Eastern Province wing three-quarter, is very strong and fast, and in a class by himself in his province. Played against the English team in 1924. N. S. Todd.—A Natal three-quarter, age 22, weight list 21b, is a fast and strong runner. Dr. J. Van Druten.—A Transvaal forward, is considered the finest loose forward in South Atrfca. Represented Transvaal in 1925, and 1927, and played in all four Tests against the English team jin 1924.

T.L. Kruger.—The Transvaal forward who was considered by New Zealanders the best forward in the Springbok team of 1921. Though in the veteran stage he retains his form, and played in all four Tests againpt the Englishmen in 1924. C. S. Barlow. —Was captain of Cambridge 'Varsity team in 1920, and on returning to South Africa represented

Natal last season as captain of the side. Age 22 years, and weighing 13st, he is a strong, dashing forward. P. J. Nel.—One of Natal's best forwards, of magnificent physique, and weighing 14st 121b.

Other players who are considered to have chances of getting into the South African side this year are:—J. Lategan (S.W. Districts), J. Van Reenan (Natal), G. Cheshire (Border), J. Dold (Eastern Province), S. Wainsbury (Orange Free State), and C. Hawes (Natal).

The English team, captained by CoveSmith, which visited South Africa in 1924, placed 21 matches, won 9, lost 9, and drew 3. It lost matches against Combined Western Province, 6—7; Orange Free State, (country), o—6; Orange Free State, combined, 3—6; first Test, 3—7; Wit waters rand, 6—10; second Test, 0—17; Pretoria, o—6; Eastern Province, 6—14; fourth Test, 9—16. The third Test drawn, 3—3, as were the games against Transvaal, 12 —12, and Natal, 3—3.