THE SPRINGBOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 201, 26 August 1931, Page 10

THE SPRINGBOKS.

TEAM FOR ENGLAND.

TWO TOURED N.Z. IN 1921.

FOURTEEN MET 1928 ALL BLACKS.

After a series of trial matches held in Capetown, the following 29 players were chosen to take part in the South African Rugby football tour of Great Britain and Ireland this year:— Full-backs.—G. Brand, J. Tindall (Weetern Province). Wing Three-quarter Backs. — J. Van Niekerk (Western Province), M. Zimmerman (Western Province), J. H. Van Der Westhuizen (Western Province), F. Venter (Transvaal).

. Centre Three-quarters.— J. C. Van Der Westhuizen (Western Province), B. G. Gray (Western Province), F. Waring (Western Province), J. White (Border).

Half-backs.—B. L. Osier (Western Province), P. De Villiers (Western Province), D. Craven (Western Province), M. Francis (Orange Free State).

Forwards.—Boy Louw (Western Province), A. F. Du Toit (Western Province), A. Van Der Merwe (Western Province), F. Louw (Western Province), J. Macdonald (Western Province), Phil Mostert (Western Province), L. Strachan (Transvaal), V. .Geere (Transvaal), G. Daneel (Transvaal), R. Forrest (Transvaal), P. J. Nel (Natal), H. Kipling (Griqualand West), J. Dold (Eastern Province), F. Bergh (South-western Districts).

It is a strong, well-balanced side, with a shrewd blending of maturity and youth. Two of the team, J. G. Tindall and Phil Mostert (Western Province), toured New Zealand with the 1921 Springboks. Tindall in those days played centre three-quarter, but against the All Blacks in South Africa in 1928 he played full-back in all four Tests, and also for his province. Again he has been chosen as a full-back. His age is 31.

Phil Mostert, who is now 34 years old, will be the veteran of the team. Mostert captained the Springboks in the four Teste against the All Blacks in 1928. Like Tindall, he played six matches against the New Zealanders. Mostert will probably be ecaptain of the side, although in a recent letter Mr. J. B. Keartland, sports editor of the Johannesburg "Star," said there was a strong feeling that the famous Bennie Osier would be appointed.

Fourteen members of the team played against the All Blacks in 1928, including eleven who played in the Test matches. They are:—G. Brand, J. C. Tindall, Jock Van Niekerk, J. C. Van Der Westhuizen, Bennie Osier, Pierre De Villiers, Boy Louw, A. F. Du Toit, Phil Mostert, George Daneel, P. J. Nel, B. G. Gray, A. Van Der Merwe and V. Geere.

Two players who were regarded as certainties for the team were T. G. Osier and Stanley Osier, who are now playing for the Universities in England. T. G. Osier, a forward, did not play in the Tests against the 1928 All Blacks, but played'fine football for Western Province. Stanley Osier played a great game at centre three-quarter in the memorable first Test, which the Springboks won by 17 points to nil. After that he injured a thigh muscle and was not able to play again. W. Rousseau was another centre three-quarter who played in two Tests and who was regarded as being certain of selection, but he, too, is playing for the Universities in England.

The manager of the team will be Mr. Theo. B. Pienaar, captain of the 1921 Springboks which toured New Zealand, and one of the Springbok selectors in 1928.

The team will arrive in Southampton on September 21.