IRRESISTIBLE IN THE MUD

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 158, 6 July 1937, Page 15

IRRESISTIBLE IN THE MUD

TRANSFORMED.

SPRINGBOKS , VICTORY.

THE FIRST TEST.

FORWARDS CARRY THE DAY. (By S. G. NICHOLLS.) SYDNEY, June 26. The Springbok* successfully negotiated their first Test hurdle by achieving a notable victory against Australia, winning by 0 to 5, before a crowd of 33,000. Playing traditional orthodox Rugby they battered and hammered their way through to success in characteristic South African style. Always full of quality the game was brimming over with virility, at times "Sting 1 !' neVer Md *«*' The South Africans, who held the territorial advantage throughout, played Convincingly, solidly, and impressively. Their wonderful pack with their better stamina and physique definitely asserted itself, and Irom the outset gained for their side an absolute mastery of the situation, whilst their backs with safety first tactics, and a sound, satisfying defence, stuck to their Kuns, allowing them to finally emerge victorious. The game was played in distressing circumstances. For the past ten days Sydney has been practically "under water," and the cricket ground, which has never looked worse, was a veritable bog, making the going treacherous, the ball heavy and difficult and the players muddy and stodgy, whilst during play a torrential downpour occurred that at times nearly obliterated the players. South Africa completely altered their tactics for this match. During the week they got down to serious work and study (even playing out in the heavy rains that fell daily), and they concentrated upon fielding a pack that could be relied upon to gain possession, and to retain it at all costs,

also they reorganised their backline, making it conform to the accepted Springbok ideas of sound and determined defence. Their motto being, "They shall not rase." Last week the Springbok pack did not hold their much lighter opponents and their backs failed throughout to go down on the ball, but to-day they stood close to their opponents, nerer giving them a chance to open. up the game at all. So successful were their efforts that the Australian wingers never during the whole game received the ball in a passing movement, whilst their forwards, who were always held, were defeated in the tight, in the lineouts and for ecrum possession. Truly a remarkable transformation! The Springbok side was not announced until fifteen minutes before the game commenced. That morning the whole eide inspected the field, and at noon, after an hour's deliberation, their selection committee picked their fifteen, but said nothing about it until they left their hotel for the ground. , ~ ~ They made several changes in the side from the previous Saturday. Philip JN el went into the front row with Lotz (hooker) and Fanie Louw, in place of Boy Leuw, who was eighth man. Ferdy Berg and Van den Berg were the locks, and Strachan and Bastard came into the pack as side supports. Pierre de Villiers displaced Craven as scrum half, who became fly half, and Babrow and Jimmy White replaced Hof : mevr and Bester at centre, whilst Dai Williams (playing his first game) and Turner were on the wings, with Brand at fU The Australian side went on to the field as selected, with the exception of Aub Hodgson, who was injured in last week s game, his place being taken by Rus Kelly. The First Score. The first score came to South Africa, after twenty-seven minutes play, from.a herculean breakaway by Fame Louw. He passed out to Strachan, who handed on to Bastard, and this player threw himeelf over the line. , After the interval Australia scored and so led by five to three. Richards handed on to Towers, who finally touched down by the posts, from which he easily converted. __ , j i But the Springboks came backhand by wheeling the scrum on the Aussies line Ferdy Bergh scored a typical Springbok try Finally Brand kicked a penalty. At "this stage the South Africans were monopolising the game and rt looked as if the Australians were all in. However, just before time Cerutti broke away with the ball at his feet. He eluded Brand and got within five yards of the line with a clear field. It looked as if he could not fail to score right under the posts, but somehow fate stepped in, and. the ball slewed off his boot and South Africa saved in the nick of time. Improving Side. The Springboks are definitely an improving side. To-day they showed up to real advantage, and from now on should develop into a formidable combination. True, they have had to revert to thenold ifleas and discard their new open game, which they are so desirous of playing, but their pile-driving and safety-first tactics are doubtless match-winning propositions, although this does not appeal to the crowds here, who like their football light and spicy, no matter which side wins. The two mainstays of their backs were Craven and White. Craven sometimes raised the crowd's ire with his penchant for finding the line, but the part he played was a most invaluable one for nis side. White was a source of inspiration to bis mates, particularly on defence, whilst de Villiere was a most valuable link between forwards and backs. .Brand did not appear to exactly revel in the conditions and was overshadowed by nis opposite. The Aussie backs got very few chances to-day, but were very sound ail through, although Richarde and Towers appealed most. Dorr did not come up to standard.

NO PLAY AT WHANGAKEL

All sports In Whangarel were postponed "n Saturday owing to the sodden state oi the grounds.