Brilliant Combination of South Africans

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 14

Brilliant Combination of South Africans

HOME SIDE OVERWHELMED IN SECOND HALF Brand Scores 18 Points With Magnificent Kicking * [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, September 11. Under conditions that were made for their style of play the Springboks beat Otago by 47 points to 7, and in doing so more than justified their reputation as one of the greatest football combinations, if not the greatest, ever to have visited this country. The ground was in perfect order, with a dry, fast surface. There was practically no wind and the sky was overcast. The great crowd present received its full measure of thrills, and once the result was placed beyond doubt early in the second spell it settled down to enjoy the most brilliant display of Rugby ever seen in Dunedin and generously applauded the sparkling movements of the South Africans. It was a great football occasion and another chapter in the history of a notable tour. The story of the game may be told in a few words. It was a story of sheer speed and brilliance which simply overwhelmed the opposition and made the defence at times look woefully weak. In the first half, especially towards the end of the spell, the Otago forwards played heroically and, with the assistance of the backs, held their own, keeping the score down to moderate • dimensions. Indeed, up to this point, the score, if anything, flattered the South Africans, for two of their three tries had been made rather easy for them and their territorial advantage had not been great.

Just as the first two tries were lacking in spectacle the third was the result of a gloriously daring piece of play. With play in their own twenty-five, the South African backs flashed into one of their characteristic movements. The ball was passed to Babrow who made a burst through almost to half-way where, drawing Taylor. he passed to Turner, and the •winger was at once racing top speed for the line. After the showing of Otago in this | spell, during which the tackling of both backs and forwards had been very solid, the crowd was expecting excitement in the second half. For the first quarter of an hour the game was again marked by fairly even exchanges, but from then onwards its complexion underwent a complete change, and the domination by the Springboks became more marked as time went on. The Otago forwards had tired, and the machine-like precision of the South African backs, together with their speed and brilliant backing-up, enabled them to launch attack after attack during which the score steadily mounted. Moreover, the passing was' not solely confined to the backs, but was almost as often carried on by the fast, loose forwards, who handled as cleanly. Although the South Africans did not dominate the scrums or line-outs to the extent that might have been expected, they obtained a full share of the ball, enabling Craven to exploit his' effective dive pass, with the result that the overlap on the back line was frequently secured. These tactics severely tested the defence, but an analysis of the gdme shows that not many of .the visitors’ tries were scored by this method, the majority coming from movements in which the reverse pass or in-passing was employed. South Africa’s Field Goals Steadily the tally of points advanced mainly by scores, and conversions by Brand, but the total was also augmented by two field goals, one by Hofmeyr, from a good position, and the other, a beautifully-judged kick, by Turner, from well out, and near the side-line. With the whole team handling, running, and kicking as the South Africans did, it is almost impossible to individualise. Their play was a revelation of tactics and a shining illustration of team work. Craven gave an outstanding display behind the scrum, sending the ball out at great speed, and making many breakaways from which excellent attacks resulted. Brand was a tower of strength with his raking linefinders, while his goalkicking, which accounted for 18 points, was an object lesson in accuracy. The other backs were always in the picture, notably Hofmeyr and Lyster. Van Reenan was notable in the lineouts, and in the tight play he was well supported by van den Berg and Jennings. Du Toit and Bastard were everywhere in the loose, and their handling was superb. Of the Otago forwards, Parkhill, Quald, and Laney were the best, and the first two were always in the thick of things. Laney was especially prominent in the lose, and, with Niven, tackled excellently. Taylor was uncertain at full-back, and more than once his fumbling let the attackers through. Hia line-kicking, however, was generally sound, though lacking the distance that Brand secured, Simon was the best of the Otago backs, and apart from getting his passes away well, was always handy on defence. He had a hard day’s work. Trevathan played soundly throughout, and made several nice cuts through which, with better support, might easily have resulted in tries. When he reached his man his tackling was sound, but the long South African passes frequently took play past him. His kicking was responsible for the whole of Otago’s points. Murray defended heroically, especially in the second spell, but Park and Mahoney were weak links in the Otago line, and their tackling was lamentably weak. With the score mounting rapidly in the second spell. Otago became perhaps a trifle discouraged, and though they fought on gamely to the end they were a tired team when the final whistle sounded. The Play The teams were:— SPRINGBOKS Full-back—G. If. Brand. Three-quarters—F. G. Turner, P. J. Lyster, S. R. Hofmeyr, L. Babrow. Fly half—D. F. van de Vyver. Scrum half—D. H. Craven. Forwards—W. F. Bergh, G. L. van Reenan, W. E. Bastard, B. du Toit, M. A. van den Berg, M. Louw, J. W. Lotz, C. B. Jennings. OTAGO ! • Zfull-back—J. M. Taylor. i Three-quarters—L. Werner, K. Park, R. Mahoney. Five-eighths—D, Trevathan, D. Murray. Half-back—H. Simon. ; Forwards—C. Quaid, W. Laney, G. i McDonald, A. Parkhill. J. Mahoney, R. i Neiper, L. Niven, F. Green, i

After rucking play in midfield Otago was awarded a penalty near halfway and Trevathan missed. A few minutes later Trevathan kicked a fine penalty goal from 50 yards out and on an angle. Otago 3, South Africa 0. South Africa attacked strongly, but solid rucking by the Otago forwards and good kicking by Taylor and Trevathan drove the Visitors back. Van Reenan broke away brilliantly from a line-out. and as he was tackled by Trevathan he passed to du Toit. who sent on to Babrow. Babrow scored well in a handy position, and Brand goaled. South Africa 5, Otago 3. Taylor twice misfielded, resulting in difficult situations on each occasion. Trevathan and Simon returning well to save. The dash and fire of the Otago forwards at this period, were matching the Springboks’ advantage in weight. Van Reenan retired for a short period to have an injured hand attended to. After brilliant passing Babrow centred and then du xml made a dashing run. Simort s solid defensive work relieved. The Springboks again attacked strongly and when R. Mahony fumbled. Bastard went over in the arms of several defenders, for a fey near the corner. ■ Brand s kick went outside the uprights. South Africa 8, Otago 3. Trevathan missed a long shot at goal from a penalty kick for a scrum infringement. Neiper and Laney headed a great rush when a Springbok attack broke down and from their own line the South Africans started passing, which ended in Turner galloping over for an easy try under the posts. All the back line had handled in the movement, which spreadeagled the Otago defence. Brand kicked the goal. South Africa 13. Otago 3. Passing in fine style from all positions, the Springboks attacked strongly. Taylor twice saving with solid tackling. Craven, cutting through from a scrum, kicked over the line, and Mahoney beat Babrow for the touch. Trevathan put Otago on the attack with a long kick to the corner, but a penalty for a scrurp infringement relieved the pressure on the Springbok line. Parkhill, Quaid, and Laney headed a loose rush that carried play to the South African line, where a penalty again brought relief. Babrow and Lyster staged a passing bout right up the side-line. Babrow kicked over the line, hut in the race missed the try. Parkhill broke away brilliantly and after loose play Trevathan kicked an excellent field goal from the - twenty-five line, just before half-time. South Africa 13, Otago 7. Otago staged its first orthodox passing bout early in the second half. The ball went out to Werner, who was tackled by Turner. Taylor found the line at the South African twenty-five yards line, and from the line-out Trevathan missed a field goal. The ball shot out to the wing, where Werner knocked on to spoil a likely chance. Otago was awarded a penalty kick on the twenty-five yard line, but Trevathan missed the goal. Brand s great touch finding put the Springboks on the attack for the first time in the spell, and after a brilliant passing rush Turner raced for the line, only to be well tackled by Werner. In and out passing, in which du Toit figured prominently, tested Otagos defence. Craven broke through, and swift passing among the forwards ended in du Toit scoring under the posts, for Brand to kick the goal. South Africa 18, Otago 7. Otago’s defence was again pierced when Lotz gathered in a dropped pass to brush off a tackier and score m a handy position. Brand kicked the goal. South Africa 23, Otago 7. Taylor twioe earned applause with fine line-kicking. Du Toit intercepted a pass near half-way, and Lotz and van Reenan joined in a passing rush which ended in van Reenan going over in the arms of several defenders for a fine try near the posts. Brand again kicked the goal. South Africa 28, Otago 7. Hofmeyr increased the quicklymounting total a few minutes later, when, receiving the ball from the loose on the twenty-five line, he kicked a fine field goal. South Africa 33, Otago 7. A sweeping forward rush by the South Africans was stopped by Taylor, who gathered in the ball brilliantly on his own line. Brand placed the visitors further ahead when he kicked a penalty goal from 50 yards out. South Africa 35, Otago 7. Otago was now almost completely outplayed. Babrow missed a field goal, but Turner soon afterwards, receiving the ball on the side-line, ran Infield a little, and kicked a magnificent field goal. South Africa 39, Otago 7. Otago became more vigorous when Murray cut through in a passing rush and when awarded a penalty kick tor a scrum infringement 30 yards cut, Taylor kicked from an angle and narrowly missed. Murray brought off

a splendid tackle, to upset Turner, when a try received certain. Babrow made a dashing run, and then, from a penalty kick near the posts. Brand goaled easily. South Africa 42, Otago 7. Turner brushed off tackle after tackle in a run down the line. The ball swung to the other flank in a brilliant movement, and van de Vyver, Babrow, and Lyster handled, for Lyster to cut past two defenders for a try. Brand converted, and the match ended. South Africa 47, Otago 7. CAPTAINS’ COMMENTS (PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, September 12. Praise for the play of Otago in the early stages of the first spell was expressed by D. H. Craven, the Springbok captain. ‘‘lf Otago had finished as strongly as it started,” he said, ‘‘it would have been a very close game. In the first quarter of an hour the team performed brilliantly, the backs and forwards linking up in an uncanny manner.” “Though Otago was certainly overwhelmed, it played as well as it was allowed to,” commented H. Simon, the Otago captain. “The Springboks are a grand side, and their combination and understanding are splendid. They were worthy opponents and throughout played in a keen, sporting manner.” „ . „ The attendance was officially estimated at 28,000. . The South Africans left by tram tonight, en route to Napier.