Springboks Train For Match Against Waikato

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 7

Springboks Train For Match Against Waikato

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, June 6. Speed off the mark by the backs, powerful bursts of short passing by the forwards, and all-round good handling were shown by the Springboks in their first training run at the Hamilton Rugby ground this afternoon. For more than an hour the team selected to play Waikato on Saturday was kept on4he move under the guidance of the manager (Dr. D. H. Craven). The captain (S. S. Viviers) was also instructing his side. The Springboks will play their strongest available side against Waikato. It includes W. Rosenberg, who will play his first match of the tour. Rosenberg at centre, is regarded at one of the stars. Another who will play in one of his first matches of the tour is the tiny half-back, T. A. Gentles. Until now, Gentles has been nursing a blistered heel, but is now fit. A. R. Reid, the Waikato half-back and one of the leading contenders for the All Blacks, is one of the smallest players to have represented New Zealand, but those who have seen them both say that Reid “towers” above the South African. The expected test props. H. J. BekKer and Koch, are among the injured, but their deputies, P. du Toit and H. N Walker, are both highly regarded. J. A. J. Pickard, who will be vicecaptain for the match, is captain of the Western Province side, which held the Currie Cup—South Africa’s Ranfurly Shield—throughout last year. The team is:— Full-back: S. S. Viviers. Three-quarters: J. du Preez, W. Rosenberg, J. J. Nel, K. T. van Vollenhoven. Halves: B. F. Howe, T. A. Gentles. Back row: G. P. Lechner. Middle row: D. F. Reteif, J. T. Claasen, J. A. J. Pickard, C. J. dt Wilzem

Front row: P. du Toit, A. van der Merwe, H. N. Walker. One of the heaviest men in the team. Bekker. said after the practice that the ground, which was soft and in some places without grass, was very similar to the grounds the 1951-52 Springboks met in Britain, and would heavier players much more hard grounds encountered in the Australian section of the tour. The backs, too. «aid they liked the condition of the ground. * Rain Forecast Rain is forecast, but if the forecast is wrong the ground should be in firstclass playing order. The speed and handling by the haltbacks, Gentles and B. Howe, emphasised the scarcity of really first-class men m these positions in New Zealand. Gentles threw out. passes much ionger than those of any of the probable All Black half-backs, and linked

well with Howe, a fast and tricky run- s ner and a near-perfect handler. Out- c side him on Saturday will be the man whom the British Isles players regard- t ed as the star of last year’s series, t Rosenberg. Rosenberg was quick off t the mark and showed his ability as ' a sprinter. Nel. van Vollenhoven, du Preez, 1 and Viviers all impressed with their r general handling and speed. g The forwards concentrated mostly < today on quick heeling and backing i up, and did no really hard scrum or line-out work* On general New Zealand standards J today’s work-out would be a solid t run, but it was regarded as a light < run by most of the South Africans. ( Before the practice proper started, the players jogged round the ground, i some of them followed by hordes of ! srqall boys, for about half an hour. ’ Later, Dr. Craven superintended the . players in their exercises and then j their full training runs. • Kirkpatrick Impressive Only two players did not have a run—C. J. van Wyk, who broke 1 both leg bones in an Australian ' training session, and M. Hanekom. . A. I. Kirkpatrick, who broke a shoul- . der blade during the first test in ] Australia, was impressively fast, and even with his handicap was an expert : handler. He had difficulty in giving ■ a pass, however. It is hoped that he will be off the injured list after about three Weeks. It is the only run that Saturday’s . team will have before the <match. The whole of tomorrow, will be taken ' up with a trip to the glowworm grotto at Waitomo and an inspection of a dairy factory at Te Awamutu on the way. Tomorrow night the team will have dinner with members ot the Waikato Rugby Union and their wives. On Friday morning, those members of the team not playing on Saturday will have a run. Several forms of relaxation have been arranged for Friday afternoon. The Waikato- side will train tomorrow. • • Tumultuous Welcome After their tumultuous welcome in Hamilton, members of the Springbok team are convinced that New Zealand is a Rugby madhouse. They “ were welcomed by a cacophony of cowbells. Members of the Mooloo ' Club were in full force to welcome the team, which travelled from the station to its hotel in buses decorated : with mooloos. There were huge ■ crowds at both the railway station and the hotel, where the Springboks ■ had almost to fight their way in. Replying to a brief speech of wels come by the Mayor (Mr R. Braith- • waite) at the hotel in which the team i is staying, Dr. Craven said he had • never seen such a welcome for any I team anywhere. “If I had been a man from Mars ? and dropped down into Hamilton’s . main street this morning, I would have j said without hesitation that it was - the dumping ground for the lunatics / of the world,” he said. “We take - our Rugby seriously at home, but not like that shown- in this magni- ! ficent reception,” he said.

BANKS PENINSULA TEAMS CHOSEN teams have been selected to represent Banks Peninsula Rugby SubUnion in games against Ellesmere, to be played at Tai Tapu on Saturday:— Senior.—H. Robinson, J. Stewart, A. Timothy. W. Hokianga, B. Robinson, O. Harrington (vice-captain), T. Edwards. O. Jenkins, G. Harris, W. Trotter, Ray Harris. K. Frew, R. Craw (captain), S. Waghorn, M. Thacker; emergencies: forwards, J. Tainui, M. Hunt, I. Bolton; backs. M. Wright, P. Johnstone, D. Kot-’ Junior.—D. Coffin, C. Harris, I. Craw, D. Barry, R. Small, W. Buckland (captain), L. Bryant, P. Pritchett, J. Woodill, L. Bain, J. Hutchinson, E. McNabb, E Newton, C. McGregor, J. Cardus: emergencies: forwards, L. Craw, B. Woodill, A. Waghom; backs, C. Spurr and T Brown. Team managers: Messrs P. N. Ussher and D. E. Woodill.