MATCHES AGAINST SPRINGBOKS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 12

MATCHES AGAINST SPRINGBOKS

“ N.Z. MUST GIVE NO QUARTER”

CHAIRMAN OF AUCKLAND UNION

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. June 6.

In the coming Rugby tests against South Africa. New Zealand must give no quarter and show no mercy within the rules of Rugby, said Mr T. H. Pearce, chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, to members of the Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce in a luncheon address to-, day.

Mr Pearce, who was recently named in Dr. D. H. Craven’s “World XV.” said that in all the games he had played in and enjoyed most, acrimony had been high, and there had been the spirit of fire in the pack. The laws of Rugby, framed to prevent bad sportsmanship and bad play, said that a man must not lie on the ball—a man must be given reasonable time to get off the ball, but what was reasonable time was a matter of opinion. “The Springboks are here to win. [and we must accept the challenge," said Mr Pearce. "We lost the four I tests in 1949. and there is a very real responsibility now to equal or beat the Springboks. “At the same time. Rugby is only a game, not a battle or a war. and I have never yet met Rugby players . who hate each other off the field, he said.