SPRINGBOKS IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 3

SPRINGBOKS IN AUSTRALIA

COMPARISON WITH 1937 TOUR

The 1956 Springboks complied their tour ,of Australia on Saturday with an unbeaten record in five matches, compared with the 1937 team’s one loss in eight matches. Statistically, however, the 1956 team’s tour was not as successful as that of 1937.

During the 1937 tour, 279 points were scored in eight matches, and if a further two practice games are taken into account, the score would be 381, with 65 points scored against it in the first instance and 76 in the second. In the five matches played in Australia this year, the Springboks scored 109 points, with 20 points scored against them. On averages, the 1937 Springboks scored 35.87 points in eight games, compared with 21JB points in five games. In the eight matches of the 193*? tour, 61 tries, two field goals, six penalty goals, and 35 conversions were scored, compared with 22 tries, one field goal, six penalty goals, and 11 conversions in the recent tour. On averages, the 1937 Springboks scored 7.6 tries a game, compared with 4.5 this year.

The following are details of the 1937 team’s record in Australia:—

Beat Victoria, 45-11; lost to New South Wales, 6-17; beat Australia (first test), 9-5; beat Newcastle, 58-8; beat an Australian fifteen, 36-3; beat Toowoomba, 60-0; beat Queensland. 39-4; beat Australia (second test), 26-17 The two practice matches played at the opening of the tour were against Western Australia and South Australia. The Springboks won both, by ’arge margins, the first by 47 points to 8, and the second by 55 points to

The 1956 team’s record was:— Beat New South Wales, 29-9; beat Countrv. 15-8: beat Australia (first test, 9-0; beat Queensland, 47-3; beat Australia (second test), 9-0.