SPRINGBOKS AT WHANGAREI

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 16

SPRINGBOKS AT WHANGAREI

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PRACTICE IN HEAVY RAIN TEAM FOR MATCH WITH NORTH AUCKLAND (New Zealand Press Association) WHANGAREI, June 11. The Springbok selection has made several changes in its team to play North Auckland on Wednesday. B. F. Howe, whose combination with T. A. Gentles in the Waikato match was never happy, t has been moved out to centre. C. F. Strydom replaces Gentles as scrum half, and the fly-half will be C. A. Ulyate. Ulyate, whose only match of the tour so far was at Tamworth against the New South Wales Country side, is expected to sharpen the attack. The Springbok forward New Zealanders have heard most about, the giant front-row prop, H. J. Bekker, and C. J. de Nysschen, 6ft 6in, and the tallest man in the team, should make the pack much stronger than that of the first game. Only four players remain on the injured list, but several others are still nursing minor ailments. The team will be:— S. S. Viviers (captain); K. T. van Vollenhoven, P. E. Montini, J. du Preez; B. Howe, C. Ulyate; d* F. Strydom; N. Walker; G. P. Lochner; C. J de Witzem, C. J. de Nysschen, A. J. Pickard, D. S. P. Ackerman; H. N. WaMter, A. van der Merwe, H. J Bekker. Umbrellas, raincoats, and goloshes were normal wear in Whangarei today, and the Springboks this afternoon crouched over a roaring fire in their hotel lounge trying to keep warm. The rain began just when the Springboks were having their most strenuous work-out since leaving South Africa, and was still falling to-night. In the first phase of his tougheningup treatment for the team, Dr. D. H. Craven kept the players training for two hours. “This was a strenuous session, but I have not yet given them anything like the full treatment,” he said after the training session.

Soft Ground Welcomed Dr. Craveti concentrated mostly on the pack that will play against North Auckland. The soft going provided by Rugby Park was welcomed by the Springboks, for the ground will be heavy on Wednesday. Three weeks ago, the park was under more than 2ft of water, but was in surprisingly good order today. Parts of the field, however, are certain to became quagmires during the match. What must have been most reassuring for' Dr. Craven was the way in which the forwards applied their weight in the scrums and the speed with which they were up on the ball. At the end of the practice backs and forwards were almost perfect in going down on the ball and recovering their feet quickly. The backline for Wednesday handled with more pep this morning than in any previous training seession. This afternoon two groups of players addressed the Whangarei Boys’ High School and Northland College, Kaikohe. Most of the others caught up with letter writing and sleep. Most members of the touring party, all of whom have been made honorary members of the Returned Services’ Association and Whangarei Clubs during their stay in Northland, visited the clubs late in the afternoon. Tonight they were guests of. the North Auckland Rugby Union at a buffet dance.

INVITATIONS TO SPRINGBOKS “PROGRAMME A LITTLE TOUGH ” (New Zealand Press Association) WHANG AREI, June 11. Since he landed with the Springbok team at Whenuapai airport on Wednesday afternoon Dr. D. H. Craven has replied to four mayoral welcomes, given a number of radio interviews, addressed several church groups? and spoken at more than 12 schools. Groups of players have also spoken at many functions. “We do not wish to disappoint anyone, but the programme is a little tough,” Dr. Craven said today. He asked that organisations wanting the Springboks to attend their functions should work through the Rugby union in their own centre, and not apply direct to the team. FILM OF MATCH WITH WAIKATO (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. Unedited and without the sound track, a film of Waikato’s win over the Springboks was shown at the Ascot Theatre, Newtown, today. More than 150 persons, including the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) and the Minister of Justice (Mr J. R. Marshall) saw it. The film had been flown to Wellington and had just been processed. The sound track is expected to be added tomorrow and the film made ready for screening in eight centres on Wednesday. The unedited film ran for about 25 minutes: edited, it will run for about 10 mir\utes. From three camera angles most of the significant incidents of the match have been recorded, the most spectacular being a' bout of in-and-out passing by the Springbok threequarters. This shot makes it clear that South Africa would have scored another try had not the wing, K. T. van Vollenhoven, failed to take a pass. 600 MILITARY TRAINEES TO SEE AUCKLAND GAME (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 11. Six hundred of the 1100 military trainees at Papakura Camp will see the Springbok-Auckland game on Saturday at Eden Park. Army authorities have made sure of this by buying the tickets and booking a special train to go to and from the match. N.Z. UNION CONGRATULATES WAIKATO (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. The executive committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, on the motion of Mr J. N. Millard, decided today to send congratulations to the Waikato union on the victory of its team, and also to compliment the union on the excellence of the organisation for the Springboks during their stay at Hamilton.