SPRINGBOKS BEATEN FOUR TIMES IN N.Z.

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

SPRINGBOKS BEATEN FOUR TIMES IN N.Z.

CANTERBURY WON WITH DEPLETED TEAM In three tours of New Zealand —in 1921. 1937 and 1956—the Springboks have been beaten, four times, twice in tests and twice by provincial teams. Canterbury won in 1921 and Waikato on Saturday. In three of the four games the New Zealand teams have played with only 14 men during part of the game. In the second spell of the game in 1921. won by Canterbury by 6 points to 4, C. E. (“Scrum”) Evans left the field and J. McCormack went to full-back. In the first test of the 1937 tour at Wellington Don Cobden, a wing threequarters, was injured and a forward, R. H. Ward (Southland), was taken out of the scrum to replace him. In Saturday’s game J. R. Bullick was injured and E. A. Pickering was taken out of the forwards. Other notable games in which New Zealand has been handicapped include the third test against the British Isles in 1950 when J. Simpson, a front-row forward, broke a leg and R. Elvidge, centre, received head injuries in the first spell. Elvidge came back to the play soon after half time, but P. Johnstone, who had replaced him in the backs, still remained at wing threequarters. For the greater part of the game New Zealand held the Lions with six forwards. When the 1924-25 All Blacks played England in a test match New Zealand lost the services of C. Brownlie, not because of injuries, and played inspired football with seven forwards. MAORI ALL BLACK TEAM CHANGES FOR TRIAL GAME TODAY (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, June 11. Two virtual certainties for the Maori All Blacks, P. T. Walsh (Counties) and S. F. Hill (Canterbury), will not play in the Maori Rugby trial to be held at Wanganui tomorrow. S. Sturmey (Wanganui) has replaced Walsh at full-back, and A. Perahama (Wanganui) will take Hill's lock position. Hill, an Army instructor, could not obtain leave. He has spent considerable time recently playing in national trials, and Walsh is touring with the Counties team. After a fine week-end the ground at Spriggens Park should be in ideal order for the match. No players from North Auckland, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, and Hawke's Bay are included in tomorrow's teams, as players from these districts recently took part in the Prince of Wales Cup match, but these players will be considered for the final trial at Hamilton on June 20. With Hill not available, J. <Taitoko (Wellington) will captain the Blacks, with M. Bevan (Wellington) as vicecaptain. J. Karatau (Wanganui) will captain the Whites in the absence of Walsh, and E. Whatarau (Counties) will be vice-captain. SELECTION OF TRIAL PLAYERS AUCKLAND COMPLAINT TO N.Z. UNION (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. A complaint from the Auckland Rugby Union of non-recognition of Auckland players in the All Black trials came before a meeting today of the executive committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, which also had the comment of the North Island selection panel. Both are to be referred td a meeting of the council of the New Zealand union at Wellington on June 22.