Good Ground At Athletic Park For Springbok Game

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 10

Good Ground At Athletic Park For Springbok Game

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON. June 22. Two South Africans, the centre three-quarters. J. J. Nel. and the lock forward. J. T. Claassen, are doubtful starters for the match against Wellington tomorrow. Nel is suffering from a boil on the upper leg, and it is poss ble that his place will be taken by the usual flv-half, B. F. Howe If Claassen cannot play because of a chest soreness, he will be replaced by J. A. J. Pickard. A final deci ion on th? team will not be m'de until a few hours before the match.

The Wel’ington selectors are also waiting until the last moment belore they select th c ir full-back for the match. J. Johnstone and N. N. Nicho s have been nam r d. but it depends largely on the weather overnight and the state o' the ground tomorrow which one will play. Otherwise botn teams are fit. In the lest match, on Wednesday, the Springboks showed themselves a much improved team from their earlier showings. The South African pack will be virtually their test one. and its perf' rmance asainst the lighter Wellington pack could be a good guide for the tests.

In speed and general ability the Wellington backs should not be far behind. The Wellington first fiveeighths. J. G. Dougan, Who has been on the fringe of New Zealand selection for a number of years, will mark B. Pfaff, who will be playing his first match since the first test against Australia at Sydney. This will be Dougan's first match ageinst an international side. . The du°l b°tween the? wing threequarters should also be a good one. The Wellington pair, R. A. J=>rden and T. P Katene, must be given a chance of beating their opposites. P. G. Johnstone and K. T. van Vollenho.ven. Johnstone does not appear to be as fast as Jarden, and van Vollenhoven’s defence is su’pect. In the matches he has pl?yed so far in New Zealand, van Vollenhoven has shown a reluctance to tackle low.

If Nel does not play, the South African centres wiH then be Howe and P. E Montini. Ho«-e shifted out to centre during the Waikato and made a good job of it. Marking them will

(New Zealand Press Association)

be the former All Black, J. T. Fitz-g-’ra.d, and M. J. Palmer. If the Springboks can use their weight properly in the scrums, they should be assured of a good supply of the ball from set play and also from the line-outs.

If Pickard plays, it will be interesting to see how the young Wellington player, I. N. McEwan, handles him. McEwan, who will be one of the biggest forwards in the match, had much success during the recent trial matches with his high jumping and clean taking. Pickard has developed a style of jumping into the line-out that does not always find favour with the referees, but one that is most effective for winning the ball. Athletic Park is in good order and. even if rain does fall tonight as forecast. the going will be good. A crowd of more than 50.000 is expected. The teams are:—

Wellington: J. Johnstone or N. N. Nichols: R. A. Jarden, M. J. Palmer T. P. Katene; J. T. Fitzgerald. J. G Dougan: A. J. Makeham; D. A. Clark W. H. Clark, I. W. Tapley. I. N. McEwan, D. N. Mclntosh (captain), 1. M. H. Vodanovich, J. K. Sage, J. B S. Hutchinson.

South Africa. —R. G. Dryburgh; K. T. van Vollenhoven. J. J. Nel, P. G Johnstone. P, E. Montini; B. F. Pfaff: T. A. Gentles; G. P. Lochner D. S. P. Ackerman; J. A. du Rand (captain), J. T. Claassen, or J. A. J. Pickard. D. F. Retief, H. P. J. Bekker, A. J. van der Merwe. A. C. Koch.

The cocktail party arranged by the New Zealand Rugby Union this evening was the South African team’s only official function of the day. For those playing tomorrow, the day was mainly one of rest although there was a run for the non-players this morning. So long as Rugby was played in South Africa, New Zealand’s sporting attitude over the matter of replacements for his team would always be remembered, the manager of the South African team (Dr. D. H Craven) said at the cocktail party “This gesture of the New Zealand Rugby Union in approving the sending of two replacements will go down in the history of the game. Even if you did nothing more for the game you have built for yourselves a monument which will not be forgotten by South Africa,” he said.