RUGBY FOOTBALL 1960 South Africa Tour “Could Be Blood Bath”

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28178, 17 January 1957, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL 1960 South Africa Tour “Could Be Blood Bath”

"The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, January 16. Further allegations of dirty play by New Zealand and provincial teams during the 1956 tour of New Zealand by the Springboks, and a warning that if the All Blacks are invited to tour South Africa in 1960, such a tour could develop into “a blood bath, the like of which is seldom seen.” have been made by Mr D. Niehaus, sports editor of the Afri-kaan-language daily newspaper. “Die Transvaaler.” Mr Niehaus, who covered the Springbok tour of Australia and New Zealand last season, expressed these views and others in an article for the publication. “Fleur,” in which Mr Niehaus replies to a writer who had put most of the blame for the All Blacks’ alleged dirty play on the prop forward. K. L. Skinner. “To pick on one man (Skinner;; is not only unjust, it is to miss the entire point of the New Zealand purpose which consisted of a seven years’ preparation and marking time for the great day of reckoning,” writes Mr Niehaus “That is why the name of Kevin Skinner will quickly be forgotten “But the type of games played by the New Zealand teams, the weak refereeing, the intolerable incidents which were apparently

openly allowed, the deliberate kicking, punching and tramping that occurred in nearly every match—these are memories which will grow stronger and stronger. Yes, so strong in fact that the projected tour of 1960 could develop into a blood bath the like of which is seldom seen.

“Injustice, and particularly injustice on the Rugby field, has never yet been allowed to go unpunished.’’ said Mr Niehaus, who

also stated that one feels more sorry for the New Zealanders as a whole than for Skinner.

“After the events of 1956 they can count themselves lucky if they are invited to South Africa in 1960. If the unsavoury incidents are carried on in South Africa, or even aggravated, then better the French, the Lions, or the Wallabies,” said Mr Niehaus.