Familiar Names

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28658, 7 August 1958, Page 13

Familiar Names

Included in the South African Rugby team which recently drew with France in the test match at Newlands were nine of the 1956 Springbok team which toured New Zealand. The captain was the lock forward J. T. Claassen, of Western Transvaal, and the vice-captain of the test side was the centre J. J. Nel who also played in New. Zealand. The other 1956 Springboks who were in the test side were: W. Rosenberg, A. I. Kirkpatrick, C. F. Strydon, A. C. Koch, P. S. du Toit, A. J. van der Merwe, and G. P. Lochner. Six of the tourists played in the final trials but were not chosen for the test against France. They were: R. C. Dryburgh, the fiveeighths P. E. Montini and B. F. Howe, the wing, J. G. H. du Preez, the half-back, T. A. Gentles, and the lock, J. A. J. Pickard. Surprises The biggest surprises in the selection of the team to play France were the inclusion of M. Gerber (Eastern Province) at full-back ahead of the utility back, Dryburgh, and the choice of an inexperienced 15-stone wing. “Lofty’ 1 Fourie. Fourie possesses great speed and is a determined runner in spite of his weight and was a hard man to stop in the trials. The other new players in the Springbok team were J. Prinsloo (Transvaal) a wing, M. Pelser (Transvaal) a flank forward, J. Steenkamp (Transvaal) a lock, and H. van Zyl (Western Province) a flank forward.