RUGBY N.Z. STRUGGLES TO DRAW 6-6

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 8

RUGBY N.Z. STRUGGLES TO DRAW 6-6

'' ' >. „ D. Clarke Fails In 11 Kicks At (Joal (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) DURBAN, May 31. A try 12 minutes from time by the fullback, D. B. Clarke, who failed in 11 attempts at goal, saved the New Zealanders from defeat at the hands of Natal in the second match of their tour at King’s Park, Durban, today. The match ended in a 6-all draw, the New Zealanders scoring two tries to a try and a penalty by Natal. New Zealand led, 3-0, at half-time, but Natal called the tune for much of the second half.

The teams were: ALL BLACKS—D. B. Clarke; R. VV. Caulton, R. F. McMullen, J. R. Watt; S. G. Bremner, A. H. Clarke; R. J. Urbahn; R. J. Conway; K. R. Tremain, I. N. Mac Ewan, C. F. Meads, P. F. H. Jones, W. J. Whineray, D. Young, M. W. Irwin. NATAL—K. van Norwyk; O. B. Taylor, R. Savage, J. Truter, R. G. Dryburgh; K. J. Oxlee; G. Williamson; M. M. Moon; W. J. Mall, B. J. Irvine, A. C. Labuschagne, A. C. Neveling; F. Swart, N. A. Labuschagne, C. Klopper.

It was a valuable match in that the New Zealanders now know the true standard of South African Rugby. The New Zealand showing in some respects was magnificent but in others most disappointing. The forwards, with only seven men in the scrum for much of the time, were magnificent. The backs, who had a complete off day, were disappointing.

If New Zealand is to win the test series there will need to be much work to get the back division into better form.

The forwards won plenty of ball but the refusal or inability of the New Zealand backs to make full use of opportunities that came their way told against the team in the end. Bad Handling

New Zealand scored two tries to a try and a penalty; but if there had not been such bad handling and passing in the backs it is likely at least three other tries could have been scored. Natal, which is at present rated one of the top four provincial teams in South Africa, surprised and delighted its supporters with its showing. Its fensive qualities were superb, while various members of the side showed up on attack. If a team is to play against New Zealand better than Natal did then, in the words of the New Zealand manager <Mr T. H. Pearce) after the match, “It will be a beauty.” New Zealand, which had a territorial advantage over most of the game, led 3-0 at half-time and with 12 minutes to full time was trailing 3-6. Then D. B. Clarke, whose kicking was a failure, scored a try to make the score equal. Clarke, who has so often been a match winner for New Zealand teams, missed 11 attempts at goal. Two of them were attempts at field goals from well out. His lack of success obviously gave the Natal men new heart. With each unsuccessful shot the confidence of the home team seemed to rise. Clarke did have one excuse. Each time he stepped back for a shot he was the subject of highly annoying whistling and cat calling, which came from possibly only a minor section of the crowd

of 26,500, but which could prevent concentration. None of his kicks

missed by much. Two of them hit the uprights almost at the top and bounced away. Injuries Disorganise Backs

The back line was disorganised for a large part of the match, first by the temporary retirement of the half-back, R. J. Urbahn, with an ankle injury, and then by the semi-retirement of the centre, R. F. McMullen, with a shoulder injury. While Urbahn was off, the captain, W. J. Whineray, took over behind the scrum and later R. J. Conway moved out of the scrum to centre, leaving McMullen to play extra full-back.

D. Young, who was brought In as hooker in place of R. C. Hemi, who is temporarily indisposed, was knocked out temporarily in the second half, but came back gamely. Whineray led the team very well although he could be criticised for not relieving D. B. Clarke as goal kicker after he had failed so consistently. The right wing, J. R. Watt, had been kicking very well in training and he could have been entrusted with at least some of the easier kicks.

Several Natal players distinguished themselves. The flyhalf, K. Oxlee. must have advanced his claims towards eventual South African selection considerably with his showing, as also did the scrum-half, G. Williamson, who formed a combination which New Zealand certainly would like to possess. On defence the Natal backs were unshakeable and often throughout the match forced the New Zealanders into errors on which they were then quick. to capitalise. Many Tackles Missed The New Zealanders missed many tackles and many of those that were made were shoulder high. Natal tackled at ankle height. The New Zealand backs were uncertain on attack, with too many passes being dropped and too many bad passes given. Tries could have been scored had passes been held at crucial moments. Tries for New Zealand were scored by D. B. Clarke and I. N. Mac Ewan. Oxlee scored a try for Natal and the front row prop, C. Klopper, kicked a penalty goal. Mr M. Slabber was the referee.