ALL BLACKS PLEASED WITH S.A. SELECTION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 12

ALL BLACKS PLEASED WITH S.A. SELECTION

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

PRETORIA June 19

Next to the five-man South African selection panel the most interested spectators at the final South African Rugby trials on Saturday were the All Blacks, who meet South Africa in the first test at Johannesburg next Saturday. After seeing the Springbok hopefuls in action the All Blacks

are a much relieved team It is always difficult to judge how the team finally selected will play on trial form, but this match, described as the best of the series, was a fairly scrappy affair.

Most pleasing from the New Zealand viewpoint was the lack of any real sting in either forward pack and .while there was a certain degree of competence in the back lines there appeared to be no-one really a cut above the others. When the team was announced after almost seven hours’ deliberations, by the selectors, the All Blacks found it hard. to'-con-ceal their joy. They are pleased that J. C. Strydom, the 1956 half-back in

New Zealand, has been passed over for D. Lockyear, who played against them at Kimberley. Strydom, playing in the “B’s” team, started the trial off slowly, but in the second half he had it all over Lockyear; who is now one of the six new internationals in the side in Three Series C. Koch, who has achieved his ambition of becoming the first man ever to play in three New Zealand-South African test series, is another selection that the All Blacks are pleased about. In the match against Boland and again in the trial, Koch showed himself a crafty campaigner. J. Claassen, who made his name in New Zealand as a line-out

specialist and who is one of the locks, has not yet played against the present All Blacks, but in the trial he looked to be only a shadow of his former self.

The greatest strength of the Springbok side would appear to be in the three-quarters, although the All Blacks are quite happy with those chosen.

At full-back, R. G. Dryburgh was in a class of his own and could make things difficult for New Zealand if the All Blacks infringe in their own territory. He is the best goal kicker seen to date and scored 15 of his side’s 27 points with penalties and conversions.