RUGBY S.A. Beats South-West France By 29 To 3

Press, Volume C, Issue 29435, 10 February 1961, Page 14

RUGBY S.A. Beats South-West France By 29 To 3

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BORDEAUX, Feb. 8

The South African Rugby Union team opened its fourmatch French tour with a convincing victory over Southwest France by 29 points to 3 today. The Springboks led 13-3 at half-time.

In the fastest and most open game they have played since leaving home, the tourists gave the 20,000 spectators an excellent display of straightforward, attacking football. Although the score reflected a decisive victory, there was much in the match to suggest the Springboks will have to play hard to beat the France B team at Toulouse on Saturday and to overcome France in the international in Paris a week later. South-west France would have scored several tries if its handling had been more precise and its backing-up better drilled. Advantage Lost In their eagnerness to keep the ball in play the Frenchmen often lost territorial advantages by throwing it about instead of kicking for touch. But they scrummed tightly, worl-ed well in the line-out, and handled deftly in the loose.

The team’s only major weakness was a tendency to tackle high and without real conviction.

The Springboks, relentless as ever in attack and obviously delighted to meet a side prepared to meet them more than half-way in playing constructive. running Rugby, engineered many delightful movements in a generally fine display.

The Springbok's tries were scored by D. Stewart, J. Claassen, H. Botha, D. Hopwood, H. Van Zyl, B. Van Zyl, and R. Hill.

The scrum-half, R. Lockyear, converted those by Claassen. Botha, Van Zyl and Hill The second-row forward, R. Lebourhis, landed the home side's penalty goal with a fine kick from 30 yards out

Soviet Aid to Congo.—The Soviet Health Minister, Dr. Sergei Kurshov, told the fourteenth session of the World Health assembly la New Delhi that the Soviet Union had given 400,000 new roubles (about £160,000) to public health in the Congo. The Soviet delegation believed assistance to the Congo should be given through its “legal Government” New Delhi, February 9.