SHORT TOURS NO GUIDE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 19

SHORT TOURS NO GUIDE

(From Our Rugby Reporter)

The dismal record being created by the South Africans in Ireland is unique for a Springbok team but it is about the usual that can be expected when a team makes a short tour.

All of the Home unions— Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England—have returned with poor records from short tours and South Africa is proving no exception to the rule.

There is no doubt short tours are lucrative. The England team that toured New Zealand in 1963 grossed about £BO,OOO from its five matches. But whether they will become populai - is questionable for no Rugby-playing country likes to impair its playing record and in short tourp the odds are heavily loaded against the touring team. Out of Season England could only win one of its matches in New Zealand; Ireland, Wales and Scotland experienced the same thing in South Africa. Obviously in a short tour the touring team—which is playing out of season for a start —has no chance to play its players into form, and it is meeting opposing teams which are match fit. The present record of South Africa—a draw and two losses in Ireland—has been the subject of some derogatory comment, but consider the 1963-64 All Blacks’ record

in Ireland—v. Ireland, Won 6-5; v. Munster, won 6-3; v. Ulster, won 24-5; v. Leinster, won 11-8.

Three very narrow wins and the matches were in the middle of the tour when the All Blacks had developed their best combination. One can only guess what would be the record of an AH Black team asked to play five matches in Wales next January. How would they fare against Wales, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Neath and Aberavon?