South African Display Slated

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30794, 5 July 1965, Page 14

South African Display Slated

iN.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

JOHANNESBURG, July 4.

South African Rugby had been “humiliated” by the Springboks’ defeat by Wellington, a South African Rugby writer, Paul Irwin, said in the Johannesburg “Sunday Times” today.

“No excuses, no referee to blame, no bad luck,” Irwin wrote. “This time there is only one thing to re* port ... it is the com. plete and utter humiliation of the Springboks as they crashed to defeat against Wellington.” Irwin described the Springboks as being an inept team with the pack disappointing and beaten time and again to the loose ball. A sub-head to the article said “It was heart-break house for the handful of South African supporters.” "Thank goodness this is a Rugby-mad country and New Zealanders want to see the disastrous 1949 Rugby tour of South Africa avenged.” said the Johannesburg "Sunday Express” Wellington correspondent, whose report was head-lined: “Where do we go from here?” . “Boks sink to their lowest ever.” “If this was not so.” the report said, “the 1965 Springbok tour would be a flop after their thrashing, 23-6, by Wellington.

“This was the biggest-ever defeat for a Springbok side and in keeping with South Africa’s defeats in the last five tests.”

The reporter said the Wellington pack “pulverised" the Springboks. Gert Kotze, writing In the Afrikaans language Sunday “Dagbreek," said: "An unimaginative, pathetic, weak and helpless South African side got a hiding it deserved.”

Kotze said the Springboks must blame themselves for the defeat ' The forwards were overshadowed and demoralised, he said.

But they gained enough chances from the tight scrums and line-outs to do better.

Kotze said although Wellington scored only one try (their remaining points came from the boot) it did not appear at any stage that the Springboks stood any chance of winning the match. In the first half it was quite clear the Springbok pack was being outplayed by the New Zealanders. The entire Springbok team played poorly. “NO EXCUSE” Under a headline “No Excuse—’Boks Are Humbled,” A. C. Parker, writing in the "Johannesburg Star,” said “No excuses ... on a perfect

sunny afternoon at the Athle tic Park ground today befoix a crowd estimated at ove> 50.000, Wellington playinr Rugby of high qualityhumbled the Springboks by 2? points to six. "The lion was just too good for the springbok.” In handing over the sprinp bok head to the Wellington

captain, Ken Gray, for bein the first team in New Zea land to beat the Springboks Parker says Mr Kobus Louw. the South African manager jokingly said “that the Springboks, too. were glad to get rid of the head so early." Mr Louw paid tribute to Wellington as “worthy and richly deserved winners.”

Parker said much of the tackling of the Springboks was “far too high and half hearted.”

“In the light of this defeat the Springboks test prospects look bleak, though it is difficult to imagine even an Al! Black team playing with such fire, efficiency and general Rugby acumen that Wellington produced today. “It was one of the Springboks’ heaviest defeats against a provincial team and one of the most depressing.” said Parker.