Springboks Fail Against Superb Pack

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30794, 5 July 1965, Page 3

Springboks Fail Against Superb Pack

(From I. J. D. HALL, Rugby Reporter of "The Press.")

. The Springbok head presented to the Wellington captain (K. F. Gray) may well have been hanging in shame after South Africa was beaten by the humiliating score of 23-6 at Athletic Park on Saturday. It .is the heaviest defeat South Africa has ever suffered in a provincial match.

This schizophrenic Springbok team, which seems to alternate a good game and a bad one, gave an inept display.

Smashed and crashed in the line-outs and rucks by a ferocious Wellington pack, the Springbok forwards, except for a short period in the second half, were outplayed decisively and the backs fumbled and bumbled their way through most of the match.

Each team scored one try only but that was no test; Wellington was markedly superior for most of the match.

For Wellington, I. N. Uttley scored a try. M. W. Williment kicked three penalty goals, a field goal and a conversion, and B. Frederikson kicked two penalty goals J. Nel scored a try for South Africa and W. Mans kicked a magnificent 60-yard penalty.

The 38,500 persons who watched the match, and paid more than £20,000, may have been enthusiastic about the Wellington win, but the game itself did not provide much out of the ordinary.

The display of the Wellington pack and one superb run by Gainsford were the only memorable features of a tough, scrappy disorganised game.

Why did South Africa lose by such a large margin? The answer is simple. Its forwards had no concept of driving in the loose and no ability to stop a team which uses this method of forward play as its cardinal tactic.

The Springboks lacked coordination. Once the forwards were buffeted by the Wellington pack the backs seemed to panic. For most of the game there was much illdirected passing and fumbling and some dreadfully inaccurate line-kicking. Crucial Time The crucial time of the match came after 10 minutes. Sensing some weakness in the Springbok line-out, Gray called Mac Ewan up next to him at No. 2 in the line-out. These two then proceeded to wedge

through the Springbok forwards. At first it was only a foot at a time. Then it became a yard and they were followed by the whole of the Wellington pack in a formidable phalanx of black jerseys. In the rucks the Wellington pack smashed forward with complete disregard for their own physical safety or that of the Springboks. It was a battering ram process to which the Springboks had no answer.

For the first 10 minutes the match was poised, then Oxlee missed the line and Williment dropped a fine goal. That was all Wellington needed; the forwards became inspired. Two further penalty goals by Williment brought a 9-0 lead and although Mans kicked a great goal, another penalty goal and a clever try by Uttley gave Wellington a 17-3 lead at half-time. Brief Recovery In the first 10 minutes of the second spell the Springboks came back vigorously. The forwards thundered ahead, the backs ran with more determination and Nel, as if epitomising this new spirit, scored through sheer determination a try while held by about three Wellington forwards. Then came two incidents which typified the general lack of decision in the Springboks. Malan had the ball a yard from the line with one man to beat. He merely waited for another Springbok to come near to him so that he could pass. No-one came near him. Then Oxlee from the next scrum did a silly kick which was fielded by Osborne who took play 60 yards back. South Africa made one more foray but the Wellington forwards who, with knees, feet and shoulders, took part in a 75 yards movement made it obvious that the game virtually was over. For the rest of the game

South Africa tried deperately to escape from the marauding Wellington loose forwards but to no avail. Two further penalties late in the game sealed their fate.

One Short No tribute can be too high for the Wellington pack. For most of the second half Williams had to play in the backs to supplement an injured Williment and still Wellington was dominant in the forwards. If there was one minor complaint that could be made it would be that Wellington, even when leading 20-6, would not pass the ball. Frederikson and Coulter kept on kicking and even the parochial crowd became restive and asked for some back play. The Springboks played so badly that it was almost unbelievable. The lack of tactical direction was distressing and the inability of the team to cope with driving forwards bodes ill for the next matches. One forward who can be excepted is Nel. He was outstanding and with Mac Ewan and Gray, a forward of the match.

Du Preez jumped well in the line-out and Bedford was a grand loose forward. But there was no cohesion in the pack. Smith played soundly at half back but was too slow and he and Oxlee gave no impetus to the backs. Oxlee had a bad game. Perhaps when he saw Lister and Williams tearing at him from the first line-out the field may have seemed full of ghosts—the ghosts of Davis and Guerasimoff, the crash tacklers. He obviously lacked confidence, his running was most hesitant and his line kicking was inaccurate. Fine Break Gainsford made one of his brilliant inside breaks but with Mans he too was indecisive and handled badly. Truter and Engelbrecht had few chances to use their speed but neither had a happy match. Mulder fielded well but his line kicking lacked direction.

In the Wellington pack

Gray and Mac Ewan were magnificent Lister, a player of great potential, was outstanding for his rugged play in the loose and Williams was an eager and fast loose forward. Coulter played steadily, kicking intelligently and running hard but his passing was not very quick. Except for Frederikson, who directed play with his kicking, the rest of the backs had little to do on attack but Uttley was a clever centre and Williment an effective full-back although he fumbled badly in the face of an up-and-under.

The referee, Mr C. Robson, awarded nine penalties to South Africa and eight to Wellington.