"Power Rugby At Its Best" Produced By 1937 Springboks

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 11

"Power Rugby At Its Best" Produced By 1937 Springboks

YVHEN Canterbury met the Springboks, for the second time, at Lancaster Park in 1937, it possessed a formidable record. Since 1888 the province had been unbeaten against visiting intemaitional teams. It was, then, something of a shock for it to be convincingly defeated, 23-8, before 39,000 spectators—then the largest crowd ever to have crammed Lancaster Park. The South Africans’ play was later described as “the most briSliiant attacking game seen in Christchurch for many years.” This win over what was then one of the strongest teams in the Dominion, perhaps more than any of its other fine performances, convinced Rugby supporters that this was one of the greatest international teams to visit New Zealand. Canterbury lost only one other match that season. For the Canterbury players it was a shattering experience. South Africa had 20 podrits on the board before Canterbury opened its account. The last of these points came from a fine dropped goal by Harris, the Springbok fly-hailf, whose speed, etusdveness and

Cleverness at opening up play for Ms outside men was a big factor in his side’s success. Another Springbok who was most impressive was the wing, Lawton, who scored three magnificent tries. South Africa’s remaining pointe came from two conversions and a penalty goal by Turner and a try by Strachan. Chinnery and Whiiilans scored tries for Canterbury, one of which was converted by McAuliffe. “It was power Rugby at its best, controlled but not let loose,” explained Mr N. J. McPhail when asked for his recollections on the match. Mr McPhail was a prop forward for Canterbury in the game. “It was a relentless grinding down of the opposition until they (the Springboks)

got a chance to make a run —which was too often,” Mr McPhail said this week. “We thought we were pretty good, having beaten the Australians the previous year. But we weren’t.” Another member of the 1937 Canterbury team, the centre three-quarters, Mr J. C. Pawson, agreed with Mr McPhail’s view of the match. The forwards had been unable to subdue the Springbok pack and had been unable to give the backs many chances to attack. "We were chasing them all day,” he said. Every time their backs got the ball they seemed to have an overlap, Mr Pawson said. This had mainly been because the South Africans’ first five-eighths, Harris, had been able to stand so far out from his scrum-half, de Villiers. Because of the long pass from de Villiers, Harris had more than two yards’ start on his opposite number and he "cut us to ribbons. He was too clever for our blokes,” emphasised Mr Me-

Phail. "Harris was a superb fly-ihalf. He had a tremendous pair of hands, great speed and could get into top gear in a flash,” he said. Cohesion in the forwards had denied Canterbury the ball from every angle. They had been too good in the line-outs, their rucking had been too strong and above all, they had not got reckless. Mr McPhail said that it was the first time that Canterbury had come up against a team playing to a plan. Within their very tight overall plan the Springboks had enough latitude to vary their play as different situations required. “Every scoring move was a planned move. It didn’t just 'happen so they could take advantage of it,” he said. The Springbok’s tall left centre, Hofmeyr, was one player who was particularly impressive, according to a contemporary report. A strong and determined runner with the high action of a sprinter, he always retained possession until the last possible moment and even when falling in a heavy tackle was able to transfer to Ms outside men with the greatest accuracy. The Springbok captain, Nel, was a splendid example to Ms side. Bastard was

another who was particularly lively. He was a potent attacking force, especially as he was always closely supported by Strachan, van den Berg, S. C. Louw and others—-all Mg men and magnificent handlers. Canterbury’s forwards were so fully occupied with bolding the South Africans

in the tight that they had little chance for attack. Milliken, an All Black emergency, was the best of the scrummagers with Hattersley, Williams, Foley and others supporting him well. In the hard working front row, McPhail and Fleming gave a . fairly good account of themselves. Not many of the Canterbury backs enhanced their reputations that day.