Canterbury Forwards Dominated 1956 Game

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

Canterbury Forwards Dominated 1956 Game

rpWELVE members of the x Canterbury team which took the field against the Springboks at Lancaster Park in 1956 had been, or were to be, All Blacks, a record unmatched by any other provincial oomMnatlion of the time.

As Canterbury also held the Ranfuriy Shield at the time, its narrow win indicated that it takes a really powerful provincial combination to beat South Africa. The 9-6 result was probably a just one.

Although six of the seven Canterbury backs had been All Blacks, and S. K. Henderson was a little unlucky not to become the seventh before he retired, the line never reaiMy achieved parity with the Springboks on the day.

The speed and splendid tackling of the threequarters, Dixon, Elsom and Smith completely stifled

Kirkpatrick. Nel, and Briers. But Henderson, whose kicking won the game, had an unhappy day with his tackling against Howe, Bremncr never was the ideal first five-eighths, and Vincent’s passes from half-back were slow. However, the game was memorable for the faultless ■ displays given by two courageous full-backs. Both Buchter and Stuart (twice) had to leave the field with injuries but neither shirked a torrid day. This game finished Stuart’s career and Buehler only played once more. South Africa’s backs were much more impressive on the day, but Ulyate kicked too often and, as the pattern of play was dictated up front, the superiority of their lane had little effect on the Springboks’s chances. It was in the forwards that Canterbury won the game and it is unlikely that

Hooper, the All Black second five-eighths, was the only one to match the visitors in thrustfulness, although Brooks inside him made some good runs in the second half. The threequarters were not fast enough to hold their opponents in check and, although Pawson broke away occasionally, he was rarely able to link up with Ms wings, CM'nnery end Eathome. Teams:— SOUTH AFRICA.—F. G. Turner; J. Bester, S. R. Hofmeyr, L. Babrow, A. D. Lawton; T. A. Harris; P. de Villiers; M. M. Louw; W. E. Bastard, P. J. Nel, M. A van den Berg, L. C. Strachan; S. C. Louw, J. W. Lotz, H. J. Martin. CANTERBURY,—G. T. Nolan; R. Chinnery, J. C. Pawson, G. B. Eathome; J. A. Hooper, W. G. Brooks; J. J. McAuliffe; F. J. Foley; C. Pabiecheque, C. W. Williams, H. Milliken. D. Whillans; J. O. Hattersley, W. Fleming, N. J. McPhail.

any Canterbury pack ev played better than this on, The Springboks realise< they had a hard game in prospect and could not

claim that they were playing their second pack. Apart from de Wilzem, who was one of their best forwards on the day this entire pack went into the Second Test where New Zealand was decisively beaten up front and eventually lost. 3-8. In the course of the tour du Rand established a record of 21 test appearances for South Africa. Koch broke this record in 1960, with 22 appearances, while Claasen holds the present record with 28 tests. Bekker has been considered one of the strongest forwards ever to play for South Africa. With Lochner’s crashtackling, Retief's superb ball-sense and van der Merwe’s great hooking abilities, this side was fully equipped up front. Yet this great pack was not only outplayed in the rucks and loose mauls, it was pushed back in the scrums by the lighter Canterbury eight in the later stages of the game. Perhaps the most striking

feature of this war of attrition was the almost complete absence of the brutality so often associated with this brand of Rugby. Canterbury made the forward play a bruising affair, and did so without lapsing into the troubled vale of unfair play.

Early tackling by the backs of Springboks who had not received the ball could not be excused. But there was hardly any brutal play and the fierce rucks never seemed likely to degenerate into brawls. After the game the South African correspondents criticised the referee for permitting the rucks to continue for too long. He probably did, and Henderson's winning penalty came from Just such a ruck, but there was little danger to forwards involved in them. If this was a predominantly tight game, the Canterbury loose forwards did their share. Burry covered miles in cover defence, while Roberts did the job D. J. Graham has since inherited, tidying up. Buxton became the special bete noir of Ulyate at fly-half. But the memories of those who saw this game will always turn to the display by the Canterbury tight forwards.

The two huge men. Hill and Duff, first challenged, then equalled, and finally surpassed the efforts of Claasen and du Rand. Both cemented their reputation as two of the finest forwards to play for New Zealand. Then there were the two men with their careers before them. Whineray and Young. Both established themselves as the test class players they were to become. Last, and possibly finest, was Hem, who crashed through the rucks to immortality this day. Small and light for the position of prop he may have been, but lesser mem have worn the All Black jersey. Canterbury’s points were scored by Buxton, a try; and Henderson, two penalty goals. Howe scored a try for South Africa and Nel kicked a penalty. Teems:— SOUTH AFRICA: J. U. Buehler; T. P. D. Brie's. J. J. Nel, B. F. Howe, A. I. Kirkpatrick; C. A. Ulyate: C. F. Strydom: G. P. Lochner; C. J. de Wllzem. J. A. du Rand (captain), J. T. Claasen, D. F. Retief: 11. P. J. Bekker, A. J. van der Merwe, A. C, Koch. CANTERBURY: K. C. Stuart; R. M. Smith. A. E. G. Elsom. M. J. Dixon; S. K. Henderson, S. G. Bremner; P. B. Vineent (captain): N. S. Roberta; J. B. Buxton, R. H. Duff, S. F. Hill, H. C. Burry: E. Hern, D. Young, W. J. Whineray. Referee: Mr H. McNeill (Hawke’s Bay).