Rugby Manners

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 14

Rugby Manners

Of seven matches played during their present New Zealand tour by the South African Rugby team, only one has been marred by persistent rough play. After the Taranaki match, the Springboks’ manager (Mr J. F. Louw) said that if players want to punch they should don boxing gloves and get into a ring. Rugby, he added, was done a disservice by that game. Canterbury supporters do not want a repetition today of the incidents which marred the Taranaki game. Among the journalists who have followed the tour the Springboks have earned the reputation of being a sporting team; and the Canterbury players can rest assured that the visitors will meet them more than half-way if they want a clean game, played in the proper spirit of keen but friendly rivalry. The behaviour of the crowd, as was evident at New Plymouth, can influence the players. It may be too much to expect strict impartiality from the spectators at any important sporting event; but there are limits beyond which partisanship cannot be allowed to go without serious detriment to the reputation of both the sport and its followers. The spectators at Lancaster Park today have an opportunity to show that fairmindedness and generosity have not been lost from the premier New Zealand sport.