Golden Chance Was Thrown Away

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30818, 2 August 1965, Page 3

Golden Chance Was Thrown Away

(By

A.C. PARKER,

South

African Argus Group.) WELLINGTON, August 1. One doubts whether South Africa in the three remaining tests will again have such a golden chance of beating New Zealand as Saturday’s w i n dbedeviled match at Athletic Park. They tossed it away like one of the newspapers seen swirling downfield when the game was all over. Let it be said immediately that the All Blacks, because of their more sophisticated forward play—control at the front of the line-out and admirable command of possession and drive in the loose scrums—deserved their victory, in spite of a questionable second try.

But the Springboks, when Oxlee closed the gap to three points with his field goal in the ninth minute of the second half—it boosted his points tally to 88 in 18 tests —had the destiny of the match in their hands and feet. The wind and time were on their side.

Admirably as the All Black pack responded, opportunity knocked on the Springbok door. Naude failed with two difficult but for him kickable penalties; Oxlee went for a second drop when Malan heeled from a scrum close to the line instead of venturing the run-in with the aid of his outsides; and finally, after Ellis had opened up a gap, Roux dropped a good pass with the line at his mercy. South Africa, scorning what the gods offered them, did not deserve to win. That they were still in the picture after being territorially outplayed in the first 40 minutes was due, in part, to some valiant defensive covering and Gainsford’s devastating midfield tackling, but largely to illjudged kicking by Murdoch, handling and passing errors by Collins and Rangi, and plain good fortune. One commends Mr N. J. McPhail for including running the ball in his plan for campaign. The Blacks indeed, showed more enterprise than the Greens. SOURCE OF CONCERN

That so little tangible resulted from so much clean quick possession with Laidlaw, at half-back, one of the best players on the field, must be a source of some concern to the New Zaland selectors. The first try. after five minutes, by Birtwistle with Williment making the extra man on the blind-side, was out of the textbook. But the next one. which made the difference between defeat and a draw for the Springboks, did not arrive until on the stroke of halftime and nothing will convince me—and all observers in a position to judge—that Mr J. P. Murphy was not at fault in awarding it. Williment clearly propelled the ball forward when tackeld in possession by De Villiers before Tremain crossed the line and this, under law 14. was a “throw forward.” In addition, Treinain, who was in front of Williment, could have been ruled offside under law 18.

One can only conclude that the referee was temporarily unsighted and as evidence that this comment is not dictated by malice I would be perfectly happy to see Mr Murphy handle the second test at Carisbrook. Williment had a hand in Birtwistle’s try but on the whole had an unhappy match

and one would not be surprised to see him supplanted by W. F. McCormick for the second test.

For the All Blacks, the men of the match were those eight forwards working and hunting together as if bound together by glue—an object lesson to the South African pack. Gray, C. E. Meads and Tremain were outstanding and Conway effective in the broken play and at covering. MacDonald and Ellis were perhaps the best South African forwards, and although Malan took the only two tight heads, the ball came back sluggishly to De Villiers. Conditions as prevailed on Saturday are a challenge as well as a trial, and although neither side overcame them, it was the AH Black forwards who had the sounder concept of what was required. New Zealand’s close call surprised a good many pundits and there was no dishonour in South Africa’s sixth successive test defeat in the last year. The series has not yet been lost.