DR. CRAVEN ARRIVES, SMILING: “Want You To Tremble, Not Sympathise”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30845, 2 September 1965, Page 17

DR. CRAVEN ARRIVES, SMILING: “Want You To Tremble, Not Sympathise”

“I have been most perturbed to read reports in South African newspapers that this Springbok team is not dedicated to winning. “That I cannot believe,” said Dr. Danie Craven, president of the South African Rugby Board, last evening. Dr. Craven also expressed surprise that there should be a ? apt . ltself? “, We sympathy for the Springboks because they had lost the first two said Dr o cra o ven. We gr ° Un ’ tests.

“We don’t want sympathy. We want people to tremble when the name Springboks is mentioned.

Dr. Craven was affable and smiling when he arrived at Christchurch Airport last evening where he was met by New Zealand Rugby Union officials, and readily consented to a press conference later in the evening.

“If we had lost every match on this tour I would stand behind the team,” he said.

Firmly, he denied reports • that he had described the! reason for South Africa’s loss I against Australia in tl<e' second test was “because the | players did not know the. rules ” Best Available “This team was the best that was available and we will support it and the selectors who chose it,” he said. He also denied describing the loss of the Junior Springboks against the Argentine on the same day South Africa lost the second test in Australia as “the blackest day in the history of South African Rugby.” Dr. Craven dismissed abruptly any suggestion that the tour had been a failure. “We have beaten strong provinces such as Canterbury. Otago. Tarar.aki, Southland, Northland.” Mr J. F. Louw. the team manager, interjected: And Waikato! “If we can win the next two tests, then all criticism will fall away,” said Dr. Craven. Happy With Tour “After the Wellington match we thought the world had to come to an end but since then the tour has gone well.” Asked what had been the reaction of the South African Rugby public to the test losses in Australia and New Zealand, Dr. Craven said that this had differed from place to place, according to the report that was being read. “However, generally the public has been very happy with the tour and it has created a tremendous interest.” he said. An adamant “No” was the reply from Dr. Craven when asked if he felt that South Africa had gone down the Rugby hill. "I know we have lost seven

succesive tests, but that is just one of those things. I can assure you, it will never happen again. “Anyway, it has happened to New Zealand also. In 1937 your Rugby was weak. You have always said that the 1937 Springboks were a great side. But you helped make us great because you were so weak then.” Asked if he considered that South Africa’s use of the experimental laws two years ago had brought about its decline in international Rugby, Dr. Craven said if anything that should have given South Africa an advantage.

“The 10-yard law which we played was adopted so we should have been accustomed to it.”

Asked why there should be so many fundamental weaknesses in the Springboks’ forward play in New Zealand, he replied: “That has much to do with the conditions in New Zealand. Here you are used to playing on wet grounds and I because of this have developed

a special type of forward play.

“You have your rucking and we, because we play on dry grounds, naturally try to pick up the ball. “It takes quite a while to adapt play to wet conditions.” How did the 1937 team

Two Conferences Only two press conferences will be given by Dr. Craven while he is in New Zealand. * Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, explained last evening that Dr. Craven was in New Zealand as a guest of the New Zealand Rugby Union. “At the same time there is a Springbok team managed by Mr Louw here. “So after tomorrow there will be no more press conferences although reporters can always speak to him personally.” said Mr Morrison.