SPRINGBOKS RECOVER Three More Tries By Engelbrecht

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 19

SPRINGBOKS RECOVER Three More Tries By Engelbrecht

Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

ROTORUA, September 14.

After looking set for a runaway victory, the Springboks had to fight off a spirited challenge by Bay of Plenty«Counties-Thames Valley 7 before winning, 3317, today.

The Springboks led. 17*3, at half-time, and 25-6 10 minutes after the resumption. But the home side bounced back and narrowed the gap to 25-17.

Finally, the tourists i took charge again and scored two tries in the dying stages of the match. For South Africa, tries were! scored by Engelbrecht (3).j •Tanson. Botha, Walton. Oxlee, Schoeman and Hopwood. Oxlee kicked two conversions and Mulder one. The Combined team's points ~ame from tries by Heimann.; Conway and Stone, and a con-! version, a dropped goal and a penalty goal by Worrall. ! Severely Shaken The Springboks were never in danger of losing, but they; were severely shaken by the improved play of the home ; side in the second spell. Most of the improvement was in defence. In the first spell the tackling of the Combined backs was very poor and the cover by the loose forwards almost non-existent. After the change, it appear-; ed that the pattern was to continue when Engelbrecht and then Schoeman scored. However. Conway improved the cover defence and the No. 8. MacMillan, began to kick long and accurately. Almost simultaneously, the Combined forwards tightened their work in the line-outs and scrums, and for the first time the South Africans had their backs to the wall. Backs Less Skilful In the final analysis, however, the home backs, through' inferior speed and skill, were unable to take sufficient advantage of this break-through and the effort spluttered to a halt The outstanding feature of the Springbok play was the superb backing up. The ball was never allowed to die with the man and several tries came after desperation passes found their mark and the movements had swept on.

In this phase of play, no South African was better than Hopwood. Not only was he on hand to take passes, but once a movement was under way his clear thinking and ability

to alter its pattern ensured tha, the defence was never allowed to collect itself. In the backs, Olivier outshone even the redoubtable Gainsford, with clever running and constructive exploitation of gaps. His effort in cutting through to put Botha in for his try was a masterly piece of deception. Last-minute Change For the rest of the South African backs it was a day of competence, rather than brilliance. De Villiers, coming into the team at the last minute to replace C. M. Smith, who aggravated an injury at training, again showed how quick he is in breaking from the scrum. Oxlee, at fly-half, concentrated on giving the ball to the men outside him and Engelbrecht, with hard and determined running, deserved his three tries. 1 The forward effort by the ■tourists was adequate, with- ' out the fire of recent matches. 'The most interesting feature [was the 6-2 margin by Waii ton. over McLeod, in the 'hooking battle. If Walton is selected in the Springbok test I side, this could be an important psychological advantage to carry to Eden Park. Botha and Goosen used their height to dominate the line-outs, while Schoeman was energetic in the loose.

The first prize for enthusiasm. however, must go to Conway. He covered yards and yards of ground and in the midst of every Combined rush upfield, the red hair of Conway was a prominent feature.

He became extremely effective in the second spell and it was not for want of trying on his part, that the game was lost.

Giving Conway good support in the loose most of the time was Maniapoto, while MacMillan, in his covering work, stopped some dangerous Springbok movements. Rasmussen, at prop, and Barry, at lock, were conscientious workers in the tight.