S. African Finds Fault

Press, Issue 32333, 26 June 1970, Page 15

S. African Finds Fault

(From T. P. McLEAN) BETHLEHEM. Mr K. Louw, the manager of the 1965 Springboks who toured New Zealand, quite properly offered pertinent criticism about the display of the touring All Blacks against Paul Roos’ XV on Wednesday—and this should temper the jubilation aroused not only by the victory but also by a good deal of the play by the team.

Mr Louw found fault with the scrummaging, with the handling by the backs in the second half, and with the incompetence of the home team. He might also have found

fault with one other aspect of the New Zealand display. This was the goal kicking of W. F. McCormick. McCormick landed the short ones safely enough, but from 40 yards and further he was not within cooee. At the last, C. E. Meads gave G. F. Kember a shot. It missed. As the tall fly-half of the Paul Roos’ XV, F. Froneman, demonstrated in scoring all of his team’s points, kicking in the veldt Country is extremely important. Any chance from 45 or 50 yards in the calm conditions which usually prevail simply must be taken. No-one knows better than McCormick that he has to go back to the schooling list. The sooner he matriculates the better for the team, and while he is there he might also profitably consider the matter of manners. Reacted Pettishly

Twice when a touch judge called out balls which he had safely caught, and again in mid-field, McCormick reacted pettishly to decisions, and in such a manner as to excite derision in the crowd. Mr Louw’s point about scrummaging was perhaps hypercritical, because the scrum count showed that R. A. Urlich won five heels against the head while losing only one, and this scarcely argued total incompetence in the pack. Of several players who performed outstandingly, Urlich and A. J. Wyllie, in the pack,

and B. G. Williams, on the right wing, were all memorably good. Among other new boys, J. F. Burns was notably useful at No. 2 in the line, at which point some fine drives were initiated.

The hamstring injury which removed H. P. Milner from Wednesday’s match after he had scored a superb try might keep him out for as long as three weeks.