MEADS BROKEN ARM, SUTHERLAND BROKEN NOSE Tempestuous, Brutal And Costly To N.Z.

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 15

MEADS BROKEN ARM, SUTHERLAND BROKEN NOSE Tempestuous, Brutal And Costly To N.Z.

(From

T. P. McLEAN)

JOHANNESBURG.

Having survived a tempestuous opening phase which was poised on the brink of a brawl, the All Blacks proceeded to their sixth successive victory, beating Eastern Transvaal 24-3.

It was a good victory. It would have been better but for some inexplicable mistakes in handling, and for rather slow development of attacks by the three-quarters because E. W. Kirton was not moving crisply into S. M. Going’s passes.

How fortunate it was that the brutality of the opening became muted with the oassing of time and the growing superiority of the All Blacks. The match was only minutes old before J. F. Burns swung a punch, which was answered immediately. At the end of it, the AU Blacks had suffered the following casualties: C. E. Meads, a broken left arm, out for three weeks, possibly more. A. R. Sutherland, broken nose. I. R. Macßae, aggravation of old groin injury. H. P. Milner, aggravation of hamstring injury in right leg. The tackling was violent, the crowd of 25,000 was inflamed, and the control of the referee (Mr F. Vander Vyver) wanted in firmness. Had not a change gradually come upon the game

without, it may be said, lessening the vigour of the body contact, the play could easily have degenerated into war. As it is, Springs will not remain in the mind with quite the warmth and pleasure the All Blacks now associate with Windhoek, East London and even Upington. Eastern Transvaal used huge forwards in S. Henderson and C. Holtshauzen, swift running loose forwards in O. Jacobsohn and B. Stander, and some capable backs in B. Dercksen, at fly-half, and R. Dansie and H. Palmer, in the centres, for their passionate onslaught upon the All Blacks. Line-out Trouble They had a good deal of the ball—especially from the line-outs in the second half when for a disturbing period their techniques surpassed the New Zealanders’. They tackled with a sureness which underlined the lamentable lapses made by too many of the All Blacks and they treated the off-side law about the scrum and ruck with an airy disregard. The combination of these various qualities, some of which were decidedly good, demanded of the All Blacks strength and drive in the forwards and consistent backing up by backs and forwards. Some of the handling in the backing up was magnificent and formed a vivid contrast to the many lapses which, for example, cost tries by Meads, Milner, M. J. Dick and A. R. Sutherland, when the ball was not well taken. If the forward play had a fault, it was that the flankers, Sutherland and A. J. Wyllie, left big holes for Dercksen. But both these men compensated, Sutherland with especially fine play of greater thoughtfulness in delivering the ball than before. Survived Ordeal B. J. Lochore came through his ordeal remarkably, and without loss of exceptional powers in cover defence. A. E. Smith and Burns battled well, though more use could have been made of the latter at No. 2 in the line. Going endured the most terrible scragging and once or twice moved slowly to the ball, but his running was powerful and his courage bottomless. It was easily his finest game. All the backs had their moments, but I. R. Macßae’s soundness in midfield and

Milner’s quick dodge were especially noticeable. B. G. Williams and M. J. Dick, when they got the chance, ran like devishes, but each more than once was overhauled by H. Hom or A. Strydom an exemplification of the pace of South African three-quarters and the want of it in the New Zealanders.

W. F. McCormick boiled up as rapidly as any of the Eastern Transvallers, and for a tasty piece of mad-headed-ness when tackled by Henderson, earned the booing of the crowd in that part of the field. But he, too settled down, and if one of his penalty kicks was abominably miscued, the rest were hit firmly and accurately. He made two or three truly superb runs through the midfield, and one of these, at the least, should have yielded a try. New Zealand’s four tries in the match took the tourists’ tally in six matches to 37 with none against. Yesterday, Williams, Wyllie, Sutherland and Dick, scored tries, and McCormick kicked two penalties and three conversions. For Eastern Transvaal, J. Mostert kicked a penalty. Now it’s to be hoped that another milestone has been passed. The prayer must be no more Kimberleys and no more Springs. For at least half of the first spell one had the impression that all of Eastern Transvaal, players and public alike, were hooked on one of the hallucinatory drugs. Rugby surely, was never meant to be madness.