Springbok stars in McCormick’s team

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34097, 8 March 1976, Page 18

Springbok stars in McCormick’s team

Bij

JOHN BROOKS

John Williiams. a lift "in lock who is tipped to lead the Springboks against the '.All Blacks this year, and Johan Oosthuizen, regarded as 'South Africa’s best centre since John Gainsford. are to piay rugby; ,at Lancaster Park on i March 28. They have been chosen by the South African Rugby (Board to fill places in Fergie I McCormick’s invitation XV for the match against a New Zealand Maori side. 'The game, jwil.l be last in | big Rugby. Williams, who will lock the invitation team’s scrvm with the All Black Hamish Macjdonald, is a member of the 'champion South Afrioin proiviircial side, Northern Transvaal . He played for the Gbazelles [(Junior Springboks) against the 1970 All Blacks, and since 1971 has played in 11 tests.. He missed a considerable | part of last season bocause [of a broken collarbone. Williams is hailed as the best, line-out leaper in the) (world, and has developed, into an assertive all-rc und forward. ■’ Oosthuizen, from Western Province, is a sharp mid-field', -attacker with a deceptive s: change of pace. He had an t unfortunate international s debut; he broke his jaw whale t

11 playing in the first test j against the 1974 Lions. He returned to the Spring- ' bok side last year and played ' m both tests against France. 1 Ihe match organiser (Mr Jw. Sinclair) said yesterday it [ i would cost the Linwood club $3500 for the two playets’ fe- . I turn trip. The club is also flying out Mr Pat Vincent, a 1 former Canterbury und New Zealand captain, from San Francisco. As a provincial selector. Mr Vincent was the man who [first chose McCormick for Canterbury A. He will be a guest speaker at a celebra-| btion dinner for McCormick on March 26. Other speakers will be Mr Fred Allen, who first 1 selected the Canterbury full-

back for the All Blacks, Alex Veysey. McCormick's biographer. and one of the Springboks. McCormick's team for the game on March 28 will include 10 All Blacks, six of whom were in the side which drubbed Scotland last seasoi The Maori XV, which will be led by McCormick's Linwood colleague. Tane Norton, will include six All Blacks Mr Sinclair said a croud of 7500 would be necessary for the club to recoup its financial outlay. Profits from the match would go towards the | purchase of equipment fot the St John Ambulance at I ancaster Park and the develop ment of playing fields at I mwood's headquarters