SPRINGBOK RUGBY TEAM’S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 13

SPRINGBOK RUGBY TEAM’S VISIT

Fifty-one Players Chosen For Trial Games GENERAL CONCERN ABOUT INSIDE BACKS Fifty-one players have been chosen by the South African Rugby selectors to be in readiness for trials next April for the selection of the Springbok team to visit Australia and New Zealand. The trials are to be held in Cape Town. A North v. South trial was played at Johannesburg on October 10, but the selectors did not, as expected, announce certainties for the tour. The trials will cover a week. The players are: Full-backs: G. Brand (Western Province), K. Vlok (Western Province), P. Turner (Transvaal). Wing-threequarters: D. O. Williams (Western Province), D. Lawton (Western Province), P. J. Lyster (Natal), R. Williams (Griqualand West), W. Goetzee (Eastern Province), J. Broodyk (Transvaal). ’Centre-threequarters: F. Waring (Transvaal), S. Hofmeyr (Western Province), L. Babrow (Western Province), V. Bester (Western Province), O. A. Lategan (Free State), J. White (Border), S. Reid (Border), A. Meyer (Eastern Province), L. Niblock-Stewart (Transvaal). Fly-halves: V. Van der Vyver (Western Province), D. Holmes (Border), W. Seymour (Natal), L. Evans (Border). Scrum-halves: Pierre de Villiers (Western Province). D. Craven (Eastern Province), J. Todd (Natal), N. Snelgar (Border), D. Devine (Transvaal). Forwards: Boy Louw (Western Province), G. Van Reenan (Western Province), M. Van den Berg (Western Province),.!. Louw (Western Province), J. Watt (Western Province), M. Smit (Western Province), L. C. Apsey (Western Province), J. F. Louw (Transvaal), J. Lotz (Transvaal), V. Geere (Eastern Province), N. Geel (Orange Free State), P. Nel (Natal), N. Sheriff (Transvaal), F. Bergh (Transvaal), G. Venter (Eastern Province), C. Jennings (Border), K. Fourie (South-Western District), K. Martin (Transvaal), J. Van Niekerk ('Western Transvaal), A. Duffy (Border), Ben du Toit (Transvaal), J. Segal (South-Western Districts), L. C. Strachan (Transvaal). Many Well-known Players. __ ’ G. Brand, the leading full-back, M. M. Louw, ranked in his own country as the finest forward in the world, and P. J. Nel, a veteran ■who is still playing well, played against the All Blacks in 1928, but since that season they have developed with added experience in England in 1931-32, and against the Australians in 1933. Nel’s selection is being criticised because he is 33 years old, and that age may adversely affect his chances. J. White, F. Waring, D. Graven, S. C. Louw (who is a brother of M. M. Louw), Strachan, V. Geere, F. Bergh and D. O. "Williams went to England in 1931-32 for the tour in which the South African forwards gained such high praise, and .all these players except Williams and Strachan played in the test matches against the Australians in 1933. P. Turner and P. J. Lyster got experience in test matches against the Australians. Turner's selection as a full-back is notable because he is usually a centre-threequarter for Transvaal. M. Zimmerman, regarded as the best wing-threequarter of his day, is not among the players chosen, having had a very severe attack of pneumonia, his life being dispaired of at one time. D. Gray, the best inside back, is also out of the running through the effect of numerous injuries, including a broken collarbone, a broken nose, a broken arm and concussion. No End of Good Forwards. A South African writer, whose opinions coincide with those of most critics, says that his country i.s short of highclass inside backs, like New Zealand and Australia. His summing up of the position is: At full-back, South Africa is right up to international standard. At centre-threequarter, she is also up to international standard. At wing-threequarter, she is also up to international standard. At five-eighth, she is sub-standard and very much so. in fact, merely up to a good club standard, and no higher. At scrum-half, right up to international standard. On the basis of Dan Craven and Pierre de Villiers. At forward, South Africa at present i.s supreme, superior to either England, Scotland, Ireland. Wales, New Zealand or Australia. The material open to selection in this department of the game is amazing. There seems to be no end of it.