SPRINGBOK TOUR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 13

SPRINGBOK TOUR

Opening Match To-day at Auckland KEEN INTEREST ROUSED The interest aroused by the visit of the South African Rugby football team was demonstrated at the civic reception given the team after its arrival at Auckland from Sydney on Wednesday morning. No more enthusiastic welcome, it is stated, was ever given a team of visiting footballers. The first match of the eagerlyawaited New Zealand tour takes place to-day, when Auckland will pit its strength' against the “Springboks,” as they prefer to be known in matches other than internationals. Eight sitecial excursion trains from all parts of the North Island, including two from Wellington, are being run to Auckland for the day, and.a record number of motorists are sure to make the trip. For the vast crowd expected at Eden Park, which held over 40,000 for the match Britain v. New Zealand, in 1030. entirely new traffic arrangements have been devised, including the prohibition of motor-vehicles on the roads bearing the tram lines leading to and from the ground. One hundred and thirty trams will be pressed into service for the afternoon. Interests Other Than Football. In Australia the Springboks estate lislied a reputation for themselves as good sportsmen and merry fellows. The players are drawn from many walks of life' There are school teachers, farmers, Government officials, policemen, a law clerk, a medical student and an Air Force pilot. They are of both Dutch and English extraction, with the Dutch element predominating, and every member of the team speaks both English and the guttural Afrikaans. Conversation on tile field is carried on in the latter tongue. With mining, farming is a basic industry in South Africa. Many Springboks have expressed their intention to study New Zealand farming methods, and much of interest in this country will be found by the captain, Philip Nel, who is keen to study fat lambs, M. A. van den Berg, Government cattle exjiert, and W. E. Bastard, dairyfarmer. Standard in Australia. It is expected by the Springboks themselves, as well as hoped by New Zealanders, that the visitors will meet stronger opposition in this country than in Australia. Speaking in Auckland, the manager, Mr. Percy Ware Day, said: “VVe had only three games in Australia m which we were fully extended, and generally speaking 1 do not think the standard of Rugby there is particularly high.” There is little doubt that the Auckland side for to-day’s match will give the visitors all the opposition they wish. It Includes six former All Blacks in Bush, Killeen, D. and F. Solomon, Hadley and Pepper. Dick, Hull and Anderson were prominent players in All Black trial matches in Wellington last week. The team has clever five-eighths and a fast threeqiiarter line. Great interest will be taken in the form of Prentice, centrethreequarter. a young player who Ims made a rapid rise. He was a third grade player last year. The Springboks, on the other band, are expected to place reliance on their forwards, men of'magnificent physique who pack a wedge-like serum and also excel in rucking and loose play. 11l spite of having eight players on the injured list, the Springboks afe fielding what looks like one of their strongest sides, especially in the front row, where "Boy” Louw, Lotz and Martin may prove too much for Peafee, Hadley and Pepper, thus reducing the effectiveness of the speedy Auckland backs. The injured Springboks are A. D. Lawton, J. A. Broodrijk and P. J. Lyster (threcqunrters), and B. de Toit, M. A. van den Berg. W. E. Bastard, G. L. van Reenen and 11. H. Watt (forwards). The Teams To-day. The opposing teams will be: — Springboks: Full-back, G. H. Brand; threequai ters, J. Bester, L. Babrow, J. White, D. O. Williams; half-backs: T. A. Harris and D. 11. Craven (scrum) : forwards, M. M. Louw, ,1. W. Txitz, 11. J. Martin, L. C. Strachan, P, .1. Nel, W. F.

Bergh, W. E. Bustard, C. B. Jennings.

Auckland: Full-back, 11. G. Bushj threequarters. J. Dick, A. Prentice, K. Byerley; live-eighths, D. Solomon, B. Killeen; half-back. W. Frankhnin; forwards, T. 11. Pearce, W. E. Hadley, C. S. Pepper, T. Lockington. R. R. Hull, W. Lange, R. Andeiwu. F. Solomon.

Mr. A. Thompson, King Country. • a former Canterbury and South Island representative, will be referee. Including to-day’s game, four matches will be played by the tourists before they reach Wellington to play the Union on August 7, and New Zealand in the first Test a week later. The four fixtures are: July 24, v. Auckland; Wednesday, July 28.' v. Wnikalo-Kfng Country-Thumes Valley: July 31, v. Taranaki, nl New Plymouth; Wetlncsilay. August. 1, v. Manawatu. al Palmerston North. The New Zealand selectors will sec the first two mulches before choosing the All Blacks. Some weight is lent to the observations of Mr. P. W. Day on the standard of Australian football by the following summary of the Australian tour. Of nine afficial matches eight were won. six of them overwhelmingly. Points Points

Fine Weather Likely By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 23. Tlie weather is clear to-night and a fine day is'promised for the opening of the Springboks’ tour to-morrow in the ma tell against Auckland. The ground will be holding. There are no changes in the teams. BOOKING FOR WELLINGTON GAMES Box Plan to Open on Monday Morning Exceptionally keen interest is being taken in the matches to be played by the South African Rugby team in Wellington. These include the game against Wellington on August 7, aud the first Test match against New Zealand on August 1-1. By an advertisement in this issue, it will be seen that the box plan for both matches will be opened to the general public at the players’ entrance to the grandstand at Athletic Park at 9 a.m. on Monday. Only 2000 grandstand tickets will be available for the match against Wellington, and 900 grandstand tickets for the first Test match. There will be a limited number of enclosure tickets for both games. The prices for grandstand

tickets for the Wellington match are 19/- and 7/6, and for the Test match 20/- and 1.1/-, inclusive of tax. Tickets for Ihe bleacher .stand have been fixed at 3/6 for the Wellington match, and 5/6 for the Test mutch.

Tickets will be sold to adults only, and each person may purchase two tickets for each match. No one will he admitted to the grandstand until the advertised time of booking.

Victoria for •In against 11. Combined Western ..., 63 0 New South Wale* .... 6 .17 Australia (first Test) .. fl .) 'Newcastle 58 s Australian XV 36 Toowoomba 60 0 Queensland 39 4 Australia (second Test) 26 17 Total 342 65