RUGBY TOUR OPENS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 10

RUGBY TOUR OPENS

THE FIRST MATCH RESULT EARLY TO-MORROW ARMY TEAM'S RECORD The first match of the New Zealand Eugby team's tour in South Africa is being played to-day at Ncwlands, Capetown, and news of the result is being awaited with great interest. As New Zealand time is considerably ahead of that of South Africa, the result will not be known until early to-morrow morning, and as soon as it comes to hand it will be lasted on the front office window of the "Evening Post." The team selected to represent New Zealand in the first match—against the Western Province Country Clubs—is generally accepted as a particularly strong one, eleven of the selected- fifteen being among the first thirteen players to be chosen for the tour. SOUTH AFRICA'S CHANCES. ' Writing of tho prospects for the tour, a Wellington football enthusiast, now resident in Capetown, states:— "Knowing the Springboks during their tour of New Zealand in 1921, and knowing what I do of their play during tho last two seasons here, when I saw them in the pick of the. Currie Cup matches, I am a little pessimistic as to their chances. Personally, I fail to see how they can possibly choose a side to equal the 1921 combination. Last season I hardly saw a player worthy of a place in' that wonderful side. Kruger, still considered a good' player, has slowed down considerably, and^ostert is not the Mostert of old. Yet both these players, of the few 1921 men remaining in the game, are considered certainties against the All Blacks in the Tests! B. Osier, tho Western Province fly-half, seems to be worth' his place in any team, and one journal has stated that if this played is dropped 'the game is all up.'" ' Osier will, no "doubt, be playing against the All Blacks on Saturday, when there will be a number of other prominent Western Province players in the Town team. Saturday's game is regarded as a more serious trial for the New Zealandors than to-day's match with the Country players, which, according to a recent cablegram from the South African Eugby Union,' is being looked upon as an exhibition game. It is to bo expected, however, that tho Country players will be all out to give of their best against the, All Blacks, and it is not likely that the strong New Zealand team will take tho opposition lightly. MILITARY SERVICE TEAM. Regarding the visit of the New Zealand Army football, team to South Africa in 1919, mention of which was made in "The Post" yesterday, a ,correspondent writes asking for information as to the personnel o!f the team. The players who went'to South Africa wore.—J. G. O'Brien, \V. A. Ford,'E. W. Roberts, E. Ryan, J. Stohr, P. W. Storey, W. E. Fea, W. L. Henry, G. J. ,M'Naught, J. Ryan, C. Brown, D. M'K. Sandman, A. Lucas, A. P. Singe, B. A. Bolliss, J. A. Bruce, M. Cain, E. L. J. Cockroft, A. Gilchrist, E. Fog•arty, E. ,W. Hassoll, J. Kissick, J: E. Moffitt, E.J. Naylor, S. J. Standen, A. 11. West, and H. G. Whittington, with I E. W. King as assistant-manager and E. W. Baumgart as manager. The team which defeated the Country Clubs in tho first match of the tour by S points to G was: —Stohr; Storey, E. Ryan, ford; Tea, Eoberts; Brown; Singe; Cain, ,1-lassell, Naylor, Moffitt, Bruce, Gilchrist, BolUss. lToi»-the Army team Brown and Eoberts each scored a try, Stohr converting one. Eesults of matches played by the Army team in South Africa were:— v. W.P. Country districts, won S-C. v. Capetown Clubs, drawn, 3-3. v. South-western Districts, won 23-0. v. Eastern Province, wo>n 15-0. v. Orange Free Stated-won IG-o. v. Griqualand -West, lost 3-S. ' f v. Witwatersrand, won 0-0. v. Mines, won 24-c 3. v. Pretoria, won 5-4. v. Transvaal, won 5-3. -. v. Natal, won 17-3. v. Universities (Capetown), lost S-9. v. Western Province, lost G-17. v. Western Province, won 20-3. v. Natal, won 11-4. Summary: Matches played, lo; won 11, lost 3, drawn 1; points for 170, points against 68. SPRINGBOKS' TOUR. The first match played in New Zealand by the Springboks of 1921 was against Wanganui, the South Africans winning by 11 points to 6. Taranaki held the' Springboks to a pointless draw in tho second match of tho tour. • The Springboks played nineteen matches in New Zealand, of which fifteen were won, two lost, and two drawn. The first Test against New Zealand 'was lost (5-13), tho second won (9-5), and tho third drawn X<)-0). The other loss was against Canterbury (4-6). Total points scored on the.tour were 244, and, those against SI.