TEST PROOSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 10

TEST PROOSPECTS

SPRINGBOKS FAVOURED ' (Receive!! 23rd June, S a.m.) " MARITZBURG, 22nd June. Most of the papers in tho country agree that the Springbok side will be exceptionally- strong in the forwards, but the backs are not as good as expected. Several papers have appeared with articles saying that the Springboks will win the' first Test. - A Rugby writer, Mr. I"1. W. Howard, who followed the tour of the 1924-25 Now Zealand team, in an article in the "Rand Daily Mail,"' says that the All Blacks, after seven matches, are not up to expectations, falling short of the fa'mo%s 1924 side. Ho 'considers that the Springboks will win next Saturday's Test, and adds that there is not the slightest doubt that the All Blacks will, have to play much better football than they have done so far., Although the backs have played some brilliant football they would not get away with it against the South African side. It is recognised that, as in most big Rugby battles, tho Test match will be chiefly a fierce forward combat. Mostert and Kruger, of the probable Test side, arc the only players who toured New Zealand with the 1921 Springboks. ...