APPRECIATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 10

APPRECIATIONS

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBX

MANAGER INTERVIEWED I

Special to tUe Press Association. I (Received 7th September, 10 a.m.;j> CAPETOWN, 6th September. Mr. A. J. Pienaar, president of the South African Bugby Football Boards publishes the following message from' V the board: "What the board appreei- '■ ates specially is the ready manner in > which the New Zealand team fell in. with our arrangements. Their playing of the first and last matches are instances of the generous sporting spirit with which they met us. We wish them all a happy homeward1 voyage and a safe return, and we- trust they will carry with them pleasant recollections of their strenuous time in. South Africa. Their visit has aroused in an unprecedented manner interest in our game. All our unions have derived benefit by the mutual interest in our respective countries, and I trust, friendships which have also been stimu- , lated." SUCCESSFUL TOUR. Mr. Hornig, interviewed on the eve of sailing, said that the tour had been, an unqualified success, and the result of the Tests was most happy. He said that he was looking forward to the time a few years hence when tho issue would be sottled in a great game before a' great crowd at Athletic Park, Wellington. He believed that an even division of honours in the Tests • was a fine thing for the game in both, countries. It provided a stimulus to Rugby which was better than an indisputable supremacy. • . Although the All Blacks were prepared for hard games, the matches turned out to be even more arduous than they first thought. The result of the strong opposition they encountered was that they had to forsake the style of forward play general in. New Zealand for the solid scrummaging game customary here, and it was only halfway through the tour that they really settled down to the type of ' play necessary. "It is a compliment to our forwards under the circumstances that they were finally able to hold their own with the Springbokpack and secure an evea division of the Tests. Mr. Hornig concluded with expressing a regret at leaving, but hoped that they had forged a small link in tho chain of Empire. He assured the South Africans of a warm reception when they again toured New Zealand.