AFTER THE MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 10

AFTER THE MATCH

MODEST IN VICTORY SPEECHES AT RUGBY DINNER Mention that the South African Rugby , representatives had shown themselves as modest in victory as they were generous in defeat-three weeks ago at Wellington was made by Mr. R. T. Meredith, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at the official dinner to the South African and New Zealand teams in Christchurch on Saturday night. In the second Test, he said, he had seen one of the finest games of football played at Lancaster Park for years. He' congratulated the, captain and members of the South African team on their victory. The match had presented Rugby as it should be played. It would be a long time before such cohesion between backs and forwards as the South Africans displayed would be seen again. It was'remarkable, and accounted to a large extent for the victory. The tackling also was an object lesson, and was responsible for most of the failure of the New Zealand back movements. Mr. P. W. Day, the manager of the South African team, in replying, said that it appeared that the South Africans had more stamina, and they had played a very fine game in the second half. He thanked the New Zealand Rugby Football Union for all it had done for the team during the tour. As he would be leaving for South Africa before the next Test, he wished to express his appreciation, of the kindness of New Zealanders. P. J. Nel, the South African captain, thanked Mr. R. R. King, tfce New Zealand captain, and his team for an excellent game. It was one of the hardest matches he had ever played and definitely the hardest of the present tour; " .

"CORRECT ATTITUDE."

"It is the ambition of every Rugby player to become an international," said-Mr. Nel. "Sometimes we internationals forget that other Rugby players look to us to see what |is our attitude to ■ the game. It appears to me that-we South Africans and New Zealanders have- adopted the correct attitude to the game of Rugby. We have not forgotten that it is a game, and to play it for its own sake. The New Zealand people and selectors have reason to be proud of the team that represented them in the first Test and again' today. I was pleased with the way they congratulated us after the final whistle and mixed with us later. It does not matter who wins the final Test now—it is the game that matters." R. R. King, for the New Zealand team, ,thanked the visiting captain. The New Zealand team would be looking forward to meeting the South Africans again in the next Test, and when they did, might the best team win. . Mr. A. de Villiers, assistant manager of the South African team, said that the referee' (Mr. J. S. King, of Wellington) had cotrolled the game very well, and both the South African and the New Zealand teams were pleased with the way he had carried out his duties. In reply, Mr. King said that he had been proud to referee the match. He congratulated both teams on the splendid game they played. There were times in football when all felt a little hot under the collar, but they were smoothed out. During the match, whenever he spoke to the players about- anything, or gave a decision, they had taken it as they should. Possibly he had made mistakes, but it was likely that the players had done so also. He wished both teams the best of luck in the" final Test.