T. A. Harris.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 15

T. A. Harris.

about their endeavour. But where a mistake was made was in having a purely loose forward in the pack. Rankin, on the strength of what he had done in the trials and in the knowledge that he was reported fit again after an illness, was expected to be a "real live-wire In harassing the opposing backs; However, he was not a success. He did not- occasion Harris very great concern, and, moreover, his presence seemed to have the effect of unbalancing the scrum. It was a big handicap to New Zealand, and especially to 'Lambourn in his particular duty, to find the weight not coming in the right way.-! ■ Just as the Springboks erred in playing Craven for Harris at fly-half in the first Test, so did New Zealand err in not concentrating upon an eight-man pushing pack for this particular occasion, which, as was to ■' be expected, would demand a greater effort on the part of the forwards. Failure to get as much of the ball as in the first Test had its effect upon the whole performance of the team, even though a good position in points was held at half-time. The Springboks gained a great advantage in the battle for possession in scrums and on the line-out, and that enabled them to make most of the play. Craven was there for the ball, and, quite at home in his; usual position, he fired the ball out for all he was worth. Sometimes his dive pass made the ball go like a cannon ball. It took a while for Harris to get used to it, but that was not altogether unexpected. OTHER PARTiCIPANTS. Apart from the 'players who have been mentioned the performances of the others might be touched on, briefly. The Springbok pack played as a pack, with Nel and van den Berg locking most efficiently. Bastard was ever in the picture, and he, more so than Strachan this time, was the outstanding player when .it came to operations in the loose. Bergh and van den Berg were the line-out specialists. Lotz. of course, did his job splendidly, and the Louw brothers (were in the thick of things, though "Boy" seemed to be feeling the pace towards the end. Nel's leadership was of considerable value. The Springbok backs have been discussed, except for a mention of the backing up, connecting, and coveringl work by White and Babrow. The New Zealand pack were not nearly the same in performance as in the first Test, though " generally while they lasted the pace the forwards followed up well. It was Brand who caused much of their energy to be, spent. Reid, Parkhill, and King were.on the job most of the way, and • Lambourn- plugged away solidly, with Jackson often to be seen in energetic play, i :6till, .as< a pack their form dropped; i- ■•> .-■ '.. . .--.' . Simon played: moderately well at half, but Trevathiin and Hooper were not a'■•' smopth-working combination, though Hooper at times; put in'some good work... The three-quarters'have been mentioned, v Taylor.at full-back was not up to-his usual mark. '.' One unsatisfactory feature1 was the difficulty in getting the5 ball into the scrummages. Many, times1 the < referee,