RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 4

RUGBY

Ti!E SPRINKBOKS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 22. While he was in London Mi" C. S.. Thomas, of Christchurch, who returned from a tour of Great Britain and France by the Ulimaroa to-day/ attended the Rugby match between the Springboks and London. From their display in that match Mr Thomas said the South Africans were far from being a groat international side. Although they would be hard tp beat there was no brilliance in their play, and it seemed to him that they would have to rely mostly on their splendid iorwards for success. The _ Springboks had defeated London heavily, but the opposition had been very weak. _ Their main strength seemed to lie in the wonderful physique of their players, particularly the forwards, and their tactics—in this match at any rate—were confined to trusting to the forwards to get the ball and give it to the backs who immediately kicked for the lino. The result, of course, was that the game proved extremely monotonous, much to the disappointment of the spectators. Bennie Osier played in this match, Mr Thohias said, but his game all the way through had been of the most stereotyped kind. That comment applied to practically all the backs. Unless the side’s tactics and the general standard of back play improved considerably, it would stand a good chance of defeat when the international matches came along.