THE FIRST TEST

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 10

THE FIRST TEST

SPRINGBOKS' WELL-EARNED WIN GIANT FORWARDS' POUNDING TACTICS TOURISTS RELY ON OLD HANDS fra« Association—By Telegraph-Copyright SYDNEY, June 27. , Following last week’s debacle against New Wales, the Springboks to-day reinstated themselves. They thoroughly earned their victory in the first test, defeating Australia by 9 points to 5. The margin does not reflect their true superiority, for territorially they had the advantage for 60 out of 80 minutes of play. The attend- . ance was 33,043, and the gate realised nearly £2,200. The teams were: — South. Africa.—Brand; Turner, Williams, White, Babx-ow.;, Craven Dc iVilliers; S. C. Lauw, Lotz,,Nel, Vandenbergh, Bergh, Strachan, Bastard, M. M. Louw. „ , . t, ; Australia.—Rankin; Keiaher, Pauling, Towers (captain), Dorr; Richards, M'Shane; Ramsay, Kelly, Windon, Hutchinson, Wilson, Boms, Cerutti, Berm Ingham. The scorers for the Springboks Were: Bastard and Bergh tries, Brand a, penalty goal, and for Australia Showers a try and! a goal. The / Springboks owed their victory mainly to the magnificent pounding tactics of the giant forwards and to their better adaption to the prevailing conditions. After a week’s incessant rain play IKegan in fitful sunshine. . The centre cricket pitch was a patch. or . treacherous slush, but elsewhere the ground was surprisingly firm. lojsvards th© ©nd. of each, spell, lio,wever } torrential downpours prevented expert handling. An analysis of the serumimages showed! that the Springboks cut even, but their successful hooking came at periods when it was most needed. In the line-outs the Africans had a clear advantage, and in this department Australia sadly missed Hodgson. The Springboks delayed the selection of their team until tha last hour, then wisely relied on old hands. THE PLAY. Given an advantage wind by Towers •—a tactical blunder—the Springboks Immediately invaded the home twentyfive, rucking fiercely and compelling 'Australia to force three times in the first quarter of an hour. Only great cover defence by Towers, Pauling, and Richards prevented tries. Craven, playing five-eighth, and De Villiers kept the Springboks on attack with judicious line finding, several screw kicks bearing the hallmark of the traditional South African methods. Nevertheless, the first dry did no,t come pntil 27 minutes had elapsed. Then the ibig forwards passed and dribbled along ■the left wing, brushing aside the strenuous opposition. Strachan, the last to handle, passed when tackled a yard from the line, and Bastard fathered and crossed, to make the pringboks 3-0. That was the only score in the first spell. Australian hopes were raised when /Richards gathered! from a ruck following a line-out, streaked through between Babrow and White in the midl- - slush, drew Brand, then passed to Towers, who scored and converted. Australia 5, South Africa 3. For the remainder of the match the Springboks were definitely in control. The next' try fallowed prolonged pressure, Bergh ‘barging through a melee on the Australian goal line. Brand and Turner had several attempts at goal from penalties, hut the sodden ball precluded accurate kicking until Brand succeeded from in front of tho goal 25yd's out. CRAVEN, THE STAR BACK. Brand gave a cool display throughout, and did not hesitate to find the line, whereas the Australian tactics remained open. The wing men, Turner and Williams, iw-ere not really fast. Turner was much superior to Dorr on the day. Babrow and. White, the centres, were both deadly tacjders, and effectively checked the efforts of the Australian threequarters. Craven was the star of the hacks. He always handled de Villiers’s diving passes with sureness, and kicked grandly. He proved a lion in defence, and a great supporter of the Springboks’ frequent forward rushes. It is difficult to single out any African forward. Strachan and Bastard .were splendid spoilers, but always did their duty in the scrummages and rucks. Bergh made magnificent use of his great weight. Boy Louw packed the last line, and lived up to his world reputation in all phases. Lotz, an effective hooker, was always on the hall. Nel was a capable leader and conscientious. FORWARDS MAGNIFICENT. The Springboks captain, Phillip Nel, (discussing the game. Said: ‘‘ We won because our forwards were able to keep the ball under control. They. were magnificent. The day called for ‘ tight t (play, and onr weight counted.” The Australian captain, Towers, said: ** The Springboks kept possession and had the ball nearly all day. They won on their merits.” AN AUSTRALIAN FIFTEEN SYDNEY, June 27. Queenslanders predominate in an Australian fifteen selected, to play the South Africans at Brisbane next Satur-day-week. The teem is as follows: (Walker; Kellaher, Towers, Hayes, Andrews; Lewis, Horan; Oxlade, Douglas, Blundell, Wilson, Bissett, Cerutti, Bonis, Bermingham. TYPICAL SOUTH AFRICAN DISPLAY Pres* Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, June 28. (Received June 28, at 12.30 p.m.) Commenting on the Rugby Union tpst, tho Sydney ‘ Morning Herald ’ says; “Undoubtedly tho better team won. It was typical of a South African tost display that eight forwards kept the game as close as a clenched fist and pounded relentlessly for hours through mud and slush. They seemed cold and inhuman, something man-made and machiuc-like in tho nnbrooked intensity of their en-deavours.’-l