GLORIOUS PACE

Evening Star, Issue 22722, 9 August 1937, Page 4

GLORIOUS PACE

WELLINGTON CONFUSED AND CONFOUNDED Brilliance of Springboks Real Capacity Shown for First Time (From Our Special Commissioner.) WELLINGTON, August 7. Confused and confounded by the glorious pace of the Springbok backs and forwards, Wellington were overwhelmed.by 29 points to nil before a crowd of over 30,000 at Athletic Park. Wellington were merely a shadow team,'and were bewildered by the storm which raged almost incessantly on their line. South Africa to-day gave a taste of thei r real capabilities and the big crowd drifted away from Athletic Park with mingled feelings of delight at the brilliant exhibition of the Springboks and of puzzlement to know whether the All Blacks next week can hold them. Among some of the old-time p layers there were grave faces, and an occasional expression of apprehension for the test to come. One was entitled to expect more from the Wellington team than they gave. There was a fond belief among Wellington supporters before the match that much woul d depend on who won the toss, for there was a solid southerly blowin g down the field. Wellington won the toss—but that was all. If Wellington were to win it was essential that they put at least 10 points on the board in the first spell, but to the amazement of the crowd, the Springboks, ignoring the conditions, fanned out in brilliant array from the word “ go.” Sixteen points against Wellington, and a Wellington southerly in the first half? Hardly anyon e would have believed it possible! To-day the Springboks reveale d themselves in a new light. For the first time during the New Zealand tour they found themselves playing’ under conditions which suited them admirably- The ground was hard and fast, like Kin gsmead (Durban) and Ellis Park (Johannesburg) and the. Springboks revelled in these conditions. There was more constructive effort about their play than they had shown us in their four previous m atches. They worked with more system and precision, more opportunism was revealed among both . backs and forwards, and they were far quicker to take full advantage of the. slightet mistake. South Africa’s second try was a gem of brightest ray serene. It was a Rugby classic that will live in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to see it. It was paradoxical that South " Africa should have scored from a Wellington tactical move. Instead of' taking line-outs when attacking near the Springbok line, Wellington took a scrum, and were quickly beaten for the ball by the great heave and pustvirf the Springbok pack. With a deft pass from the base of the scrum de Villiers sent Turner away on the blind side. Using a fend that skittled Hansen, Turner raced on to beat Vartan with a brilliant side-step, then to swerve infield past Griffiths and so swing play to the other side of the field by serjding White galloping away. White sent on to Hofmeyr and on to Williams, who crowned a glorious .movement. It was a classic try. | And why did ’Wellington fail so dismally? There was one major reason and one alone—the lamentably weak tackling of the Wellington backs and forwards. It would not be a very big exaggeration to say that you could have counted the low tackles by Wellington on the fingers of two hands. Wellington’s breakaways attempted to cling round the neck of Van de Vyver, who with his strong shoulders threw them off. Wellington’s .backline, with the exception of Griffiths and occasionally Wright, were brushed aside as they attempted to tackle high. Their defence was woeful. Early on Wellington gavr an indication that, with fast, open tactics they might harass the Springbok defence, but that promise was never fulfilled. Once eight points had been scored against them they looked a beaten and bewildered team. If Wellington expected the Springboks to play with the traditional tactics of South Africa, and if they thought that with shock tactics they could beat the Springboks, they must have got the shock of their lives. This team does not play the type of football the All Blacks knew in 1928, whert B. L. Osier was the presiding genius of South African Rugby. There is no monotonous kicking to the line until they are on the opponents’ goal line. They are not afraid to open up the game and start back attacks in their own twenty-five. They played a wonderfully sporting game, which won the appreciation of the large spirited crowd. It may be a different story in the test match, but that remains to be seen. Test football and provincial football are as wide apart as the Poles.

SOME IMPRESSIONS THE I (RESISTIBLE EISHT WELLINGTON PUSHED OFF THE BALL In the play qf the Wellington backs there is little to discuss or praise, unless it be the occasional attacking brilliance of Vcitch, first five-eighth, and the. .solidity of Griffiths at second and .Vartan at full-back. There was a whisper that if Veitch “delivered the goods” he would be given serious consideration for the All Black side next ; Saturday. He played exceptionally well with limited opportunities, and once again showed that he has great possibilities, but it is extremely doubt- , ful whether the selectors saw enough of'him to-day to, convince them. Of the., Wellington forwards, probably the best were Lambourn, Ongjley, Wells, and Butler, a quartet which worked with great heart. The Wellington scrum had obviously been schooled well and it packed beautifully low, but the great force of the Springbock pack was always too much for them. There were occasions when Lambourn hooked the ball cleanly, beating Lotz, but in the next instant the force of the Springbok eight had pushed Wellington off the ball and the South African backs were away in possession._ Fleet in :■ pursuit and possession, the Springbok three-quarter line gave a glorious display. Once the ball reached, the wings per medium of Do Villiers, ■ Van de Vyver. and White, speedy Turner and Williams were brilliant. Williams saw more of the ball than Turner, and consequently scored three tries. Do Villiers gave fine service from the base of the scrum, but his partner. Van de Vyver, was not impressive, allowing himself to be hampered, but not caught, by the weak tackling of the Wellington forwards. Any chance Van de Vyver had of being the test fly-half has probably now gone, and it is likely that Craven and Harris, who has played by fay tho best football of any of the inside men, will be the test_.corabination. Cool and calm was Brand, :who gave another masterly exhibition; but, un-

fortunately, he was injured a quarter of an hour from the finish and went off. The South African pack played excellently. The conditions suited Van Reenan, their fast breakaway forward, who to-day came into his own and played brilliantly. Berg and Van den Berg locked the scrum excellently, and gave great service in the rucks. Watt was better in the open than in the tight play, and Strachan played like a real general. The protection the pack gave to De Villiers was one of the features of the match. OVER 30,000 PRESENT GOVERNOR-GENERAL MEETS TEAMS Well over 30,000 had crammed into Athletic Park' by the time the match had started. A cold strong wind blew from the South but the big crowd was in great heart. A great cheer greeted the Governor-General’s party when it arrived a few minutes before ■ the kick off. The ground was in perfect order, and the sun shone fitfully through the clouds in the west, but rain before the match was over was unlikely. The Governor-General met members of both teams when they lined out two minutes before the start. He shook hards and wished each luck. G. H. Brand captained the Springboks and J. L. Griffiths Wellington. THE TEAMS SOUTH AFRICA. Full-back—G. H. Brand (captain). Three-quarters —F. G. Turner, D. O. Williams, S. R. Hofmeyr, .1. White. Halves—D. F. Van de Vyver, P. de Villiers. Forwards —Front row: H. Martin, W. Lotz, C. B. Jennings. Middle Row—C. L. Van Reenan, M. A. Van den Berg, W. F. Berg, L. C. Strachan. Back Row—H. H. Watt,

WELLINGTON. Full-back J. Vartan (Ponekc). Three-quarters A. 6. Hansen (Hutt), J. Fleming (Eastbourne), A. Wright (Wellington College Okl Boys). Five-eighths—J. L. Griffiths (Poneke), R. Veitch (Wellington). Half-back—C. O’Halloran (Pctonc). Front Row—C. Ongloy (Ponoke), A. Lambourn (Petone), J. Wells (Athletic). Middle Row—Fraser-Smith (Wellington), C. Pringle (Ponekc), A. H. Andrews (Hutt), J. Butler (Marist Brother’s Old Boys). Back Row—K. Guy (Athletic), WELLINGTON PLAYS WITH WIND The toss was won by Wellington, who played with a strong wind behind them, but with the sun in their faces. Great dash and virility were shown by the Wellington forwards in the opening minutes of the.game. Veitch made a brilliant opening, cutting through from halfway from a long throw-in. He kicked over the heads of the covering South African centres, and made Brand run hard for the ball; but brilliantly the Springbok full-back swooped it up and cleared. GLORIOUS LOOSE RUSH. Aided by a useful kick by Van de Vyver, the Springboks took play to halfway, where, from a line-out, the forwards broke away in a glorious loose rush which swept all before it, and ended in Watt going over for the first try of the match. The strong wind carried Brand’s kick outside the posts. Springboks ... 3 Wellington 0 With almost reckless abandon the Wellington forwards and backs were' throwing the ball about at every opportunity, and there were some grand concerted attacks. The Springboks’ defence was being put to a severe test, but never looked like breaking. Into attack flashed Fleming, the fast Wellington centre, and a try looked likely, hut a knock-on by one of the Wellington forwards saved the Sprinbok line. If was the fast pulsating Rugby so dear to the heart of a crowd. SENSATIONAL TRY. In the next minute came a sensational Springbok try. Wellington were taking scrums instead of line-outs, and a scrum went down near the Springbok line. South Africa won the ball, and de Villiers whipped it to the blind side to Turner, and the winger with a desperate fend beat Hansen and raced and side-stepped his way past Vartan. Then, with a glorious change of direction, he swerved outfield and sent the ball on to White and to Hofmeyr, and then to Williams on the other side of the field, for the winger to crown a perfect movement with a try. Springboks' 8 Wellington 0 Within three minutes the Springboks were over again. Their forwards, led by Bergh, Van Reenau, Van Den Bergh, and Watt,, battling hard against the wind, swept _ aside a half-hearted defence and carried play to the Wellington twenty-five. Then from a lineout Jennings, Bergh, and, Van Reenan handled in turn for the tall, fast Van Reenan to score. Brand goaled with a magnificent kick against the wind from the touchline. , , Springboks ... ... ... ... 13 Wellington ... ... 0 ALL OVER THEM. The Springboks were playing all over Wellington now. The forwards were handling like backs, with the result that the ball was being sent from hand to hand in thrilling fashion.- There was not much constructive play among the Springbokhs, but it was certainly spectacular. Five minutes before .half-time the Springboks were over again. After two spectacular attacks Williams swooped up a loose ball and dived over in the corner for his second try. Brand missed the kick. Half-time came with the score:— Springboks 16 Wellington 0 SECOND SPELL Wellington opened the second spell with a. strong forward attack, but when near the Springbok line .they were [penalised for “ barging ” in the lineout, and Brand cleared with a great kick. The Springboks soon had command again, and Brand, taking a downfield kick by one of the Wellington backs, made a brilliant attempt at a field goal from near halfway, missing narrowly. He took Fleming’s drop-out, and tried again, bub failed. CLOSING UP. South Africa were not opening up the game as they had done in the first spell, for the reason that Wellington were now playing much more solidly. Vartan was playing a brilliant game at full-back, driving back the oncoming Springbok forwards with magnificent kicks to the line with either foot. There was more resolution and determination in the play of the Wellington forwards than in the first half; but even so they could make little headway against the solidity of the Springbok pack. Veitch, who had been playing soundly throughout, brilliantly cut through tlio Springbok defence on two occasions, and Griffiths, a minute later, did the same, but the swift covering of the Springbok three-quarter line, and the coolness of Brand were too much for the Wellington attack. SPRINGBOKS HELD. The Springboks were doing all the attack, but could find no hole in the Wellington defence. For the first time in 20 minutes Wellington hemmed tlio Springboks on their own line. Out of a ruck shot Ongley with the ball at his feet, and a Wellington try looked likely, but Brand, .with a great dive, got to the ball first, and forced, BRAND INJURED. Quarter of an hour before the end Brand was injured, and a few minutes later went off. Turner took bis place at full-back, and Watt came from the back of the scrum to play on Turner’s wing. Eight minutes before time came another pretty Springbok try. South Africa had been attacking solidly for a considerable period. Then the" backs opened out, and Hofmeyer beat Fleming to score between the posts. Turner goaled easily. COMPLETELY DEMORALISED. Three minutes before the end Turner landed a good penalty goal. Wellington were a completely demoralised side, and just on time the Springboks scored another 5 points, Williams scoring easily, and Turner converting. Springboks 29 Wellington O Mr L. E. Macassey (Dunedin) was the referee.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

PHILLIPS SELECTED TO TRAIN [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 8. The selection of AV. J. Phillips, the King Country wing three-quarter, as the additional player to train at Otaki preparatory to the first tost match against the Springboks was announced to-night by Mr G. Nicholson, the Auckland member of the Selection Committee, after consultation with his coselectors. Phillips was an outstanding member of the New Zealand Maori team which toured Australia in 1934, captained by Nepia. He has been showing brilliantform in club football this season, and was included in the North Island fifteen for tho interisland match, in which he showed distinct promise. He displayed plenty of pace and* determination. MORRISON INJURED [Pee United Press Association.] TIMAHU, August 8. T. C. Morrison, the South Canterbury wing three-quarter, who was selected to train for the tost match next Saturday, suffered a rib injury while playing for South Canterbury against Ashburton yesterday, and will not be able to play for three weeks. WEST COAST TEAM [Per United Press Association.] GRFYMOUTH, August 8. The combined Buller-AA r est Coast team to meet the Springboks on August 2d at Greymouth is as follows: Full-back, G. Gilbert (Coast) ; J. Hill (Buller), A. Stracban (Bullcr), R. Roberts (Coast), AA r . Maun (Coast), B. Stewart (Buller), M. Davidson (Const), J. Lake (Bailor), G. Orman (Bullcr). R. Kirkwood (Coast), G. Mason (Buller), G. AVilson (Buller), R. King (Coast), M' v Scandrctt (Coast), and P. Garden (Coast) ; emergenciesR. Pratt (Buller, forward), R. Butterfield (Buller, back). OTAGO PLAYERS FOR OTAKI H. Simon, D. Trovatban, J. M. Taylor. and A. A. Parkhill left for Otaki this morning to train with the New Zealand team,.