RUGBY IN ENGLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1945, Page 8

RUGBY IN ENGLAND

KIWIS AND S. AFRICANS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 11.20 a.m.j ' LONDON, December 10. The continuing success of the Kiwi team is making it a star attraction,in the Rugby world. There is general praise for the match against the R.A.F. which, all commentators agree was most spectacular. Much interest is also being taken in the sixth South African Armoured Division team .which started its tour well by beating J? Brigade of Guards by 16 to nil. The South African captain has stated that his team is looking forward to meeting the Kiwis and has said that he thinks the South Africans can beat them. There will be tremendous interest in the game, which, it is hoped, will be next March. Commenting on the Kiwi-R.A.F. game, “The Times” says: “All the scoring this time occurred inside five minutes shortly before the interval, so that alone made it a remarkable match. For the rest of the game, it was touch and go in a variety of ways and if the Kiwis ended up decisive winners it was not because the R.A.F.--failed to have plenty of the ball and ample chances to score. In the matter of hooking and heelings, indeed, their forwards were outstandingly successful. One imagines that the Kiwis would give a good deal to possess A. C. G. Gilthorpe in the middle of their front row. Magnificent too as the Kiwis own forwards were in the loose, every now and then they must eventually have come to hold the opposing pack in considerable Tespect as a fighting force. The efforts of the whole R.A.F. pack to force a try in the second half kept the match a thrilling spectacle. If there had only been a. single point instead of 11 between the two sides it could not have been more exciting.” J. P. Jordan, in the “Daily Telegraph,” remarks that the R.A.F. backs failed disappointingly, but in no match during their successful tour have the Kiwis been so mastered in the scrums. Yet, no matter in which half they began to attack, the Kiwis always looked dangerous. “It was the old story of intensive team work again.” He declares that the movement that finished with Arnold scoring was Rugby at its best.