South Africa Lacking First-class Backs

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 October 1948, Page 4 (Supplement)

South Africa Lacking First-class Backs

“The forwards will be good—big, fast, and tough (underlined), and will come, I think, mainly from the Transvaal, but the backs are pathetic. There is no Gerry Brand, Bennie Osler, Danie Craven, Williams, or Tony Harris. There is a lot of pessimism here about the backs and about South Africa’s chances —so much.so you can back New Zealand only even money—no odds offering.” So writes a former Canterbury senior footballer, Brian Gillespie, now resident in Cape Town, to Mr H. 0. Jefcoate, of Greymouth.

“Transvaal and Northern Trans-

vaal are about the strongest prothis season. Natal is weak and so also is Western Province. Free State, Eastern Province, Border, etc., are average from what I hear, but not having seen them this season I can judge only on results,” adds Mr Gillespie. Then follows some interesting comment about forward play—interesting in the light of the conflicting opinions expressed by one of the New Zealand selectors, Mr A. McDonald, and the Otago coach and South Island selector, Mr A. G. Cavanagh, junr. “If New Zealand cannot win here next year,” says Mr Gillespie, “they never will; that is if you can hold your own in the forwards. There must be no wingers (underlined). All must be good honest packmen, and they must give, the backs a fair share of the ball” (Mr McDonald in an interview this week said he “felt sure the Otago rucking

specialists would learn to vary and expand their play so that they could play their part in the open when necessary.” Mr Cavanagh said the first emphasis against the Springboks must be on scrummaging—that was the basis of the whole game and it was logical and more important that every forward in New Zealand should make scrummaging his prime duty). Standard of Refereeing Mr Gillespie also makes some interesting comment on the standard oil refereeing in South Africa. He states that there is no grading or coaching or referees and that many have their own of the rules of the game, leading to dis- . satisfaction among players and spectators. Mr Gillespie enclosed a clipping ' from, the Cape Times of August 31,

in which the following team was suggested by an old provincial player, who was stated to have seen more

inter-provincial matches in the past two years than most:— Bhcks.—Keevy (Eastern Transvaal), Van Niekerk (Western Province), Joffe (0.F.5.), Mostert (N. Transvaal), Butler (W. Province), P. Luyt (E. Province), Wahl (W. Province). Forwards, Holton (E. Province), Jan. Lotz (Transvaal), Geffen (Transvaal), Dinkelman (N.

Transvaal), B. Kock (Rhodesia), Du Plessis (Transvaal), Kenyon (Bord<ei;), captain; H. Muller (Transvaal). Commenting on his selection, the old provincial player states that Keevy has the best claims' to the full-back position, because he is more robust than other strong candidates. Butler, he states, is a good all-round wing with speed, dash, a good kick and a fearless tackle. He prefers. Butler’s type of winger to the “barger” type. “No wing is more dangerous in full steam,” he states, “than van Niekerk, who is my first choice.” 'Mr Gillespie comments on van

Niekerk that he would not have him

in the province side. “He has of speed,” says Mr Gillespie, “but only if given an overlap, has no defence, doesn’t back up and cannot make play for himself.” Greatest "Headache” The old provincial player, continuing his comments, states that the greatest “headache” will be the centre position, and he believes that an overflow from a number of good halves may fill both those places. Joffe, he says, is equally at home in both positions, and for the other he selects Mostert, who has shown the best consistent all-round form, though a trifle slow for international class. Luyt, he says, has been showing scintillating form as fly-half for his province. Wahl, he adds, gets the scrum-half position narrowly. His passes are stated to be bullet-like, and his allround play consistently good. Lotz, the “Iron Man,” who hooked so successfully for the 1937 Springboks in New Zealand, is regarded by all critics as still the best hooker in the country. Goffen is described as

a thoroughly good all-round forward and a sound place-kick. The locks suggested, du Plessis and Koch, make up a pair weighing over 32 stone. I “For the three loose forward positions,” says the old provincial player, “there are many first class candidates. Once again, it depends wheth-j er the selectors, decide to plump foi| weight or height or roughness and toughness or speed and handling ability.” Muller and Dinkelman, he regards as having most of these quali-| ties. Kenyon, he says, has all the! qualities of a Springbok captain. “He is quietly fancied for this hon-] our and I feel that a better man could not be found.” I

Five Selectors

South Africa has appointed five; selectors to choose the test teams next season, partly from this season’s play and finally from trial matches which will be played early! next season. " The selectors are Danie Craven, the 1937 Springbok half-back, Jacfe. Kipling, W. F. R.[ Schreiner (chairman), W. C. Zeller, and Frank Mellish. The South Af-' rican trials, according to an article! in the Cape Times, are expected to last over eight days, including two Saturdays. | Concluding his comments on Soutn, African Rugby Mr Gillespie says:, “George van Reenan, a possible lock, and a member of the 1937. team, should have burnt his. boots a couple of years ago. There is no outstanding full-back prospect, and this com : ment can be applied to all back positions. There is no back that I have yet seen here with any penetration — it is kick or run across the field. The selectors certainly have a headache and they haven’t much time to unearth anything new.”