S. AFRICA UNHAPPY OVER TEST WINS BY PENALTY GOALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23042, 5 September 1949, Page 5

S. AFRICA UNHAPPY OVER TEST WINS BY PENALTY GOALS

(From Claude King, Press. Assn. Rep. svith the All Blacks.)

(11 a.m.) DURBAN, Sept. 4. The South Africans, who are just as keen students and lovers of Rugby as New Zealanders, are dissatisfied with the results of the present test series because of the predominant influence of penalty goals.

The majority of newspapers concede that the All Blacks were the better team in the first and third tests and that they should have won the first and at least drawn the third.

i J Instead, the All Blacks, who have scored .two tries, one converted, two potted goals and two penalty goals, . have had to accept three defeats in a * row from opposition which has scored two tries, one potted goal and nine penalty goals. “Although South Africa has won all three tests. I would hardly call this a vintage year for South African Rugby,” says the sports writer in the Natal Sunday Express. “I am of the opinion that were the Springboks to tour New Zealand and meet their present opponents on their home ground the results would probably be reversed. “I also feel the AH Blacks received a raw deal when Scott was penalised for obstruction. This decision, which cost the tourists three points, caused a lot of dissatisfaction.” Leslie Cox. in the Natal Sunday Post, savs: “A record crowd saw South Africa win the third international against New Zealand yet went away disappointed. They cried for one try—only one —in this arid wilderness of penalties and New Zealand, not South Africa, provided that. Here, in this country with its continual fine weather, we should have the finest Rugby in the world.”

"But the grand spirit of adventure which makes for real Rugby is lacking in South Africa and two victories by penalties against opponents who do show that spirit of adventure in their football gives nobody any satisfaction. , "The All Blacks were unlucky to lose They played better Rugby. There was more dash among their forwards and there was a design about their back piay, even though they were sorely worried bv Muller. They deserved' more than one try.” H B. Heartland, in the Sunday Tribune. savs: “South Africa won but there was little that was convincing about the third test win. A number of Springboks with whom I had hurried chats after the match all agreed that the New Zealanders were the better team on the day and that, once again, South Africa won through the referee’s decisions. “Victories won from infringements do not give entire satisfaction, particularly when some of them are open to question.

The Johannesburg Sunday Times auotes two incidents where the referee could have awarded penalties to New Zealand in the Springboks 25 and adds: “That is the way things go in Rugby. Luck counts one %vay or the other and today it was heavilv weighed, as also in the first test, against the New Zealanders.” The All Blacks will leave Durban on Thursday for East London where they will play a return match against the Border next Saturday and depart from there on Sunday for Port Elizabeth for the fourth test and final match of the tour on September 17. There is a strong feeling that '> e All Blacks would be justified in making a further change in their backline and replace Kearney by Delamore. Slowness near the base of the scrum is the All Blacks’ main problem.

Recently. Delamore, who is easily the team’s fastest inside back, has been showing fine form and he combined well with Black in the Orange Free State match. He may lack Kearney’s solidity and kicking ability. But it is essential that the ball should get out faster to the speedy New Zealand threequarter line.