SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1937, Page 11

SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN

A WATTLE FARMER. Members of the Australian Rugby Union team of 1933, representatives of the home of th e wattles, had to go to South Africa to see for the first time a wattle plantation; and, strange to relate, its owner was none other than Philip Nel, who led the Springboks in tests against, them! There, was a touch of irony about Nel’s statement t,, (he Australians that Australia was one of the best customers for wattle, bark—for the tanning trade-—from his South Afri-can-,grown wattles.

While a student at Maritzburg College, Nel, who resides near Natal, represented Natal Province against the British team of 1924.

His first appearance as an international was in 1928, when he played in e ach of the four tests against the New Zealand team that toured South Africa. Nel was vice-captain, the leader being the famous five-eighth, Bennie Osler. His first overseas tour came three years later, when he. was vice-captain of the 1931-32 Springboks who defeated England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales—a record that- no team from New Zealand or Australia has equalled.

Nel was elevated to the South African captaincy in 1933, leading the Springboks against Dr. A. W. Ross’ Australian team in four tests. An injury presented his appearance; in the second international, which was one of the two -won by the Wallabies, who in the game inflicted the biggest defeat in history on the Springboks—--21 to 6. In Nel’s absence his former Skipper, Osler, was at the helm. Now Phil Nel, at the age of 34, is captain of the second Springbok side to lour Australia and New Zealand. Few footballers have remained class players at such an age, but Wallabies who clashed with Nel-four years ago aver that, he will not fill the position of captain because of his powers of leadership off the. field, or his ability as an after-dinner speaker—he will be in the second row of the serum in internationals and will retain his reputation of being one of Africa’s greatest forwards.

The appointment of T. B. Pienaar as captain of the Springbok team which visited Australia in 1921 was prompted by diplomatic considerations, South Africa was somewhat nervous about the tour, as it was its first team, representative of any brand of sport, to visit other Dominions after the Boer War. Pienaar, a Master of Arts and a college headmaster, was obviously the choice for the captaincy —though wholly unnecessarily—because he was a tactful and educated speaker, but was of a playing standard well below the other forwards, and figured in few important matches.

Wallabies say that Nel, who is lost and 6ft 2in, at thirty years of age played with tliC' sparkle and strength of a ten years’ younger forward. He is of the hard-working type, who is not noticed much by the crowds, but who paves the way to victory. Big Phil was well liked by the Wallabi.es, who are eagerly looking forward to again meeting him and several other Springboks, for whom they have a soft spot.