The Grey River Argus MONDAY, August 16, 1937. RUGBY SUPREMACY.

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1937, Page 4

The Grey River Argus MONDAY, August 16, 1937. RUGBY SUPREMACY.

The public eye during the past week-end may ’ have elsewhere been turned to the spectacle of struggles upon fields of battle, but in this country it has, almost to the exclusion of anything else, been filled by contests on fields of sport. Past records as well as present rivalry have combined to heighten excitement over the invasion of footballers from South Africa, while there were dominion teams also engaged in other test matches at home and abroad. That none was disgraced, bat nearly all were victorious, is ;i reason for congratulation, but especially that in the meeting of the greatest exponents of our national game, the All Blacks conquered the redoubtable Springboks. It is really a high tribute to the latter when' such great store is here set by the achievement of the former. To understand this, it is necessary to remember the fine tradition of the All Blacks and the equality, also, upon which the Springboks have stood with them in test matches up till now. Moreover, the record of these tourists in New Zealand has proven conclusively that they arc as well worthy of the Springbok badge as their predecessors who have measured up to the All Blacks. It remains still to be seen whether the latter can regain supremacy, but Saturday’s victory gives at least fair promise of It. It therefore was no wonder that this match eclipsed any other topic in public interest. As a test, it was the most important match of the Springbok tour, and both sides played in a manner that was worthy of the occasion. It'was primarily a trial of team work. Individual .ascendancy never was less the order of the day. What decided the day appears to. have been determination. Friendly as the match certainly was, gvinmess was evident, and the way in which the New Zealanders stuck to their heavy task after losing a man must rank as memorable in o.ur annals of the game. The margin between the sides was not great, and when the visitors field their next test fifteen there is little danger- that over-confidence will slacken the play of the All Blacks. That is as good a criterion of the match as anything. On both sides the players, each and all, acquitted themselves admirably, giving of their best, and the pace and tensity of the play from start to finish illustrated the fact that no other sport is more s'trenuous, or calls for more physical strength, than the national game of the Dominion. It is not too much to say that a large section of the people were pleasantly surprised at the stand made by the winners. They reached by general consent the highest standard which All Black teams in the past had set, and in this conviction, rather than any mere wish to. win, the result is a source of real and general satisfaction. It is, indeed, a conclusion which could probably be reached only from a test victory over a Springboks team, for no other teams have been as- great rivals as they arc. This time they -were played largely at their own game, and where New Zealand played in their own distinctive style they appear to have had rather the better style. Yet the result remained uncertain almost until the end, and the great African forwards maintained their reputation for strength and thrust. They were equalled, ho\vever, on this occasion, and the All Blacks carried the more guns in dheir rearguard. This is as it should be, for back play used originally th be a feather in the cap of New Zealanders, and if it now can be' further perfected, there is the promise that the Springboks can be held in forward, play. Upon neither side did individualism assert itself, although the Otago kicker who scored half of the points registered during the game calls for first mention. For West Coasters it will be a source of real satisfaction that a player from these parts should have led his countrymen to victory in a match as important as perhaps any ever played upon a rugby field. A word of commendation may be accorded the selectors, whose judgment has been fully vindicated. They may not. have picked the host possible team, but nobody else could have done much better, if as well. . What they had to do they did, and it was to find the winning combination. With all clue respect to the Springboks, and they deserve a lot of respect, the popular hope will be that the All Blacks will remain a winning combination.