FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY IN AFRICA. ENGLISH TEAM’S MISFORTUNE. TEN PLAYERS INJURED. , CAPETOWN, Aug. 20. Football teams from either New Zealand or England are always affected by the nature of the grounds in South Africa, but the British team now touring the Union has been less fortunate than previous combinations. Only 10 of the 21 matches have been played, and yet England has had 10 men injured practically the whole thime, and occasionally has had the greatest diffi culty in getting a side together. The managers have even considered the necessity of calling in th aid of other English players wintering in South Africa. These misfortunes, of course, have compelled some men to play in positions to which they are not accustomed, and has meant that the team has not yet been able to work up that combination which is usually such a strong factor in the play of touring sides. Seven of the ten matches played so far have resulted in close finishes. The record to date is; Won four matches, last four, drawn two. South Africa found no difficulty in winning the first Test, at Durban, on August 16, by 7 to 3. GREAT FORWARDS. Rugby in South Africa is of a fairly high standard. No centre is much weaker than the others. The strength of the African team undoubtedly is the forwards, who break very quickly from the scrums, follow up fast, and handle cleanly The British loi >varas play much the same game as the All Blacks showed in Sydney, One complaint made here is that they are unnecessarily rough in their following -up. Any opponent lying on the ball has a rough time of it. and is soon kicked off it. The backs are the weaKness. Individually, many of the players are of high standard, but but combination is absent.

Of the wingers, Rowe Harding, of Wales, undoubtedly is good, and reminds one very much of F. Lucas, of the All Blacks, but he has more speed. Wallace, the 19-year-old Northumbrian, scored five tries against Griqualand, and showed a fine turn of speed. lan Smith is the fastest winger the visitors have. I prefer him to any of the All Blacks wingers (Hart, Lucas, or Steel), and once the ball is in his hands a try is his if it is possible for a human being to score. All three full-backs have been injured. Drvsdale has played most in the position, and his defence is good, even if his methods are stereotyped. has been out of action since the first match of the tour.