SPRINGBOKS BEATEN BY A DROPPED GOAL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6668, 23 July 1928, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS BEATEN BY A DROPPED GOAL

All Blades Win Second l est. 7 — 6 ; Forwards in Amazing Form NEITHER LINE CROSSED Special to Press Association. ; ,V JOHANNESBURG, July 21. Famous Ellis Park was crammed to capacity to-day by a crowd of 40,000 when New Zealand beat South Africa in the Second Test by a penalty goal and a dropped goal to a goal from a mark and a penalty goal after a desperate battle in which New Zealand had the better of the game. . * Everything favoured the players, for the ground was in excellent condition, and the day was perfect for Rugby. The New Zealanders deserved their win, for they were unquestionably the better side on the day. , “. Vv ,•/. J ' 1 ■ : New Zealand’s win in the Second Test should be the turning point in the tour, for with tho adoption of solid scrummaging, which is so essential In South Africa, they have found they can more than hold their own. Nothing was so arresting as the pace and mobility of the New Zealand forwards. The ball was never too fast and the prospect never too forlorn for them to pursue. The Springboks were only a shadow of tho team they were in tho First Test. Once again it was a case of a team playing only as well as if was allowed to play. “ 1

Springboks’ Side Changed. Tho teams lined out as follow, Dobie and Brand taking the place of Stanley Osier (centre three-quarter) and J. Slater (wing three-quarter), in tho South African side, both tho displaced men having torn thigh muscles while training during tho last •week for the match: \ SOUTH AERICA^r.;-. Enllibaclr.'T , ,J. ,OS TindaU. , .•/ Three-quarters. N. S. Tod, Can der Wbsthuizen, Dobie, S. Brand. Fly Half . Bennie Osier. Scrum; Half: - ’ D. Devine; Forwards: P. J.Mostert, T. L. Kruger, Dr. J. van Druten, • G. Daneel, S. van Wyk, Prctorius, J.,P. Ncl, Potgieter. NEW ZEALAND. . Full-back. . D. Lindsay. Three-quarters. A. C. Robilliard, S. E. Carlton, A. Gfenside Five-eighths: A. Strang, L. M, Johnson Half-back; - W. 0. Dailey. Forwards; R. Stewart, J. Swain, S. Hadley, M. Brownlie, G. T, Alley, I. Finlayson K. M‘Williams, W. Hazlett.

quarter line, Van der Westhuizen made a brilliant 'run until he was solidly grassed by Lindsay, The Springbok backs made things merry with'two more runs. In a third Strang let them through with a weak attempt, at a tackle and only Lindsay’s safe collaring saved a dangerous position. • , ' Bright N.Z. Movement, There was a spell of terrific forward battling till from a scrum, Dailey sent his backs away in a sparkling movement, which went to South Africa’s twenty-five. i Open but dangerous passing by the New Zealanders let the Springbok forwards clear. Back went the All Black forwards and they stormed the Springbok line for a time, but the defence was always sound and eventually a kick by Van Druten: made ground for them.. ' Lindsay Lands Great Goal. There was a spell of hard but ragged play which resulted in the Springboks being penalised for lifting in the serum. Lindsay landed a great goal from the side line twenty-five yards out and equalised the scores, half time coming with play near midfield. All Blacks 3 Springboks 3 _ Titanic Battle of Second Half. T The opening of the second spell was characterised by three good line kieks by Osier, which put the Springboks' in a handy position. ”» | > Devine sent Ms backs away in a good movement and Brand kicked well down the line. In attempting to clear, Lindsay kicked the ball into the arms of Van Druten, who had ample time to take a pot at goal, but failed with, the kick which fell short. Beal (All Black Form. ’ The New Zealand forwards then stfated to play up to something like tho All Black standard, and their backs got moving in better style. First Strang, then Dailey, cut clean through tho defence, but their passes went astray on both occasions. Slowly the Springbok forwards worked down field. A New Zealand forward was penalised for lying on the ball at the twenty-five yards lino and Osier kicked a goal. * Springboks • 6 , All Blacks 3 In tho fierce forward battle that raged on tho New Zealand lino a minute later, Hadley’s shoulder was badly injured but ho kept on after receiving attention. A fine combined movement by the New Zealand forwards and a splendid kick by Johnson put tho Springboks in a desperate position, but when tho New Zealand backs got moving Johnson spoilt it all by a poor short kick which allowed Brand to drive the ball out at half way. For taMng the bail out of the scrum Devine was penalised and Lindsay made a fine attempt at goal, only just missing. Strang Lands Goal.

The. playing of Stewart as wing-for-ward and the* inclusion of M‘Williams in tho pack made the only alterations from the first Test side In scrummaging Stewart went down in the front row as loose head. 'Brownlie Wins Toss.

Brownlie won the toss and Bennie Osier kicked off for South Africa who were playing with a strong sun in their eyes. ■ From a scrum, one of Osier’s deadly Hue kicks put the Springboks on the attack. ' ’ ■ : . .. In the corner there was a scries of determined serums in which the All Blacks showed vast improvompnt. One of the backs attempted to clear tho line with a kick into touch, but Brand took the ball and made a dangerous dash for the corner, where he was pushed out on the flag. A penalty against Devine for picking out of the scrum allowed Lindsay to find touch past tho twenty-five lino. Springboks , Out of Luck. ,

The Springbok backs • then started a beautiful passing movement from a serum, at the end of which Brano. centred accurately, but van der-West-huizen knocked the ball on when ho was under the posts. South''Africa heeled the ball from the'following serum. The backs lost control and Hazlctt, rushing- through, cleared with a ;|od kick; Crowd Hoots All Blacks. There was ominous hooting among the crowd when Tod was laid out temporarily, but details of the incident could not he seen from the press stanc. Fierce battling among the forwards followed in midfield. The Springboks’ first points came a minute later when Mostert took a mark near half-way and dropped a great goal. Springboks 3 All Blacks 0 e The New Zealand backs started a concerted movement Strang dropped his pass, Carlctoa clearing just in time. A penalty for lifting in the scrum was awarded the Springboks in the centre of tho ground and Now Zealand had a narrow' escape for Brand got in a splendid drop kick which luckily for the All Blacks hit the posts. Forwards Hold Africans. New Zealand cleared their quarters and from this onwards started to show their quality, the forwards at last holding the Springboks in scrums. The South African backs, however, were also bn • their game. Breaking clean through the New Zealand three-

New Zealand was having all the better of play at this stage, their forwards packing with better effect. Several runs by the New Zealand backs looked dangerous, but the defence held good. Whipping the ball away from a scrum Dailey started his backs going again. When Strang got possession he took a quick snap for a goal, the ball sailing fairly between the posts. All Blacks Springboks -••• ® This reverse put the Springboks oa their mettle and they started an effort to pull the game out of the fire. Abandoning their tight scrum theory they began to open up the game, the backs throwing the ball about in All Black Sty Tod in spite of an injury to his ankle made a great dash down the line and short punted over Lindsay’s head, but Carlcton came across and .secured the ball.

Springboks Beaten Side. The effort petered out and tlie Springboks were obviously now a beaten side; Their backs lost their fire and wore merely running across field, gaining no ground. The final whistle sounded with New Zealand still firmly on the attack.' All Blacks 7 Springboks 6 COMMENT ON THE GAME, Although there were only occasional flashes of international Rugby the match was a titanic struggle in which the pace of the New Zealanders gradually wore down the Springboks until for a long time in the second spell the All Blacks dominated the play. The most amazing feature of the match was the transformation of the New Zealand scrum. Playing Stewart at loose head did not make any real advantage, for the Springboks got two to one possession from the scrums. . * Won by Our Forwards. The all round display of tho New Zealand forwards, however, was convincing and encouraging. They played with skill, method, cohesion and design. Their new tactics, practised for the past week, and their determination in scrummaging were eventually too much for tho South Africans. In’ keeping with the tension of the crowd play on both sides alternated from gobd to effete. . Strang’s clever dropped goal was actually paradoxical for he; was the weak link in the- chain of backs;' yet ho won’ the match and so brought it about that the, Springboks were beaten at their own game. - Lindsay in Great Form. Lindsay ‘played another fine game, saving his side in many serious positions. . 1 The back line was erratic, faulty handling and- bad passing '■ being too prominent. But there were also some sparkling movements. Dailey was always sound and at times brilliant.Johnson and Strang were, patchy. The threequarter line, especially Carleton, was splendid in defence, but in attack was always under suspicion. It would be unfair to single out one forward so hard did the whole eight work. Swain, Hadley, Finlayson and McWilliams were always in the limelight and Alley, Hazlett, Stewart and Brownlie were battlers every inch of the way. Even with the ligaments of his shoulder torn Hadley still played a fine game. i Springbok Backs Ineffective. Tho South African backs did their usual amount of kicking, especially Osier. But when they started to open up the game their movements were surprisingly ineffective, for they simply ran across tho field. Tho newcomers, Brand and Dobie, showed their capabilities as individualists. Van dcr Westhuizen was easily the best; Springbok backi There seemed to be little understanding beliind tho serum between Devine and Bennie Osier.

The forwards were triers all the way with Mostert, van Druton, Pretorius and Kruger-the shining lights. Progress of New Zealand Injured. . Harvey showed a hig improvement to-day and is quickly recovering from his relapse. ■ Kilby came up from a private hospital in Kimberley for the match. His ankle is in plaster and ho is walking on crutches. The break is mending quickly buti ho will be unable to play fof the rest of the tour. The Day Before The Test. A cable from Johannesburg the day before the match w>as to the effect: A crowd of 35,000 is expected at Ellis Park for the match. • Special! trains are arriving from all over the country. ' , It is hard to understand the attitude of the All Blacks' selection committee, for they have taken one of the best forwards from the pack and will play him as rover. In the few matches in which Stewart has played in this position ho has caused the break down of many movements, frequently getting in the way of the five-eighths. In the match against the Northern Provinces his handling was palpably weak. The playing of Stewart as rover will probably tend to weaken the Now Zealand Test team. The game, however, promises to be another glorious struggle. Players Injured. New Zealand is going all out for a win, and the team is even more confident than before the first Test. The All Blacks' Test fifteen have undergone a week of hard training, and every member is now fit. Grenside appears to bo limping slightly, and it appears that his knee has not properly healed. Ho says that he is quite fit. Harvey is i(l again, and was taker to a nursing home at midnight last night (Thursday). His complaint has not yet been diagnosed. Ho showed improvement to-day. McGregor is undergoing special treatment for knee trouble, but is unlikely to play for at least three weeks. Prospects Discussed. In discussing the prospects for tomorrow’s match, the Johannesburg "Star" says: "South Africa’s two distinct advantages over the All Blacks arc its effective scrummagcrs and superior touch-kicking throughout the team, despite the improvement the tourists may be able to show. Those advantages should enable the Springboks to confirm the Durban results, though perhaps the margin may be smaller. Both advantages arc the result of South Africa’s allegiance to orthodox Rugby.' ’ The "Dio Burger," the Africanders’ paper states: "The opinion of almost every Rugby

enthusiast in the country is that the Springboks again will be victorious, mainly because the New Zealand forward pack cannot stand against the cream of South African forwards. Solid scrummaging seems a lost art with Maurice Brownlie and his men. Until the All Black forwards learn that to shove and shove in hard, tight scrums is the first consideration, and spectacular open play the secondary consideration, they will not be successful iri any of the remaining three Tests. ’ ’ 1 , All Blacks In The Air. The All Blacks went flying in airplanes to-'duy (Friday), and all who went up wero delighted with the experience.