SOUTH AFRICA IN 1940

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 237, 7 October 1938, Page 11

SOUTH AFRICA IN 1940

QUESTION OF TEAM BUILDING PLAYERS TO MEET ALL BLACKS THREE STARS HAVE RETIRED What South African Rugby players will meet New Zealand in the tests to be played in South Africa in 1940? That is a topical question even now, two seasons away from the actual visit. Of the Springbok team which toured New Zealand last season three great players have announced their retirement—Danie Craven, Gerry Brand and “Boy" Louw. Both in the first test in Johannesburg and in the Port Elizabeth game the Springboks won handsomely by margins of 14 and 16 points respectively, writes John c. Sacks, sports editor of the Rand Daily Mail, in ,a special article in the Auckland Star. But it would be foolish to lose one’s sense of perspective at these successes, and any enthusiastic patting on the back that we may feel like giving ourselves must be restrained by the knowledge that the team now touring South Africa is not representative of the very best that Britain could boast; because, even though there are some excellent players in the side, many exceptionally great ones have been left behind through inability to get away for the tour. And there is also the indisputable fact that South Africa had practically a ready-made side to put into the field, this being one of the fruits of last year's Springbok tour of Australia and New Zealand. No Team-building Worries It will come as a surprise to most New Zealanders to learn that the South African selectors did not worry about team-building for 1940. Mr. W. P. Schreiner, chairman of the South African selection committee, summarised the policy adopted when he explained: “Our job is to pick the best fifteen possible for the test matches. We know that there are scores of splendid young players available throughout the country and there are many followers of the game who think that we ought to give them a chance to gain valuable experience, particularly as the All Blacks will be here the season after next. But we have not been appointed to do any team-building. For all we know we may not be on the selection committee in 1940 and that is why we are not worrying about 1940.” So what the selectors did was to base their selections on the New Zealand tour of the previous year. For the first test in Johannesburg there were three new international caps,

but only one of them went to a player who had not toured the previous season. He was a young centrethreequarter, P. De Wet, who got his chance in the absence overseas of Louis Babrow, who is now completing his medical studies at Guy’s Hospital, but will be back in time for the All Black visit. The other two to get their caps were men who would have been in the tests in New Zealand but for injury—Ben du Toit, who has proved himself one of the greatest flank forwards this country has ever, produced, and A. R. Sherriff, the best lock forward in South Africa to-day. This series of tests has seen the final international appearance of three great players: Danie Craven, Springbok captain this year; by the time this is published he will be in Europe on a special course of. 18 months for he has been appointed Director of Physical Education in South Africa; Boy Louw, still one of our brainiest front rankers, and much better form than he »d in New Zealand; and Gerry on a dry ground, the greatest full-backs of all time. have announced their reHflHent. will continue to play and club football, but their days are also over: Louis HH and Fanic Louw, both of I thought of adding Ferdie Bergh to the tells me he is ambitious Philip Nel. He is 31 and that Nel retired from infootball only at the age ran.' trds Who represented 'i'■■■■■■ in this season’s tests, riSnnH may still wear Soringainst your 1940 side: ■ ’ ff, Lots and Basbacks, provided their pace and Harris, Lochner, Pester and De Wei. unlikely that Will be full-back :1 Bia ;s. .Lochner has a cool and resourceattacking player ' 1 h a defe *»cc that is HBSraSB9^B an ' 1 sound as that of as Jimmy While your country. And full Of football, is a SHBBnKJ^Be-quartcr.