The Test

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 4

The Test

Interest manifested in the New Zealand Rugby team’s tour of South Africa has been general among all

sections of the people of the Dominion, but it is safe to surmise that it is being tremendously increased at the moment.

So far the New Zealanders have played 11 matches against South African provincial teams; they have put up a creditable record, having won eight matches, lost two and drawn one.

The big test of the respective merits of South Africa and New Zealand on the Rugby field, however, will be made on the famous Newlands playing field at Capetown at an hour when the great majority of the people of Ney/ Zealand will be in their beds tonight. Nevertheless there will be few indifferent to the fact that what will no doubt prove a titanic struggle is to be decided, and large numbers of those who follow the Rugby game

will assuredly await the radio story of the historic test round about 1.30 o’clock tomorrow morning.

Memories of matches between Springboks and All Blacks, played both in South Africa and New Zealand, have proved the high calibre

of the countries’ representatives, and there is no doubt that when the 1949 teams line up on the Newlands ground on this occasion each will regard the other as a foe worthy its steel.

The merits of both teams, individually and collectively, have been discussed at length in the sporting columns of the press, and all that need be done now is to await the result of the struggle. That the better team may win, and that the play in the test may be of a character to strengthen the bonds uniting South Africa and New Zealand will be the sincere wish of every genuine sportsman and sportswoman in the Dominion.