VICTORIOUS SPRINGBOKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 February 1932, Page 7

VICTORIOUS SPRINGBOKS

RUGBY MATCH WITH IRELAND SUCCESS ENTIRELY MERITED (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 24th December. The South African Rugby players are now two up in their international contests, following their win over Wales with a. victory at the expense of Ireland. The matches at Swansea and Dublin had a good deal in common. Both were very keen struggles, and in both the Springboks were three points behind at tlie interval. But they wore the Irish down just as they did tlie Welsh, and at the finish their success, by a goal and a try to a penalty goal, was entirely merited. The match in Dublin was played under good condition’s. There had been a little frost, and this made, the turf firm. Moreover, the ball was dry and favourable to handling in passing advances. But again there was no spectacular feature about tlie football. It was largely a forward struggle, and, when the ball came out from the scrums, the tackling was so thorough and downright that it vvas rare progress was made on either side. Truly the South Africans are a curious side, and-I am coming to the conclusion that, as match winners, they do not do themselves justice. I think they are too cautious. There was no great faith in the Irish fifteen, and it was expected that the tourists would experience little 'difficulty in winning, let, instead of going all out to lay the foundation of success in the early stages, they were content merely to feel their way, as it were, and the result was to make the match harder for themselves than I believe it might have been. They must have quickly realised that they had little to fear from the Irish backs, who were sadly lacking in. penetrative power, and 1 am sure it would have been a paying policy to have let the. ball come out, and to have tried to break through by hard straight running. Instead, they relied on kicking to touch for the most part to make ground. As I have said, tlie tackling of the Irishmen was splendid, but at least the - South African backs might have put themselves to the test. The one occasion on which some individuality was shown a try was scored, and, moreover, it was tlie winniug try. Waving then cut through, and swerved/ so cleverly that the Irish defenders were nonplussed, and he went over without a hand being put on him. , The hopes of Ireland rested on their forwards, who were splendidly led by Beamish, and, breaking up quickly, they gave their opponents .no respite. During tlie first half they obtained an even share of the ball from the scrummages, and, though they were less successful afterwards, they were as relentless as ever in their spoiling tactics, aim they forced the South Africans into so many mistakes that, if they had possessed an opportunist among the backs, they might have created a surprise. There was an unusual number of penalties, the referee being very strict in punishing trivial infringements, and from one of these awarded Jo Ireland because Craven did not put the ball into the scrum straight, McMahon kicked a. goal. The South Africans equalised in°fortimale circumstances. Egan, the homo full-back, misjudged the bounce of the ball, and, though ho seemed lo have ample time to recover, lie allowed Zimmerman to race up aim beat him from the touch The only criticism which could be levelled against the South Africans is that they ought to have won more 'convincingly. At tlie same time, I am sure they had plenty in hand. Bunny Osier again led the team with excellent judgment, and lie was capably supported hv Craven at the base of the scrum. As I have slated, the three-quarters played an inconspicuous part, and, though he was very safe at I'tilhbaeu. Brand’s kicking was nothing kke as sure as usual.