THE SPRINGBOKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 29 January 1936, Page 3

THE SPRINGBOKS

DOMINION VISIT PROSPECTS FOR TOUR STRENGTH aSiONG FORWARDS The view that the Springboks, who will visit New Zealand early next year, will comprise a number of young players with little experience of big match play, and that the All Blacks will probably' meet their match in the South African forwards, was expressed by Mr A. M. Williams, news' editor of the ‘‘Rand Daily Mail,” Johannesburg, who is at present on a visit to Auckland. Mr Williams is a New Zealander who went to South Africa over ten years ago (says the “Star”). “With over a year to go before the Springboks meet the All Blacks in New Zealand, the only advantage that one can see that the All Blacks enjoy at the moment is the experience gained by the young players m the Dominion’s team that has just concluded its tour of Great Britain,” said Mr Williams. “The past year in Rugby in South Afiica has not produced any outstanding new material, and the game there at present is still in the hands of the old brigade. Judging by the interprovincial matches last season, the Springboks will be able to field as good a pack as any in the past, but the back division might be on the. scratchy side, as the backs last year were not particularly brilliant, except in Western Province. “Last season great disorganisation occurred through the exodus of several of the loading backs of the Western Province and Griqualaml (Kimberley) to the Transvaal to take up positions, inainl t y in the mining industry', hut, despite the help of the ‘l)ig_guns,’ Transvaal failed against Western Province. Probably' the brightest Rugby of the season came from Western Pro vinco and the Border. “TOO MANY OLD HANDS”

“The back division of the provincial teams throughout the country' are still cluttered up with too many old hands, and the selectors, according to the public viewpoint, do not appear to he giving new material a chance. They will not take any risks with young players, and this might prove to lie an expensive policy', in the near future, because it is certain that many of the older players will he unable to come to New Zealand next year. Therefore, many of the men who will fill the gaps will hick big match experience.

“The issue of the Tests in New Zealand will probably' be decided by the two schools of young, play’ers —on the one side the New Zealanders possessing more experience than the others by' reason of tlie All Blacks’ tour of Great Britain, but New Zealand will probably meet its match forward. Waring, Gage and Turner are three outstanding backs who arc playing in the Transvaal and were formerly' in the southern provinces. They' have passed their heyday, and it is doubtful if they' will see the tour next year. Western Province is bound to provide the pick of the backs.

“Dannie Craven is still 011 c of tlie most dangerous scrum halves in the country, due to his fleetness and strength,” said Mr Williams. “Jle ■is quite ail unusual type of half-back. He is a heavy, powerfully-built man, not tall, but stocky and nippy. He is an exceedingly difficult man to stop. Floris Venter, one of the fastest wingers that the country has produced, is still in the game, though unfortunately a troublesome knee has put him on the unreliable list.

“Gerry Brand is the star turn as a full-back to-day, and he is regarded as the best since the great Gerhard Morkel. As a pi, ice-kick, he has no equal in South Africa. “Of all the teams that have toured in South Africa in recent years, unquestionably the most popular was that of the Wallabies in 1932,” added Mr Williams. “They played a carefree type of open Rugby which made an immense appeal to the public, and most people said that their play was more delightful to watch than that of the 1028 All Blacks. SOCCER POPULAR

“Except in Capetown, where there is always an enormous interest in club Rugby, the afternoon crowds are exceedingly meagre for club unit olios, whereas" Soccer produces considerably bigger gates in most parts of the country. There is an enormous interest in Soccer in South Africa, although the majority of New Zealanders do not seem to .realise this. fact. Until recently few of the high schools in the Transvaal, except the Dutch institutions, played Rugby, hut a switch-over lias been made from Soccer to Rugby in certain, of the schools. If the authorities will only cultivate this young material the game in the Union will he placed in a much moie favourable position than it .occupies today, but the fear of dropping older men in interprovincial matches has first to be killed. . , • : “Bennie Osier has now dropped out of active Rugby,” continued Mr Williams, “but his brother is still quite a considerable force in the game. Bennie however, does a tremendous amount of work in coaching the young players, and his influence is still a big factor in South African Rugby. As a matchwinner, there is no one his equal in the Union to-day. “After the All Blacks’ tour of 1928 there were efforts made to copy the New Zealand style of play, and the movement seemed to be quite promising. Now, however, Rugby has lapsed into its old orthodoxy. One has to depend practically solely on the Western Province players to provide any great variation in three-quarter movements and hack play, generally. They are the only men who serve up un.v, thing in the way of spectacular play.