THE SPRINGBOKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 18

THE SPRINGBOKS

CHAMPION FULLBACKS G. BRAND AND F. TURNER TWO 'VERSATILE PLAYERS # _ ABILITY TO DROP GOALS 't • BY SYD MALCOLM, Vice-Captain of tho 1933 Wallabies. SYDNEY, April 29 South Africa is in the fortunate position of having at least one champion player for each separate place in her Rugby,team. For tho fullback position, Gerhardt H. Brand is the No. 1 choice, with Fred Turner as his deputy. Each man ,is a topranker, the former being regarded as the best fullback South Afrjca has produced. Brand, who will turn 30 years of age while on tour, has been in the Springbok fifteen since he was "capped" ten years ago against the All Blacks in the 1928 season. He has played in 11 test games, two against New Zealand, five against Australia and one each against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Be took part in 18 of the 2G games on the 1931-32 British tour. He lias represented the Western Province regularly since 1929 and has won the popularity of African crowds at all the important football centres, such as Capetown, Durban, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and bo on. In' fact he is one of the idols of this Rugby-minded nation. Of Dutch extraction, Brand is a clean-cut athlete, weighing a little over 123, stone. He has a flair for brilliant execution of all the work associated with the fullback post. Perfect in technique, he is coolness to the point of nonchalance. Safe, reliable, dependable, he has the complete / footballer's uncanny sixth sense of anticipation and this enables lim to stamp all his play with the hallmark of the champion. Accurate Kicking

In style he resembles the Australian fchampioft, Dr. Ross, for consistent soundness, hut his play is more colourful, because he introduces the sparkle and adventure of fullbacks -like Jack Steggall a,nd Keith Storey. At fielding, catching and kicking he is a master, nor is his kicking confined to a punting. He is a genius at potting field goals from all distances and angles. England, at Twickenham, and Australia, in Africa, on several occasions had cause •to remember his magnificent successful snapshots,for field goals from the sidelines. The Wallabies were always fearful of giving Brand penalty kicks within their own half of the field for he is a splendid place-kick. He is even greater in his ability to kick field goals. At Bloemfontein in the fifth test he landed a beauty with his left foot, his natural kicking foot, from the halfway line near the touch line, registering South Africa's only points. The Springboks, said that this effort and his wonderful field goal at Twickenham with a heavy greasy ball were 011 a par. "When oldtimers in Africa agree that Brand is greater than his famous fullback predecessors, Gerhardt Morkel and Frank Marsfield, who were in the world's champion class, then the greatness of Brand can be appreciated. He should be the outstanding Rugby personality in a team which has many star performers. Idol of Crowds

In his home town, Capetown, Brand is idolised by all sporting enthusiasts, whether they be British, Dutch or the black-skinned natives and imported Malay boys, who are great football supporters. All sporting crowds dearly love to see a champion in action and I am certain they- will take Brand into their hearts, for he will delight them with his artistry and grace, if he were not such a master in the fullback position he would have been just as famous as a or wing, where lie has evidenced International form. Turner is also a versatile back, who can play equally as" well at fullback as at centre or wing-threequarter. We first met him in South Africa in the first test at Newlands, Capetown. An injury to Waring during mid-week

practice occasioned an urgent requisition for Turner, then a twenty-vear-old flier on tho wing. He had to make an aeroplane trip from Port Elizabeth to fill tho vacancy, which lie did with credit. He is round about 12£- stone in weight and stands six feet in height, a splendidly built athlete who has performed in great style upon the cinder track. In fact he was in the running for selection as a sprinter in the last South African Olympic team. Last year he was persuaded by the Transvaal selectors to play in the fullback position and he made a success of it, as is proved hv his preferment over such capable exponents as B. C. Reid (Border) and James K. Vlok (Western Province). South African pressmen confidently expect Turner to take the field in the Tests against Australia and New Zealand in one of the centre positions or on the left wing (the scoring wing) where lie has shown splendid form. Turner possesses abundant football sense and is a lino positional playei:. Wherever ho plays, at fullback, centre, wing or five-eighths—a position he can also Jill with considerable credit — Turner will assuredly bo one of the public favourites. Should any mishap befall either Brand or Turner the post of fullback can be filled with much distinction by centre-threequarter J. White (Border)', the hefty East London champion, who is noted for his sterling defence and penetrative running. Here, too, is another example of the versatility of the Springbok backs.