THE FIRST TEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18323, 13 August 1921, Page 10

THE FIRST TEST

SPRINGBOKS v. NEW ZEALAND. BOTH TEAMS CONFIDENT. Br Full Back. A notable event in the history of New Zealand football will be the meeting at the Carisbrook Ground this afternoon of teams representing New Zealand and South Africa. This is the first occasion on which the repesentative teams of the two countries will meet on the football field, although it should be remembered that it was a strong New Zealand team which toured South Africa between July and September, 1919. The record of the Army Service team reads;—Played 15, won 11, lost 3, drawn 1; points for 170, against 69. Varied opinions are expressed regarding the prospects of to-day’s match. A heavy easterly ruin fell all yesterday, and whether it clears up or not to-day the Carisbrook Ground will be very heavy. It is unfortunate that the weather has changed, as it will prevent any brilliant passing by the backs, and the game will nrobabty be confined to the forwards. The New Zealand forwards should handle themselves better on the wet ground that the Springboks, but they are not holding their opponents cheap, and a great tussle should take place between the forwards. The Springboks are quietly confident that they will win, and the All Blacks are equally confident. The Springboks, notwithstanding that thev will put in their strongest team, cannot, I consider, strengthen the team which played against Otago to any great extent—-their 29 players are a very even lot as regards football ability—and theywill be meeting the strongest back team—though not the strongest back team that could be selected in New Zealand —they have yet met on the tour. If the All Block forwards play their part New Zealand should win the first test match.

The Springbok team will probably be as follows: Full buck—G. P. Morkel. Three-quarters—Zeller, Clarkson, Meyer, Harry Morkel. Stand off half—J. P. Michau. Half back—Townsend.

Forwards—Boy Morkel (deputy captain), Ellis, Kruger, Walker, Mellish, Harry Morkel, Mostert, Du Plessis. The team which played against Otago on Wednesday was as follows: —Full back, G. P. Morkel; three-quarters—A. van Hoerden, J. Weepener, W. Sending and W. C. Zeller; half back, W. Townsend; stand-off half, J. Tindall; forwards—W. H. (Boy) Morkel (captain), M. Ellis. J. W. van Rooyen, N. Du Plessis, A. R. Walker, Royle Morkel, P. J. Mostert, J. Olivier. Eight of these players will probably be in to-day’s team. It is noticeable that the South Africans may leave out their two heaviest forwards — J. Michau and Royle Morkel. The forward team, os published, is considered thejr strongest combination. I consider that Meyer (centre) is one of the best all-round backs in the Sipringboks’ team.

, M’Lean will be unable to play to-day, and his place will be taken by Fogarty. An X-ray examination of M’Lean’s knee goes to show that no serious damage has been done, but nevertheless it will be some time before he is able to play again. “Nuts" Hassell, the old Canterbury representative “ hooker ” has come down from Christchurch to witness the match. Hassell was a member of the Army Service team which visited South Africa. “Ranji” Wilson, another well known New Zealand footballer, has come from Wellington to see the game. A siiecial tram loft Christchurch for Dunedin last night. It is expected that a very large crowd will come down to see the match. The train will return to Christchurch this evening. I understand that the Soringboks asked for Mr Mackenzie, the referee for today’s match, and that the All Black team was not consulted when the appointment was made.

Mr’ W. S. Glenn. M.P., an All Black of 1905, is in Dunedin to witness the first test match. Another All Black. “Billy” Wallace, has also come south to see tho game. The original All Blacks in Dunedin at the present time are Messrs Glenn, J. Duncan. A. M’Donald. S. Casey, Wallace. and E. E. Booth.' One or two more of the famous team are expected to-day. ENTERTAINED BT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. Tho visiting South Ainans were entertained at dinner last evening at the City Hotel by representatives ol tue Otago University Students’ Association and members of tne University Football Club. Ibo teaching staff was represented by Professors Thompson, Gowland, and Drennan. Proiossor Park, president ol the University Football Club, presided over tho gathering, which was remarkable for its display of good-fellowship and the complete absence of formality. A number of toasts were honoured in addition to tho loyal toast with which, of course, the proceedings commenced. The toast ot “The Visitors” was entrusted to Mr G. Maclean, president of tho University Students’ Association, who, in tho course of his speech said that they had learned that tho Springbok team included in its membership several South African university men, and it was felt that they could not allow tho visitors to pass through the university city of New Zealand without some expression of goodwill from' tho university. For this reason they had come among tho visitors in a quite informal way to meet with them for a brief space ere they passed onward upon their journey through this country. On behalf of his fellow students he greeted tho men from the sister dominion. x'hey quite as cordially welcomed the non-university men of the team. University men could always learn something from the non-uni-versity men. In the realm of true sport they were all one. the toast was received witn great heartiness and with musical honours, and tne rendering of the university haka.

Mr Bennett, manager of the South African team, said in reply that it was a good thing for men to meet m this way for it lessened the chances of wrong impressions being gained of each other. The visitors rend tome very wonderlul things about themselves in the press of this country. He asked those present not to believe all they read. Ho thanked the Otago University men for their entertainment and lor tho hearty way in which tne toast had been honoured.

-Ur T. P. Pienaar, captain of the Springboks, proposed the toast oi the University ot Otago, which was Coupled with the names ot Professor Thompson and Dr Gowland. Mr Pienaar spoke ot tho universities of South Afrioa, and said that everywhere university men should strive to set tho finest example in sxiort. He did not wish to infer that the non-university man was not a good sport, but pointed out that us university men m course of time spread themselves throughout the country they had a great opportunity of influencing sport in tlie very oest possible way. As a team they had enjoyed their tour of this country, ana were ud agreed tiiat in New Zealand wo were possessed of a "great little country.”

Ine toast was honoured with great spirit and good teeliug. Protessor Thompson, in reply, said that when they saw the photograph of tho South Africans they felt that tney would like to meet the men themselves. Now they had met they wished to see still more of them, lie thanked Mr Pienaar for the way in which ho had proposed the toast, and tho visitors for the manner in which they had honoured it.

Dr Gowland returned thanks also, and in the course of his speech said that the aim of a university was to turn out “men.” The way in which they had settled down together that, night was not so much because they were university men, but because they were all footballers. Football played #a great part in enabling the university to turn out good men. The toast of tho chairman was proposed by Dr Drorinan, who said that in Protessor Park they all recognised the ruling spirit of university football in that he occupied the honoured position of president of the University Football Club. In his reply Professor Park expressed himself as delighted in having tho honour to preside at such a happy gathering. He wished their visitors a very pleasant time during the remainder of their tour in ’ this country and a safe journey homeward to South Africa. The proceedings closed with the National Anthem and cheers for the visiting footballers. VISIT TO Y.M.C.A. A visit from Mr Bennett, manager of tho Springboks, to the Y.M.C.A. was much appreciated last, night. Mr Bennett spoke to a largo crowd of secondary schoolboys, who were present, to fill in their usual club night. Air Bennett spoke at length on the difference betwon Rugby in New Zealand and South Africa. After having tho minor differences explained to them the boys present will be able to appreciate tho play of both teams in the test match. Mr Bennett gave a descriptive account of the conditions in South Africa, explaining many things now to all present. He got on good terms with the hoys with his good-natured remarks about the test match, and hi* <l*.

scription of both teams stylo of play was greatly appreciated. Ho explained that the corning generation of footballers had to bring about uniformity of play in all Rugby countries, and .ho hoped those present would appreciate the aim of this visit. The boys cheered Mr Bennett, and the High School bovs gave their haka in appreciation of his talk.

ALL BLACKS’ CAPTAIN CONGRATULATED. (Pcs United i'uess Association.) WESTPORT, August 12. A meeting of the Westport District High School Committee to-night resolved to congratulate George Aitkon, a native of Westport, and an ex-pupil ot the school, on his selection as captain of the AU Black team against the Springboks, to wish him success in to-morrow’s match, and to have an enlarge photograph of Ait ken placed in the school with a record of his education and sporting attainments. Hope was expressed luat he would be selected as Rhodes Scholar as the first representative of the West Coast.